Man Inherits Unusual Lake House, Then He Takes A Look Inside

The year 1997

In a far corner of the house, he found an attic door slightly ajar. The stairs groaned as he climbed up. The attic was full of newspaper clippings—articles about Middletown, weather events, obscure local politics.

One article was circled in red ink: “Middletown Boy Disappears, Returns Days Later Unharmed.” The date was from 1997. Elliot blinked. That was the year he got lost at the park.