At seven months pregnant, I volunteered to take for my sister and their partner while they were on vacation. I was also expecting my own child. At some point during the day, I was in the basement when I came upon three suspicious garbage bags. I was forced to flee for my life as a result of the information contained therein, and the recollection continues to torment me.
While I was making my way through the thick forest that was located behind my sibling’s home, I heard a voice inside my brain yell, “Run, Julia, faster!” As I struggled to catch my breath and overcome with fear, I grabbed my bloated stomach with one hand while using the other to swat away twigs that were flying at my face…
Just beyond these woods was where the next bus stop was located. How was it possible for me to be so naive? Are you so naive?
I wiped my hands on my dress while softly murmuring, “It’s okay, baby.” I was looking down at my hands, which were shaking and sticky with blood that was drying off. We are not in danger. Someone is going to come and get us.
The whole thing started two weeks earlier…
When my phone rang with a call from my sister Morgan, I was sitting on the sofa, aimlessly scrolling through my phone. I was experiencing a moment of distraction.
“What’s up, big dude! What’s going on?” In spite of the tension that has been building up between us as of late, I responded while making an effort to infuse my voice with a sense of joy.
Oh, Julia! How are you doing, my favorite sibling? Through the phone, Morgan’s voice could be heard clearly. “Listen, I am in terrible need of a favor. I will be attending a wedding and taking a short vacation, so Taylor and I will be gone for a week. Do you or Alex have the ability to house-sit for us?
Prior to my ability to answer, I became aware of rustling, which was then followed by Taylor’s voice entering the chat.
It’s going to be so much fun for you, Julia! Your sweetheart, you have nothing to worry about. Almost all of the house’s maintenance is handled by itself.
When I thought of the icy manner that Taylor had been displaying toward me a short while before, I hesitated.
Our relationship had been more strained over the course of the preceding year, ever since Alex’s firm began to perform very well and our financial condition had significantly improved.
In the meanwhile, Morgan had experienced a string of failures, and I could see how it was a burden for both them and Taylor on their shoulders.
The moment I made the announcement that I was pregnant seemed to be the breaking point. Taylor’s response had been less than joyful, in contrast to the rest of the family’s celebrations.
In fact, they did not show up to my gender reveal party, citing “too busy” as the reason for their absence when I attempted to contact them to inquire about their absence.
I was aware that was not the case. For years, Taylor and Morgan had been attempting to conceive, but they had not been successful owing to the health problems that Taylor was experiencing. My pregnancy was so uncomplicated that it seemed like I was adding salt to their wounds.
After that, there was the event that occurred a month ago, in which Taylor threw a party to commemorate Morgan’s successful completion of a significant contract. When I questioned them later, they rejected it with a feeble justification about “limited space.” Alex and I were not invited, and they did not accept our invitation.
The pain that had been caused by that particular time continued to linger.
Now, here they were, calling me to beg me to watch their home. Or was this a gesture of goodwill? It’s possible that they were prepared to put their envy to the side.
I wanted to think that this may be a turning moment in our relationship, despite the fact that I had any concerns about it.
With a hint of optimism in my tone, I said, “Sure, I’d be delighted to be of assistance.” “At what point do you require my assistance?”
“Alright, I’ll be there in a little while.”
As I was hanging up, Alex strolled in, his face displaying a look of worry as he took note of my facial expression.
As I conveyed the problem to him, I saw that his expression was filled with anxiety.
“Are you certain that’s a good idea?” He inquired in a soft voice. In recent times, Taylor has been experiencing a lot of tension.
I let out a sigh while absentmindedly stroking my stomach. “I know, but maybe this is their attempt to mend things? Plus, it could be nice to have a little getaway before the baby arrives.”
Alex still looked doubtful, his brows furrowed with concern.
“I wish I could come with you, but I have crucial meetings all week,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “Are you absolutely certain about this?”
I nodded, trying to exude more confidence than I felt. “I’ll be fine, honey. I can manage.”
He still didn’t seem convinced, but he nodded. “Okay, if you’re sure. Just promise me you’ll take care, alright?”
I leaned in and kissed him softly. “I promise. I’ll be okay.”
The next morning, I stood outside Morgan and Taylor’s mansion, waving goodbye to Alex as he drove away after dropping me off.
Morgan and Taylor emerged with suitcases in hand.
“Julia!” Morgan enveloped me in a gentle hug, keeping a safe distance from my belly. “Thanks so much for this. We really appreciate it.”
Taylor offered a strained smile, air-kissing my cheek.
“Yes, thank you,” they said, their tone overly sweet. “Everything you need is inside. We must run to the airport. Have a wonderful week, darling!”
And just like that, they were gone, leaving me alone in the expansive house.
I wandered through the rooms, feeling strangely out of place.
My phone buzzed with a text from Alex: “Miss you already. Call if you need anything. Love you both.”
I smiled and quickly replied before settling onto the couch. As night fell, the house seemed to grow more vast and empty.
