My Stepbrother Begged to Open Our Father's Casket, Unaware of the Dark Secret Inside
Previously: When Leo rushes into his father's funeral begging for one last look, his stepsister Maria refuses to open the casket. She claims it's a contagious disease—but the truth is far more terrifying.
The Echo of Life
Leo stared at Maria, his grief momentarily suspended by confusion. He had always known his father to be a healthy man, stubborn and strong. To hear that he had succumbed so quickly to a mysterious, highly contagious illness felt entirely wrong. Furthermore, the lack of medical personnel or official biohazard protocols in the home seemed highly suspicious.
"A contagious disease?" Leo questioned, his voice hollow. "Then why is he here, Maria? Why isn't he in a secured facility? Why did you bring him back to the house?"
Maria swallowed hard, her mind racing to patch the holes in her desperate story.
"It was his final wish, Leo," she lied smoothly, though a bead of sweat rolled down her temple. "He wanted to spend his last moments at home, and the private clinic allowed us to transport him under strict conditions. Please, we must respect his wishes and keep the casket sealed."
She gently guided Leo toward the sofa, urging him to drink some water and calm down. Sensing he needed a moment, Maria excused herself to the hallway, whispering into her phone to her accomplice, a corrupt notary who was finalizing the forged inheritance documents. She needed just one more hour to secure the estate.
Left alone in the heavy silence of the parlor, Leo stared at the mahogany box. That was when he heard it—a faint, rhythmic scratching sound, followed by a dull, muffled thud. It was coming from inside the casket. His heart leaped into his throat. He approached the wooden box, pressing his ear against the polished lid. Another thud echoed, unmistakable and desperate. Someone was alive in there.
”Another thud echoed, unmistakable and desperate. Someone was alive in there.