Seven months pregnant, I agreed to house-sit for my brother and his wife while they vacationed. One afternoon, I stumbled across three mysterious trash bags in the basement. What I found inside made me run for my life and haunts me to this day.
“Run, faster, faster, Celina,” a voice screamed in my head as I stumbled through the dense woods behind my brother’s mansion. Seven months pregnant, I gasped for air, one hand clutching my swollen belly, the other pushing away branches that scratched at my face…
A woman running in the woods | Source: Midjourney
The next bus stop was just beyond these trees. How could I have been so blind? So trusting?
I glanced down at my trembling hands, sticky with drying blood. Wiping them on my dress, I whispered, “We’re safe, my baby. We’re safe. Someone will get us home.”
It all started two weeks ago…
I was curled up on the couch, scrolling through my phone when it buzzed with an incoming call. My brother Victor’s name flashed on the screen.
A smartphone with the screen flashing with an incoming call | Source: Midjourney
“Hey, big bro! What’s up?” I answered, trying to sound cheerful despite the tension that had been building between us lately.
“Celina! How’s my favorite sister?” Victor’s voice boomed through the speaker. “Listen, I’ve got a huge favor to ask. Anne and I are heading out of town for a week. A friend’s wedding plus a little vacation. Any chance you or Paul could house-sit for us?”
Before I could respond, I heard rustling and then my sister-in-law Anne’s voice came on the line.
“Oh, Celina, you’ll love staying here! Don’t worry about a thing, sweetie. The house practically runs itself.”
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
I hesitated, thinking about the cold shoulder Anne had been giving me lately.
Our relationship had become increasingly strained over the past year, ever since Paul’s business took off and our financial situation improved dramatically.
Meanwhile, Victor had faced a string of failed ventures, and I could see the toll it was taking on him and Anne.
Portrait of an upset couple | Source: Midjourney
The last straw seemed to be my pregnancy announcement. While the rest of the family had been overjoyed, Anne’s reaction was lukewarm at best.
She didn’t even bother to show up for the gender reveal party, citing being “too busy” when I called to ask why she’d missed it.
I knew it was a lie. Anne and Victor had been trying for years to conceive, with no success due to some health issues she faced. My easy pregnancy seemed to be salt in her wounds.
A gender reveal party | Source: Midjourney
There was also the incident last month when Anne hosted a party to celebrate Victor finally landing a big contract. Paul and I weren’t invited, and when I politely confronted her about it later, she brushed it off with a flimsy excuse about “limited space.”
The hurt and confusion I felt then still lingered.
But now, here she was, asking me to house-sit. Was this her way of extending an olive branch? Maybe she was finally ready to move past her jealousy and resentment.
A woman lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney
Despite my reservations, I found myself wanting to believe that this could be a turning point in our relationship.
“Sure, I’d be happy to,” I said, hope creeping into my voice. “When do you need me?”
“Morning, eight, yeah?”
“Alright, I’ll be there.”
As I hung up, my husband Paul walked in, his brow furrowing as he took in my expression.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
A concerned man smiling | Source: Midjourney
I explained the situation, watching as concern clouded his features.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he asked gently. “Things have been tense with Anne lately.”
I sighed, rubbing my belly absently. “I know, but maybe this is her way of trying to patch things up? Besides, it might be nice to get away for a bit before the baby comes.”
Paul didn’t look convinced, his brow furrowing with worry.
A worried man sitting on the couch | Source: Midjourney
“I wish I could join you, but I’ve got those crucial client meetings all week,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “Are you absolutely sure about this, darling?”
I nodded, trying to project more confidence than I felt. “It’ll be fine, honey. I can handle it.”
Paul didn’t look convinced, but he nodded. “Alright, if you’re sure. Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay?”
I leaned in, kissing him softly. “I promise. I’ll be fine.”
A pregnant woman sitting on the couch | Source: Midjourney
The following morning, I stood outside Victor and Anne’s mansion, waving goodbye to Paul as he drove away after dropping me.
My brother and sister-in-law emerged, suitcases in hand.
“Celina!” Victor swept me into a gentle hug, keeping a distance from my bulging belly. “Thanks again for doing this. We really appreciate it.”
Silhouette of a woman standing outside a mansion | Source: Midjourney
Anne’s smile seemed forced as she air-kissed my cheek.
“Yes, thank you,” she said, her voice overly sweet. “Everything you need is inside. We’ve got to run to the airport. Have a great week, darling!”
And just like that, they were gone, leaving me alone in the massive house.
A worried woman in a mansion | Source: Midjourney
I wandered from room to room, feeling oddly out of place.
My phone buzzed with a text from Paul: “Miss you already. Call if you need anything. Love you both. 
“
I smiled, replying quickly before settling onto the couch. As night fell, the house seemed to grow larger and emptier.
The taxidermied animals on the walls seemed to stare back at me, intensifying the feeling that I was being watched.
A pregnant woman sitting amid an eerie display of taxidermied animals | Source: Midjourney
Three days passed in a blur of Netflix binges and long naps.
On the fourth morning, I decided to be a little productive. After my daily call with Paul, I cleaned the kitchen and headed to the basement to check on the furnace.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, my eyes fell on three large garbage bags tucked in a corner.
“Weird,” I muttered. “Anne must’ve forgotten to take these out.”
Three fully-loaded trash bags in a basement | Source: Midjourney
I snapped a quick picture, sending it to her with a joking message: “Forgot something? Don’t worry, I’ve got trash duty covered!
”
Seconds later, my phone exploded with notifications. A text from Anne read: “DON’T TOUCH THEM! SERIOUSLY, GET OUT OF OUR BASEMENT! NOW.”
Before I could process her reaction, she called.
