"A Letter From Lacy"A Story by Cody Williams A mysterious package arrives on the door step of Lacy Woodside. Whatever you do DO NOT OPEN THE BOX! “A Letter From Lacy” By Cody Williams To whom it may concern: My name is Lacy Woodside. By the time you read this letter I
shall be no more. This letter is meant as a goodbye note to tell my story and
as a companion to the box in my closet. Whatever you do DO NOT OPEN IT! I sure
wish that I didn’t. The box arrived on my front porch about two weeks ago. I
heard the postman honk his horn. Something about the box must have frightened
him off because when I answered the door he was gone and all that was there was
the package. As I would normally do, I picked up the package and carried
it inside. I carried it to the kitchen and placed it on the wooden counter top.
I looked at the white label on the dorsal side of the package where it read TO:
LACY WOODSIDE. FROM: ROBERT SMITH. This sent chills up my spine. Robert was a deer old friend of mine who worked in the
Science Department of the University where I worked. He died nearly two years
ago from an unknown illness. Curious to what was inside, I grabbed a large knife
from the uninstall drawer and cut the masking tape off of the top of it to open
it. I pulled back the light brown colored pieces of cardboard back from the
center of the package revealing a rectangular dark brown wooden box. On the top of the box in big golden letters read DO NOT OPEN
THIS BOX!!! Underneath the box was a vanilla colored envelope containing a
letter written by Robert. The letter went on for several pages about how he came in
contact with the box and by the time I received the box he would be dead. I
guess he died before he could mail it. He also went on for several more pages
warning me not to open the box. I wish I had listened! Why didn’t I listen? I guess my
curiosity got the best of me. Like the old saying says; “The curiosity killed
the cat.” In this case I am the cat and it is absolutely true! I cannot stress
that enough! What is in that box wasn’t meant to be seen by human eyes. It was
not meant to be known! Anyway, I did exactly what he told me to do and I placed the
box on the top shelf of my hallway closet…at first. I know this sounds crazy,
but every time I walked by the closet, I could hear it call my name. Being the scientist that I am I naturally began to get
curious. I began to feel a bit over confident. I began to think to myself; why shouldn’t I open it? What could be so
horrific about a 12in. by 6in. wooden box? I opened the closet door and
stared at the box for a moment. I reached up and grabbed it off of the shelf. I
put it under my left arm and closed the closet door. I carried the box into the kitchen where I placed it on the
counter top where it was before. I began to inspect the box. I realized that on
the face of the box was a golden lock. I felt a mixture of relief and fear. But
still I felt the nagging feeling that I needed to open it. I remembered the brown envelope that came with the package. I
reached over, grabbed it, and poured everything out of it. Pouring out of it
was all of the documents mailed to me by Robert and a small golden key. “You
don’t need to do this! What will opening that box really do for you? Remember
what Robert told you!” I thought to myself. I ignored it and decided to open
the box. I don’t know what it was about the box that made it so damn
attractive. But I needed to know what was so horrific about it. It seemed like
I would go crazy if I didn’t find out. Against my better judgment I made the
final decision to open the box. I grabbed the key, slipped it into the keyhole, and turned it
to the left. I heard the lock being disabled then I pulled out the key. I
placed the key on the counter next to the box and took in a deep breath. I knew
that I shouldn’t do it, but I felt that I needed to. I placed both hands on the wooden box and lifted up the lid.
To my amazement there was nothing in there. Nothing but a red felt lined box
and a glass door. I noticed a small white square shape piece of paper at the
bottom of the box through the glass door. I opened up the glass door and
grabbed the little piece of paper. The paper read: “WHO EVER OPENED THIS BOX HAS GIVEN IN TO THE WEAK TEMTATION
OF MAN. YOUR PUNISHMENT WILL BE A SHORTENED LIFE. FOR EVERY HOUR YOU REMAIN ON
THIS EARTH, YOU WILL AGE FIVE YEARS.” I am now 85 years old. I don’t know how much longer I have
left to live. Six hours ago I was only forty five years old. The box is now where it should have remained, on the top
shelf in the hall closet. My time is quickly running out. I can feel it. But
just forget about me. Soon there won’t be nothing left of me as I slowly turn
to dust. Whoever you are, whatever you do, please DO NOT OPEN THAT BOX!!! Sincerely, Lacy Woodside Lacy Woodside July 4, 2013
Copyright 2013 by Cody Williams
© 2013 Cody WilliamsAuthor's Note
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Added on August 1, 2013Last Updated on November 21, 2013 Tags: horror, science fiction, fiction, gothic, literature, short story, package, letter, right, wrong, sins Author
Cody WilliamsElizabethton, TNAboutI am in my second year at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee were I major in instrumental music education and minor in English. My passions include playing the trombone/euphonium an.. more..Writing
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