No Stranger
Shawn was no stranger to discovering the unexpected. In fact, he thrived on it.
While wandering through the woods, he came across something that seemed out of place—an object that appeared ancient and mysterious. Unsure of what it contained, Shawn couldn't resist taking it with him. But what seemed like a harmless find would soon prove to be a grave error.
Love For Adventure
Shawn Parker’s love for adventure began in his childhood. His parents would create pirate maps, sparking his imagination as he searched for hidden treasures in their garden.
This early fascination led him to adopt the title of "relic hunter." Growing up in New Orleans only added to the excitement, as the city offered an endless mix of mystery and intrigue. Little did Shawn know, the strange and extraordinary world he was about to explore would exceed even his wildest dreams.
Variety Of Digging Tools
Over the years, Shawn amassed a variety of digging tools, each one ready to help him uncover whatever he could find. These tools became his trusted companions in his quest for discovery.
One seemingly normal day, Shawn drove his truck to a bayou near his home, a place he visited often. He came here regularly, hoping to unearth something valuable. Little did he know, this visit would mark the beginning of a series of terrifying events.
Arrived At The Bayou
Every time Shawn arrived at the bayou, an unsettling sensation would creep over him. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about the area that sent a chill down his spine, a feeling far from comforting.
After gearing up with his waterproof waders and gathering his digging tools, he was ready to get started. With no one else around, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to make a discovery. But as he stepped onto the soggy, mud-covered shore, he unknowingly uncovered something strange.
Shallow Waters
David tread carefully through the shallow waters of the swamp, well aware of the stories surrounding a dangerous snapping turtle that lurked in the bayou. The tales had made him cautious, knowing that the creature’s ferocity could cost him fingers or toes if he wasn’t vigilant.
With each step, he scanned the rocks around him, wary that one might be the lurking predator. His heart raced as his eyes landed on something unexpected. There it was, just ahead, exactly what he had been dreading.
Something Unusual
Shawn wasn’t shocked to stumble upon something unusual on the ground. As he crouched down, he saw an old hand tool with a wooden handle lying there.
Curious, he picked it up and studied it closely. The metal parts were covered in rust, giving it a weathered, ancient appearance. He was amazed by the oddity of the find and puzzled at how it had remained hidden in this spot for so long.
An Ancient Digging Instrument
The tool before Shawn resembled an ancient digging instrument. Could someone else have been excavating in the same spot? Was this person another relic hunter like him?
Shawn scanned the area, his eyes scanning every corner for any hint that might explain the tool's presence. Could this discovery be the first step toward uncovering something even more valuable?
Could Not Shake The Feeling
Shawn couldn't shake the feeling that this tool was just the beginning. Something told him that more would follow, and this seemed like the perfect place to wait.
He unpacked his gear—setting up a small table, chair, and snacks—then turned his attention back to the tool. He examined it closely, hoping to find an inscription or a date. But what he discovered next would completely change the course of his day.
Walking Along The Shore
As Shawn continued his walk along the shore, his foot struck something odd beneath the surface of the mud. He paused and uncovered a small wooden box, partially exposed.
Despite its time spent submerged, the box seemed surprisingly well-preserved. A rush of excitement surged through Shawn as he realized this discovery was exactly the kind of adventure he had always hoped for.
His Good Fortune
Shawn was astonished by his good fortune. After a long stretch of disinterest, he had finally stumbled upon something that sparked his curiosity. Just as he was ready to give up his hobby, this unexpected find reignited his passion.
He felt confident that this was the breakthrough he had been waiting for. Patience had brought him to this moment, and he knew that with perseverance, something meaningful would emerge. He couldn’t wait any longer—he had to open the box.
What Was Inside
He put the box on the camping table. It felt light for its size, and he was beginning to doubt whether anything was inside.
He remembered he had a pair of bolt cutters in his toolbox at the back of his truck. It would come in handy to open up the lock on the wooden chest. His heart began to race with anticipation.
Open Sesame
Shawn opened the chest with a sense of dread, but he pushed forward, determined to find out what was hidden inside. His fears were soon replaced by a feeling of awe when he finally saw what was inside.
It was not what he was expecting at all. He thought he had come across a chest of golden relics, but instead, it was a box of old trinkets. But what Shawn found would scare him to the core.
A Mysterious Bottle
As he folded back the dirty material on top, there was a small bottle in a plastic bag on top. He assumed it was to keep the liquid in the bottle from falling out.
He looked at the bottle. There was a yellow-brown liquid inside. It looked and smelled awful. Shawn put it down. He didn’t want to know what was floating inside.
More Items
He was beginning to wonder if the box would hold anything of interest. Then, he looked closer, and it seemed like there were more items in the chest.
They were all packed neatly together. He wondered how the muddy water of the swamp had not seeped in and ruined everything inside. That’s when he would make a gruesome discovery.
