The Mysterious Box

The Collins family had just moved into their new home and were busy unpacking. That's why they didn't notice the paper-wrapped box at first. It was plain brown paper, like the kind you use to cover schoolbooks. Otherwise, there was nothing to tell where it came from or what it was. The box had simply been left on the porch of the Collins home as if it were a package delivered. Sarah Collins, the teenage daughter, was the one to find the box on the porch. She brought it inside and handed it to her dad, thinking it was probably for him. From the moment she touched the box, Sarah felt an overwhelming sense of dread. It was so strange that she was relieved to hand it off to her dad as soon as possible.

Mr. Collins also felt dread as he took the box from his daughter. He promptly set it down on the entryway table and went back to unpacking. However, he could not get the mysterious box and its effects from his mind. It nearly drove him crazy that night, trying to sleep. Early the next morning, Mr. Collins decided to check if anyone had delivered it to them. He called friends and family, though each time the answer was no. Most people did not even know the Collins's new address. Next, he checked with the post office. They reminded him that if the package was blank, they could not have delivered it. Mrs. Collins helped her husband by meeting some of the neighbors and ask them about the box. No one on their street knew anything about such a box.

By the end of the first day with the box, the entire Collins family could feel the dread seeping into their house. It was unnerving and distracting. Davey, the ten-year-old boy, refused to sleep in his room and had to move his mattress into his parents' room. Sarah had to sleep with the hallway light on. It felt as if they were constantly being watched. The air began to feel heavy as if it were trying to choke them. They were all obsessed with the box and what might be inside. They could think of nothing else. Yet, the dread had sunk so deep into their souls that none of them wanted to be the one to open it.

After a few hours into the second day, the Collins family was so tormented that they were going crazy. Scratching at the walls, tearing their hair out, and crying uncontrollably. Mr. Collins couldn't take it anymore. He called the rest of the family into their new living room. They circled the box after Mr. Collins set it on the coffee table. Being so close to the box was unbearable. The kids rocked back and forth on the couch and Mrs. Collins clutched a pillow tightly to her chest. Mr. Collins stared at each of his family in turn, waiting for a nod of consent. When all agreed, Mr. Collins shakily reached for the box.

He decided to rip off the paper as he would a bandaid, as quick as possible to get it over with. The paper came off easily but the air became even thicker as it fell to the floor. The box was a simple wood, not even sanded or stained. Everyone tensed as Mr. Collins reached for the lid, pulled it open, and... everyone fell over dead.

The End

~~~

"Wait, what?! You can't end a story like that!" Ian threw a piece of popcorn at his brother. Luke pulled his sleeping bag up to block, then immediately pulled it back down to glare in response.

"Of course you can! It was a good story! You were even scared! Ryan was scared too! Right, Ryan?"

The twins' friend waved his hands, "I'm not getting into this."

"You can't just say everyone died and not give any more conclusion! What was in the box? How did they die? It doesn't make any sense!"

"That's what makes it scary! The unknown!"

"Next camp out, you are banned from the scary stories. That was stupid. All it did was confuse us and make us mad!"

Ryan interjected, "Again, leave me out of it."

The twins continued arguing while Ryan adjusted his sleeping bag. The tent they had made out of blankets and chairs felt a bit claustrophobic as the twins went back and forth. Suddenly, a light came on in the hallway and the twins' mother called out.

"Boys, we said you could have a camp out in the living room if you went to bed at a decent hour. Your father and I have work in the morning. Go to bed or no more sleepovers with Ryan!"

"Yes, Mom!" Ian and Luke yelled out. They waited for the light to turn back off and for the sound of shuffling footsteps. When their mom had gone back to bed, they resumed their argument in harsh whispers.

"You're just upset that you can't come up with a story like that!"

"Anyone could come up with a story that doesn't make any sense! It's not that hard!"

"I'm going to sleep. Goodnight guys." Ryan rolled over to face away from Ian and Luke and tried to ignore the continued whispers. Personally, he agreed with Ian. The story of the mysterious box just didn't have that great of an ending.