Chapter 1 - The Broken Ivory
Daniel thought Noah was destroying a peaceful and dignified funeral.
The wealthy mourners watched in absolute horror as the red-hooded young man raised a heavy steel mallet over the expensive coffin.
One brutal strike left a visible, jagged crack in the pristine ivory lid.
"Stop, put that down immediately," Daniel yelled across the manicured lawn of the cemetery as he rushed forward.
Noah’s tears only grew heavier as he completely ignored the older man's warning.
"She is still inside," the young man screamed with raw, heartbreaking desperation in his voice.
The second massive impact completely shattered the heavy center panel of the wooden box.
Daniel raised his cell phone and loudly announced to the crowd that estate security was on the way.
Noah lowered the mallet without approaching anyone else in the terrified, whispering crowd.
Then a frightened, pale woman’s face slowly appeared in the shadows inside the ruined casket.
Claire was completely conscious, unharmed, and breathing freely in the crisp morning air.
Daniel turned as white as a ghost when she weakly whispered Noah’s name.
He dropped his expensive phone, his perfectly tailored suit suddenly feeling like a suffocating trap.
The crowd gasped as Claire slowly lifted a trembling finger and pointed directly at Daniel's chest.
"He was the one who locked me in the dark," she gasped before trying to climb out.
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But before anyone could help her, Claire froze and screamed in pure terror.
Beneath the torn silk lining of her casket, the rotting hand of a completely different, unidentified corpse was wrapped tightly around her ankle.
