The Coffin Was Still Breathing

Chapter 2: The Sound Under the Lid

Ethan froze.

The mourners behind him shifted uneasily. Maria's face tightened, but only for a second. Then she lifted her chin and forced a sharp laugh.

"Wood settling," she said. "Funeral homes make sounds."

Ethan stared at the coffin.

Then it came again.

A dull, desperate thud.

This time, half the room heard it.

An old woman in the back gasped. The priest crossed himself. The funeral director went pale and took one step backward.

Ethan turned slowly to Maria.

"Open it."

Maria's voice dropped. "Do not make a scene."

"Open it."

"I said no."

Ethan reached for the coffin latch.

Maria grabbed his wrist hard enough to leave marks. "Your father left instructions. Closed coffin. Immediate burial. No viewing."

The funeral director cleared his throat nervously. "Mrs. Langford, I was not given written instructions about a sealed coffin."

Maria whipped around. "You were paid to follow orders."

That was her mistake.

The room heard it.

Ethan's eyes changed.

He shoved past her and pulled at the first latch. It was locked. The second was locked too. Someone had sealed the coffin from the outside.

"Why is it locked?" Ethan demanded.

Maria's breathing sharpened. "For health safety."

"Then where is the medical order?"

No answer.

Ethan looked toward two male cousins near the front row. "Help me."

Maria screamed, "If anyone touches that coffin, I will sue every one of you!"

No one moved.

Then the coffin knocked again.

Three times.

Harder.

Ethan picked up a heavy brass candleholder from the altar table.

Maria's eyes widened. "Ethan, don't you dare."

He raised it and smashed the first lock.

The sound exploded through the hall.

Maria lunged at him, but the cousins finally grabbed her arms. Ethan smashed the second lock, then the third. His hands were shaking so badly he could barely lift the lid.

"Get it open!" he shouted.

The coffin lid rose.

For one second, no one understood what they were seeing.

Robert Langford lay inside, alive, eyes wide with terror, his mouth sealed with black tape.

Ethan screamed.

"DAD!"

Maria stopped fighting.

All the blood drained from her face.