A Gruesome Discovery
He rummaged through the box with a trembling hand, and what he found inside made him gasp. There were bones of some kind, wrapped in tattered clothing.
His mind raced as he tried to make sense of what he had found. He was sure they looked like animal bones. But then he was looking at something more menacing.
The Doll
It was a voodoo doll. It had pins stuck in it. This was getting creepy. There were also smooth pebbles that had markings on them. What did this all mean?
There was also a broken mirror, and Shawn knew that this symbolized bad luck. What had he stumbled upon here? Was this meant to grant someone bad luck for the rest of their life?
Time To Leave
Shawn was really starting to worry. He had no idea what this was all supposed to mean. He decided to close the chest and pack up for the day.
It was getting late and he was getting an uneasy feeling at the bayou. He felt like he wasn't alone anymore - like he was being watched.
Hidden
When he got home, he decided that the best place to put the box would be in his basement. He didn’t want his wife or kids to find it.
He put it high up on a shelf and left it there until he decided what he was going to do with it. Shawn would find out that it would be the beginning of horrible things to come.
Sleepless Nights
That night, after he and his family had dinner, they talked about their day, and then it was time for bed. But he lay in bed looking at the ceiling. He couldn’t sleep.
Shawn couldn’t stop thinking about what he had found. It was something unique, but he was getting an unsettling feeling. Something didn’t feel right, but he didn’t know what it was.
Family Day
The following morning, Shawn and his family decided to spend the day together. He had been so busy with work and his hobby that they hadn’t done anything together in a while.
They went for lunch and ice cream, and then they went to an amusement park. It was nice to unwind with the family, Shawn thought. When they got home, they would stumble upon something terrifying.
Cold House
When they stepped inside the house, it felt freezing cold. It was a warm day... what could’ve made the house feel like this? He wondered if the thermostat could be broken.
Shawn ignored it and kicked off his shoes to get comfortable. As he walked to the bedroom, he heard a blood-curdling scream coming from the kitchen.
House Of Horrors
He ran to the kitchen to see what his wife, Lauren, was screaming about. She was standing in the doorway. It was something he had not expected to see.
All the cupboards and drawers were wide open. They were closed when they left the house - he knew this because he was the last one in the kitchen. There was something terrible happening in his house.
Something Wasn’t Right
Shawn and Lauren quickly closed all the cupboards and drawers before their kids noticed anything. She asked him what was going on.
Shawn’s response was vague. He knew something wasn’t right, but he wasn’t sure. He didn’t even get a full night’s sleep. Then more strange things befell the Parker family.
No Sleep
The next morning, his kids were up very early and were watching cartoons in the living room. Shawn thought it was not like them to get up so early on a Sunday.
He asked his son, Jack, why he and his sister Maddie were up so early. Jack’s response was worrying, to say the least. He said they didn’t sleep the night before because there was a woman who came into each of their bedrooms.
Night Visitor
Shawn was horrified and quickly ran to his children's rooms to see what was going on. He was relieved to find that nothing was there. When he returned to the living room, he asked Jack to explain what had happened.
Jack said that the woman had appeared in his room first, and then in Maddie's. She was tall and beautiful, with long dark hair and a strange, glowing white dress. She told the children to go to the basement.
An Investigation
Shawn was starting to think that their house was haunted. His wife was angry and asked him what he had brought into the house. Shawn said that he didn’t bring anything that would harm them.
Lauren couldn’t take it anymore, the children were scared out of their wits, and there was something in the basement. She decided to investigate.
A Sense Of Foreboding
When Lauren got to the last step in the basement, she had a weird sense of foreboding. Something was telling her to check the old bookshelf.
It was her grandparent’s bookshelf - she had inherited it. On top, she saw a wooden box. It was this box that was giving her strange feelings. She decided to confront her husband.
The Truth Revealed
When Lauren asked him about the box, Shawn could no longer hide the truth. He told her where he got it and that he was going to take it to a museum.
Lauren told him to check the box again because something was making their house feel eerie and uneasy. Shawn would find something he hadn’t seen before.
The Forgotten Letter
As he opened the box again, he saw there was a piece of paper rolled up with a ribbon. He read it and his blood ran cold.
The box was meant to curse someone, and the small bottle contained the person’s teeth and hair. Shawn had brought evil to his family. He needed to do something to get rid of the curse that had befallen him and his family.
Dead and Buried
The letter stated that he had to put everything back and lock the box. Then he had to bury it in the place along with the old digging tool.
And that was what Shawn did. He buried the chest and tool deep within the muddy shores of his favorite bayou. He hoped no one would find it. Over the past few months, his family was at peace. No figure visited the children. Shawn was relieved that he was able to stop the curse from harming his family even further.