Doomed Child in a Coffin of Sins

A priest has shown up at my first birthday party. He claims that I'm a cursed soul—that my presence will bring doom to those close to me, and my existence itself can snatch everyone's luck.

The only way to counter this is to give me up to an orphanage and let me live a life of poverty and suffering. Without a family, I'll be able to overcome my fate as a cursed soul.

Daddy has the priest cast out of our home immediately. Meanwhile, Mommy hugs me tightly.

"My son is the luckiest boy in the whole wide world!"

But everything has changed when my younger brother, Andy Lawson, has fallen off the 20th floor. His body is completely shattered from the fall.

I can only stand by the window uneasily. Fear is evident in my eyes as I wave my hands with all my might.

"It wasn't me! It really wasn't me!"

The wind that day is very strong, but it can never drown out Mommy's cries.

Daddy hoists me up and stuffs me into Andy's coffin. I keep latching onto the sides of the coffin to the point my fingers are all bloodied and trampled over. At the same time, I keep screaming for Mommy.

Mommy stares at me blankly at first. But her hollow gaze is soon filled with hatred.

"Why aren't you the one dead? That priest told us that you'll have to stay in the coffin for seven whole days and nights just to atone for your sins! Only then can Andy's soul rest in peace!

"This is your fate and your sin, Adam!"

The heavy lid slowly covers the coffin, soon sealing my hoarse cries and screams away.

A long time later, a few voices ring out amid the sorrowful melody played by the organ.

"Why is there a tiny gap in the coffin? Hurry up and nail it shut! We can't afford to have misfortune spread to us!"

When the final nail is bolted onto the lid, I close my eyes.

Mommy, Daddy, I'm no longer a cursed soul.

The air was getting thinner and thinner.

Andy Lawson's tiny body was pressed against mine, frigid. I struggled to lift my hand. My fingers barely touched the coffin lid before sliding back down in a powerless drop.

"Did you hear that?" a voice outside asked hesitantly.

Another person immediately snapped, "Hey, cut it out! You're scaring me!"

The man who had spoken first sounded terrified, his voice trembling. "I mean, this family's youngest son did just die an unjust death. The older son is supposedly cursed, the kind who brings bad luck wherever he goes.

"I heard his parents say it themselves. The older son was the one who caused his little brother's death. Doesn't that make him a vengeful spirit now? If I were his parents, I'd regret ever having the older son.

"Now, let's make sure the lid is sealed tight. Wouldn't want any stray cats or dogs to crawl inside."

The hurried footsteps slowly faded away, leaving behind a silence as dead as a grave.

I curled up inside the freezing coffin, my limbs already numb. I opened my mouth, wanting to scream for help, but an invisible hand squeezed my throat shut. I couldn't breathe.

I struggled to sit up and pushed against the coffin lid with all my strength. After what felt like forever, I managed to force it open just a tiny crack. Fresh air rushed into my lungs. I greedily gulped it down.

Mommy and Daddy were still waiting for me to come home. They said that as long as I behaved, listened to them, and stayed by Andy's side, they would forgive me.

But the air was running out. My body grew weaker and heavier.

In my dazed state, I thought I could smell the faint aroma of food. I then heard Mommy's voice. It came through the thick wooden lid, laced with resentment.

"Come out and eat. Once you're done, get back inside and stay there to atone for Andy."

I wanted to answer her, but I didn't have any strength left.

Somehow, my silence only made Mommy angrier. "Hey, what makes you think you can throw a tantrum? You deserve this, you know? Andy's gone. How do you still have the nerve to keep living?"

I only wanted to tell Mommy that I would be good, but I couldn't get out. I was going to suffocate.

With the last trace of strength in me, I weakly pounded against the coffin walls. Dull, muffled thuds echoed from inside.

"Hey, you little bastard! What are you making a fuss about?" Daddy chided angrily. "You won't let Andy rest in peace even after he's dead, will you?"

The pounding stopped. I leaned against the coffin wall, not daring to cry out loud.

They couldn't hear my plea for help. Or maybe they could—they just didn't want to help me.

I reached around in the darkness until I found Andy's cold hand. I held onto it tightly and pressed it against my face. "I'm sorry, Andy. It was all my fault. I did this to you."

Tears streamed down my face. For once, there was something hot in this freezing coffin. They fell onto Andy's stiff arm, then slowly lost their warmth.

Maybe it was time I accompanied Andy.