Short Stories in English for Beginners

thought things through
. Right then, she thought. Let’s figure this out!
Maybe George got lost in the thicket. And when he came out, I was gone. So
he went home. That must be it!
Sylvia had to get back to George’s house. She ran back to the restaurant
and called a taxi. After 30 minutes, she arrived at George’s house. ‘That’s
nine pounds,’ said the driver.
‘Here’s ten pounds,’ said Sylvia. ‘Keep the change.’
‘Thank you. Have a good day.’
Sylvia got out of the taxi and walked towards George’s house. The house
was very big and beautiful. It had two floors and a garden. It was in a very
nice 
neighbourhood
. There were big houses and shops all around. George’s
car was parked outside the house. Was George inside? Had he called his
family?
Sylvia checked her mobile phone. She had service now, but there were no
messages. She called George again. She left another message and said she
was worried. She asked him to contact her right away.
I don’t understand, she thought. George drove his car home. So why
didn’t he call me? Sylvia rang the doorbell. There was no answer. She rang
three times but no one answered.
Sylvia was concerned. She went to the house of her two friends Claudia
and Veronica. Her friends weren’t at home either. She tried calling. Their
phones were turned off! Something strange was going on. She just didn’t
know what. All her friends had disappeared!

---

Sylvia didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want to contact the police. She
knew George was safe because his car was home. There were no friends
around to ask for help. Sylvia decided to do something. She would find
George herself!
At this point is was late afternoon so Sylvia took another taxi back to
Lake Ullswater. She took the path into the woods near the cabin. After a
few minutes, she saw the old wooden house. But this time, she noticed a
difference: there were lights on in the house!