Dear readers, tonight with us is a thirteen -year-old girl, here to speak of an abandoned theater and the people who disappeared there.

Welcome and thank you for joining us. Let’s begin with a little about yourself.

Thank you. My name is Beth Shoner. I’m almost thirteen years old and I go to Abigail Public School. I start grade eight in the fall.

Tell us a little about where you live.

I live with my aunt in an old Victorian home with a wraparound porch in the small town of Springvale. Our house is in one of the original neighborhoods, with big oak trees and colorful flower gardens. The smell of lavender is in the air this time of year.

My school is downtown, just before Main Street. Main Street divides the old part of town from the new end. Everything is brighter in the new end. The streetlights are always on.   

Have you always lived in Springvale?

No. I lived in Koyo City with my parents until I was about four years old; until the car accident. My parents didn’t survive it, which is why I live with my Aunt Debra now. She said it was a miracle I survived.

Then, not long after that, our house caught fire. Debra said the cause was faulty wiring. We lost all of our family photos in the fire, including every picture of my parents, except one.

After that, she decided we needed a fresh start, and we moved to Springvale. She described it as a perfect place, idyllic and peaceful. Personally, I find it more ominous, like some secret is lurking below all the quiet.

Do you have memories of your parents?

No, none, which I actually find strange. My aunt says it’s because the accident was so traumatic. I thought if she talked about them, shared her memories, it might help with mine, but she says it’s too painful. And she doesn’t want to risk me having any traumatic memories of the accident.

This locket I wear around my neck is the only thing I have from my parents. It has a tiger engraved on the front and a symbol on the back. I don’t know what the symbol means, though.

Tell us a little about your friends.

My best friend is Stan. He’s small for his age, very shy and super smart. I met him when I was five at the park. He was actually my only friend for a long time. My aunt homeschooled me until grade five. She’s very protective, but I finally convinced her to let me go to Abigail public school.

Then I met Teri. We didn’t become friends right away. She actually didn’t even know who I was the first year I was there. But we’re close now. She’s the opposite of Stan. Tall and very outgoing. Everyone loves her, and she loves the attention they give her. She’s always got different colored streaks in her hair, pink right now.

Then there’s Brent. Everyone loves Brent too, but he doesn’t revel in the attention like Teri does. People are just naturally drawn to him. He always needs a haircut, but he doesn’t seem to mind having his hair hanging over his eyes. We became friends in grade six science class. I remember the teacher telling us to find a partner and take a seat. I was panicking, wishing Stan was in my class. Then Brent patted the seat beside him with his big grin. He knew I won the science fair with Stan in grade five, so I was sure he just wanted someone that would do most of the work, but I didn’t care. And now he’s one of my best friends.  

Stan isn’t really friends with Teri and Brent, he just hangs around with them when they’re with me. To be honest, I think he’s got a crush on Teri, but he’d never admit it.

How about you? Do you have a crush on anyone?

Next question please.

Okay, moving on. Summer vacation just started. Do you have any big plans?

Usually, we just hang out at the lake, swimming, floating on our raft. This town is pretty boring, to be honest, but we had some excitement the other day.

What happened the other day?

Well, there’s this abandoned theater on the outskirts of town that mysteriously closed eight years ago. The theater owner, Mr. Winnodov, disappeared that night. His wife still lives out there all alone. I’ve heard rumors she killed her husband.    

No one had seen the old recluse until the last day of school. We heard sirens, so we ran to the police station. Then we saw her emerge from the police car and be escorted into the station. I couldn’t get a good look because she was shielding herself with a shawl.

Then I found out that some teenagers from Koyo City had snuck into the theater and one of them is missing.

I don’t know if they arrested her because she had something to do with the missing teenager, or maybe they found Mr. Winnodov’s body, but something strange is going on.

What’s even more odd, no one will talk about why the theater closed. The people who were in the audience the night of the last performance won’t even mention the theater. I just know the secrets lurking in this town are all connected to it somehow.

Anyway, they haven’t released the name of the missing teen, but I hope they find him soon and he’s safe.

I hope they do. Speaking of secrets. Can you share one with us, which you’ve never told anyone else?

Okay, but you can’t tell my aunt because she’s forbidden me from going anywhere near the theater. She’s actually being a little weird about it. But, I’ve had dreams about it. Strange dreams. I feel like something is drawing me there. I know I should listen to my aunt and stay away, but I’m not sure I can.

You should take your aunt’s advice and stay far away from that theater. One final question, tell us what you’d like to be when you grow up.

Honestly, I have no idea. I know Stan wants to be a doctor, or at least that’s what his father wants him to be. Brent will probably choose something to do with sports, an athlete or coach maybe. Teri would make a good event planner. She loves planning and attending social gatherings.

As for me, I guess I’ll just have to let destiny prevail and see what fate has in store.

Dana Robertson lives in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. She completed a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Psychology with Trent University in Peterborough Ontario, followed by a graduate creative writing program with the Humber School for Writers in Toronto, Ontario. She writes mystery, fantasy, science fiction and middle grade. The Abandoned Theater is her debut novel and book one of the Alderland Series.

You can find Beth on the pages of The Abandoned Theater.

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