Mr. Ramon was digging the foundation for his new house when he unexpectedly discovered an ancient coffin adorned with intricate, ornate carvings. Convinced that it must contain gold and treasures, he insisted on opening it despite the villagers pleading with him not to. But what awaited him inside was not wealth or riches, but…
Mr. Ramon’s house stood at the end of a quiet lane, right at the edge of an old forest. The ground there had been long settled, mossy and damp, soggy during the rains, and cracked in the sun. He had lived in that rickety wooden house for over thirty years, and now, having saved a little money and received some help from his children, he decided to tear down the old home and build a proper one.
That morning, the rain had just stopped, leaving the earth soft and muddy. A few local laborers came to help dig the foundation. After just a few hours, their shovels struck something hard—not stone. One of the workers shouted:
“Hey, Ramon! There’s something strange here!”
Mr. Ramon hobbled over, leaning on his cane, curiosity shining in his wrinkled face:
“Dig it up! Maybe someone buried a chest of gold long ago.”
The surrounding crowd murmured nervously. More digging revealed a dark wooden edge.
Everyone fell silent.
A few more strikes of the shovel exposed the full object.
It was a coffin.
Not an ordinary one, but made of thick, jet-black wood, polished to a shine. Its top was carved with intricate, swirling patterns—dragons and phoenixes twisted together. Just looking at it sent chills down their spines.
The worker named Tomas swallowed hard:
“Why would something like this be buried under your house, Ramon?”
Ramon’s eyes gleamed with greed:
“Back in the old days, this region was full of chaos and war. The wealthy often buried their treasures. A coffin like this surely contains something valuable.”
“But… opening it could bring misfortune,” another worker warned.
Ramon waved him off angrily:
“This is my land. Whatever lies beneath belongs to me. Step aside if you’re scared. I’ll handle it.”
He stepped into the pit himself, placing a large hammer beside the coffin, ready to smash the lid. But the moment the hammer touched the wood, a sharp “thock” rang out, chilling everyone to the bone. The coffin was incredibly solid.
A cold wind blew, even though the sun was shining.
Curious neighbors gathered. An older man shook his head:
“A coffin buried this deep with wood still intact isn’t a good sign, Ramon. People say these belong to noble families, protected by spells. Touching it could bring trouble.”
“Spells and curses! I just want the gold!” Ramon snapped, greed fueling him further.
He grabbed a crowbar and struck a corner. The wood echoed deeply. Silence fell. Then a faint “crack” sounded—the lid splitting slightly along a seam.
Ramon exhaled excitedly:
“Good! Open it!”
Two strong young men climbed down to help. As they lifted the lid, a blast of cold air escaped, carrying a musty, moldy smell mixed with something faintly metallic. The crowd stepped back.
The coffin lid opened fully.
And then… they saw it.
Inside was not a skeleton, as everyone had expected. It was a woman, dressed in a red brocade gown, her face perfectly preserved as if asleep. Her skin was pale but intact, her long black hair spread across the bottom of the coffin. Between her hands rested a small wooden box.
No one could speak.
Ramon’s heart pounded, but greed overrode fear. He reached out for the box.
Then… the woman’s eyes opened.
Just a sliver, but enough to make everyone freeze.
“Oh my God! She opened her eyes!” someone screamed.
People leapt from the pit, fleeing in terror. Only Ramon stood frozen, legs shaking.
The eyes were milky white, pupilless, staring at the coffin lid as if trying to escape.
The ground trembled.
The lanterns in front of his house flickered.
The air grew thick and heavy.
A voice, not human but like a whispering wind, hissed behind him:
“Return… what is not yours…”
Ramon spun around, but no one was there. Looking back at the coffin, the white eyes stared straight at him.
Suddenly, the woman’s hand jerked.
Then again.
Then… it gripped Ramon’s wrist.
He screamed, struggling to pull free, but the grip was impossibly strong. From the coffin, the woman’s face stretched unnaturally, her mouth opening wider than any human mouth should.
The wind roared in his ears:
“Return what does not belong to you…”
The neighbors rushed to help, pulling him from the pit, but the hand seemed glued to him by some invisible force.
Finally, with a sickening “pop,” Ramon was yanked free.
But his left hand… was gone.
Blood poured. He collapsed unconscious.
The coffin slammed shut as if pushed from the inside.
Ramon was taken to the hospital, alive but exhausted, muttering for three days:
“She… she told me to return… I didn’t take anything… please forgive me…”
The villagers, terrified, set up a temporary altar and called an elder priest. The priest, over seventy, glanced at the coffin and went pale:
“This is a rare feng shui tomb. This woman was sealed, not ordinary. The coffin was protected by a spell for hundreds of years. Whoever opens it breaks the seal.”
“What does that mean?” someone asked, trembling.
“It means what was sealed… has been released.”
The village fell silent.
“Can it be sealed again?” someone asked.
“Yes. But the item must be returned. There is a box in the coffin. Who touched it?”
All eyes turned to Ramon, who had reached inside, though he hadn’t taken the box.
The priest shook his head:
“His greed broke the seal. Now a ritual must be done, apologizing to the energy and restoring peace. Otherwise…” He lowered his voice.
“…worse things will happen.”
That night, the villagers gathered outside Ramon’s house to perform the ritual.
The coffin… opened on its own.
No one dared approach.
A black liquid oozed out, like thin blood, smelling foul. Hair slithered out like snakes, crawling over the ground.
The priest threw incense into the coffin, chanting. The hair recoiled, the coffin shook violently.
“Quick! Close it!” the priest shouted.
Four men pushed the lid shut with all their strength. The priest placed protective charms and chanted nonstop. Only after more than ten minutes did the coffin finally settle.
Everyone collapsed, exhausted.
The priest turned to Ramon, clutching his missing arm:
“You awakened a sealed spirit, but it is not fully unleashed. From now on, never touch what is not yours. If the coffin opens again… I cannot promise the spirit won’t wreak havoc on the village.”
Ramon wept like a child.
Afterwards, the coffin was buried deep, the ground protected with charms. No one dared come near, even in daylight. Ramon abandoned building the new house and moved away with his children.
But the villagers whispered:
Whenever the rain is about to fall…
Three soft knocks can be heard from beneath the ground.
As if someone… is waiting to rise.
Waiting for the day it will be opened again.