Her Brother Demanded to See Their Father, Unaware of the Terror Locked Inside the Casket

The Muffled Sound

Leo stared at his sister, his tear-filled eyes narrowing as a cold wave of suspicion washed over him. Maria’s explanation didn't make sense. If their father had died of a highly contagious, deadly disease, why was the body kept in their old living room instead of a sterile, sealed facility? Why were there no health department notices, and why had the funeral home agreed to this rushed, private wake with almost no notice?

"A contagious disease?"

Leo whispered, stepping back from her grip.

"Maria, Dad was completely healthy when I spoke to him two days ago. He was planning to rewrite his will. What is really going on here?"

Maria's face drained of color. She stepped between Leo and the casket, her posture defensive.

"It was sudden, Leo! A rapid-onset virus. You don't understand. You were never here, you were always traveling! I was the one taking care of him. Now, please, step back. We have to respect the medical guidelines."

Before Leo could respond, a faint, muffled sound echoed from beneath the heavy pine lid. It was a dull, rhythmic thudding, followed by a desperate, strained groan. Leo froze. His eyes dattered to the casket.

"Did you hear that?"

he breathed, his heart leaping into his throat.

"It's just... gases escaping the body. It’s natural decomposition!"

Maria shrieked, her voice cracking with pure panic. She grabbed Leo’s arm, trying to drag him away from the casket.

"We need to leave the room right now!"

But Leo knew his father's voice, even muffled by wood and tape. Ignoring his sister's frantic protests, he shoved her aside. He grabbed a heavy brass candleholder from the nearby table and wedged it under the latch of the pine casket. With a desperate grunt, he pried with all his might, the wood splintering loudly as the lid began to give way.