The taxidermied animals on the walls appeared to watch me, intensifying the sensation that I was being observed.
Three days passed in a blur of Netflix binges and long naps.
On the fourth morning, I decided to be productive. After my daily call with Alex, I cleaned the kitchen and headed to the basement to check the furnace.
Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, I noticed three large garbage bags tucked away in a corner.
“Weird,” I murmured. “Taylor must’ve forgotten to take these out.”
I snapped a quick picture and texted them a joke: “Forgot something? No worries, I’ve got trash duty covered!”
Moments later, my phone erupted with notifications. A text from Taylor read: “DON’T TOUCH THEM! SERIOUSLY, GET OUT OF OUR BASEMENT! NOW.”
Before I could process their alarm, the phone rang.
I answered, confused. “Taylor? What’s going on?”
“Julia, listen carefully,” they hissed. “Get out of the basement. Now. Don’t look at those bags. Just go upstairs and pretend you didn’t see them.”
“Okay, okay,” I stammered, stepping back. “I’m leaving now.”
I hung up, my heart racing. What could possibly be in those bags that elicited such a reaction from Taylor?
Despite my instincts screaming at me to flee, curiosity overwhelmed me.
I approached the nearest bag, hands trembling as I untied the knot.
As I opened it, the bag ripped, spilling its contents onto the floor. The moment I processed what lay before me, ice coursed through my veins.
Ritualistic items. Decayed chicken bones and feathers. Voodoo dolls. Countless crude, handmade dolls, each bearing a photo of MY FACE. Many were stained with a dark, reddish-brown substance and emitted a foul odor. The stench of decay filled the air, making my stomach churn.
“Oh my God,” I whispered, stumbling backward. “This can’t be—”
I fumbled for my phone, dialing Alex with shaking fingers.
“Baby,” I gasped when he picked up. “I need you to come get me. Now.”
“Julia, breathe,” Alex’s voice crackled through the speaker. “What’s happened?”
I struggled to explain between gasps, my words spilling out in a panicked rush.
“Bags in the basement… voodoo dolls with my face… blood… Alex, I think Taylor’s trying to curse our baby!”
“Jesus Christ,” he murmured. “Okay, listen. Get out of that house right now. Don’t wait for me. Just get to the bus stop on the main road. I’m on my way.”
I didn’t need a second invitation. I raced up the stairs, pausing only to grab my purse before bursting out the front door. The woods behind the house offered a shortcut to the road, and I plunged in without hesitation.
Branches whipped at my face as I sprinted, my pregnant belly making it difficult to navigate. My ragged breathing punctuated the snapping of twigs beneath my feet.
Finally, I broke through to the road, the bus stop just a few yards away. I collapsed onto the bench, gasping for air, my hands and clothes smeared with dirt and blood from my frantic escape.
Minutes later, Alex’s car screeched to a halt in front of me. He jumped out, rushing to my side. “Julia! Are you okay? The baby?”
I nodded weakly as he helped me into the car. As we sped away, I recounted everything I had seen in a shaky voice.
Alex’s knuckles were white against the steering wheel. “I knew we shouldn’t have trusted them,” he muttered. “Especially not Taylor. With how they’ve been acting…”
“I can’t believe they’d do this,” I whispered, tears streaming down my cheeks. “My own sibling’s partner… how could they hate me this much?”
Alex squeezed my hand reassuringly. “We’ll figure this out, I promise. But first, let’s get you home and safe.”
The next few days were a blur of fear and disbelief.
Taylor called repeatedly, but Alex insisted I shouldn’t talk to them until Morgan returned. When they finally came back from their trip, I braced myself for the confrontation.
We met at a neutral location—a quiet café downtown. Morgan appeared confused and concerned as I recounted my discovery, while Taylor’s expression shifted from shock to anger, ultimately settling on defeat.
“I didn’t mean for you to find out!” Taylor blurted, their voice rising. “I just… thought maybe—”
“Thought maybe what?” I interjected, my voice quaking with anger. “That you could curse me? Curse my baby? What the hell is wrong with you?”
Morgan sighed heavily, a mix of disappointment and disbelief on their face. “Taylor, this needs to stop. You can’t—”
“I did it because I was jealous!” Taylor’s voice cracked, their desperation spilling over. “You just waltz in here, flaunting your perfect life while I suffer! I thought… maybe if I could just control it, maybe I’d finally get my chance!”
The revelation hit me like a slap. It wasn’t just jealousy; it was something deeper, something twisted and dark.
Morgan’s face paled as they processed Taylor’s confession. “You need help. We need to talk about this.”
But I wasn’t waiting around for that. I stood up and walked away, tears blurring my vision as I left the café, my heart heavy with betrayal.
I wanted to believe we could fix this, but I knew I couldn’t put my baby at risk, especially not for the sake of someone who harbored such darkness.
That day, I made a decision: I would do everything in my power to protect my child, even if it meant cutting ties with the family I once cherished.