Video - Mystery Message: Unraveling the Secret of the Vacant House

When I found the phone on my porch, it lit up with a single message from an unknown number: "Help me. It’s urgent." The sender? Simply labeled as "kid next door." My curiosity piqued, especially because the vacant house beside mine hadn’t been occupied in months. I’m not a detective by trade; I’m a writer with a penchant for puzzles. I grabbed my coat, resolving to play sleuth. The phone had no more messages, just the one plea. I knocked on the neighbors’ doors. No one knew of any family recently moved in. Under the dim streetlight, I inspected the phone again, noticing a smudge on the screen—a partial fingerprint over the send button. I took a photo with my phone. Next, I headed to the vacant house, the front door slightly ajar. Inside, the air was stale, dust layers untouched except for a set of small, fresh footprints leading to the basement. Heart pounding, I followed, flashlight in hand. The basement was empty, save for a child’s backpack in a corner. Opening it, I found school books, toys, and a photo of the house from years ago. Suddenly, the door slammed shut. I spun around, flashlight beam catching the face of my next-door neighbor who smirked, "Looking for ghosts, or something more sinister?"