Memorandum to all staff from patricia hornby human resourc - GED Prep

Question

 Title: The Letter

Lena had always been curious about the old house at the edge of town. It was abandoned, with broken windows and paint peeling from its walls. The townspeople said the house had once belonged to a family who vanished without a trace many years ago. Some claimed it was haunted; others whispered that it was cursed. But Lena never believed in such stories.

One afternoon, as she walked down the familiar road, Lena noticed something out of the corner of her eye—a yellowed envelope caught in the bushes near the gate of the old house. She bent down and picked it up. The envelope was old, its edges frayed, and it had faded ink on the front that read, "To be opened only by the rightful owner."

Lena’s heart raced. The idea of finding something so mysterious was too intriguing to ignore. She slipped the letter into her pocket and walked home, her mind spinning with questions.

That evening, Lena sat at her kitchen table, the letter before her. She hesitated for a moment before carefully opening it. Inside, she found a single sheet of paper, written in elegant handwriting.

"If you are reading this, then you are the one who has been chosen to carry on what was left behind. The house you see before you is more than just bricks and mortar—it is a key, a portal to something greater. But be warned, for what lies beyond is not for the faint of heart. You must choose: unlock the door or leave the past where it belongs."

Lena stared at the letter, bewildered. A portal? This had to be a prank. Yet, something about the letter felt genuine. After a moment of hesitation, Lena folded the paper carefully and placed it back in her bag. The next morning, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she needed to investigate further.

That afternoon, Lena stood before the old house. The air was still, the house looming in front of her like a shadow of something long forgotten. She pushed open the rusty gate and walked up the path to the front door. She hesitated before turning the doorknob, but when it creaked open, she stepped inside.

The house was dark and musty, with cobwebs hanging in the corners and dust covering every surface. As she wandered through the rooms, she reached a small door at the end of a hallway. It was locked, but the keyhole glowed faintly. She reached into her bag and pulled out the letter, where she found a small, golden key taped to the back.

Her hands shook as she inserted the key into the lock, and the door opened with a soft click.

Inside was a room filled with old books, maps, and photographs. On the wall hung a portrait of a woman whose eyes seemed to watch Lena carefully. Beneath the portrait was a chest, slightly open. Lena knelt down and opened it, discovering letters, journals, and photographs that told the story of the family who had once lived there.

As she sifted through the items, Lena realized that the family hadn’t vanished—they had left behind a message for someone like her to find. She knew what she had to do now. The past wasn’t something to be forgotten. It was something to be carried forward.

What tone does the author use throughout the passage?