I answered, confused. “Anne? What’s wrong?”
“Celina, listen to me,” she hissed. “Get out of the basement. Now. Don’t look in those bags. Just go upstairs and pretend you never saw them.”
A woman gaping in shock as she holds her phone | Source: Midjourney
“But—”
“Just Go. Please.”
“Okay, okay,” I said, backing away. “I’m leaving now.”
I hung up, my heart pounding. What could possibly be in those bags that would make Anne react like that?
Despite every instinct screaming at me to run, curiosity won out.
An alarmed pregnant woman standing against the backdrop of trash bags in a basement | Source: Midjourney
I approached the nearest bag, my hands shaking as I untied the knot.
As I pulled it open, the bag tore and the contents spilled out onto the floor. The moment my eyes registered what lay before me, my blood turned to ice in my veins.
Ritual tools. Decayed chicken bones and feathers. And voodoo dolls. Dozens of crude, handmade dolls, each bearing a photo of MY FACE. Many were stained with a dark, reddish-brown substance and reeked of rot. The stench of decay filled the air, making my stomach churn.
“Oh my God,” I whispered, stumbling backward. “Oh my God, oh my God. This can’t be—”
A voodoo doll with a woman’s picture on it | Source: Midjourney
I fumbled for my phone, dialing Paul with trembling fingers.
“Baby,” I choked out when he answered. “I need you to come get me. Now.”
“Celina, breathe,” Paul’s voice crackled through the speaker. “What happened?”
A terrified woman gaping in shock | Source: Midjourney
I tried to explain between gasps, my words tumbling out in a panicked jumble.
“Bags in the basement… voodoo dolls with my face… blood… Paul, I think Anne’s been trying to curse our baby!”
“Jesus Christ,” Paul muttered. “Okay, listen to me. Get out of that house right now. Don’t wait for me, just go to the bus stop on the main road. I’m on my way.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I raced up the stairs, pausing only to grab my purse before bolting out the front door. The woods behind the house offered a shortcut to the road, and I plunged in without hesitation.
A frightened woman running in the woods | Source: Midjourney
Branches whipped at my face as I ran, my pregnant belly making it hard to maneuver. I could hear my ragged breathing, punctuated by the snapping of twigs beneath my feet.
Finally, I burst out onto the road, the bus stop just a few yards away. I collapsed onto the bench, gulping in air, my hands and clothes smeared with dirt and blood from my frantic flight through the woods.
Paul’s car screeched to a halt in front of me minutes later. He leapt out, rushing to my side. “Celina! Are you okay? The baby?”
A startled man gaping in shock | Source: Midjourney
I nodded weakly, allowing him to help me into the car. As we sped away, I recounted everything I’d seen in a shaky voice.
Paul’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel. “I knew we shouldn’t have trusted them,” he muttered. “Especially not Anne. The way she’s been acting lately…”
“I can’t believe she’d do this,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “My own sister-in-law… how could she hate me this much?”
Paul reached over, squeezing my hand. “We’ll figure this out, I promise. For now, let’s just get you home and safe.”
A shocked woman holding her face | Source: Midjourney
The next few days passed in a haze of fear and disbelief.
Anne called repeatedly, but Paul insisted I shouldn’t speak to her until Victor returned. When they finally got back from their trip, I steeled myself for the confrontation.
We met at a neutral location, a quiet café downtown. Victor looked confused and concerned as I recounted what I’d found, while Anne’s face cycled through shock, anger, and finally, defeat.
A shocked young man | Source: Midjourney
“Is this true?” Victor demanded, turning to his wife. “Have you been… what, practicing witchcraft against my sister?”
Anne’s shoulders slumped. “I… I was jealous,” she whispered. “Your sister got everything so easily… the perfect husband, the thriving business, the baby. I just wanted what she had.”
Victor recoiled in horror. “This is insane, Anne. You need help.”
An alarmed woman looking at a man | Source: Midjourney
“I’m so sorry,” Anne sobbed, reaching for my hand. I pulled away, shaking my head.
“Sorry isn’t enough. You tried to hurt my baby. I can never forgive that.”
In the weeks that followed, our family splintered. Victor filed for divorce, unable to reconcile with Anne’s actions. My parents were devastated, torn between their children and the shocking betrayal.
As for me, I struggled to shake off the fear and paranoia that had taken root. Every unexplained noise, every twinge in my belly sent me into a panic.
Paul was my rock, holding me through tearful nights and accompanying me to every doctor’s appointment to ensure our baby was healthy.
A sad woman sitting on the couch | Source: Midjourney
Slowly, life began to normalize. But as I sat in our nursery, folding tiny onesies and dreaming of the future, I couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of unease.
My phone buzzed with a text from a friend: “How are you holding up?”
I typed out a response, trying to put my jumbled thoughts into words: “Still processing everything. It’s hard to believe someone so close could betray us like that. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: don’t blindly trust someone just because you know them. Terror can strike from unexpected places, even from those closest to you. Stay safe out there.
“
I set down my phone, resting a hand on my belly. Our daughter kicked, strong and healthy despite everything. “We’re okay, little one,” I whispered. “We always will be.”
A woman holding her baby bump | Source: Midjourney
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
I Found Gold Jewelry on My Doorstep Every Day — When I Discovered Who Was Leaving It, I Was Stunned
When Katie stumbled across a gold necklace on her doorstep one day, she thought a neighbor might have accidentally dropped it. However, upon further investigation, she realized an unknown woman was intentionally leaving jewelry at her doorstep. What she found next turned her life upside down.
My friend once told me someone had been leaving flowers on her doorstep, and she later found out it was one of her secret admirers. They later ended up dating each other. Cute, right?
But what I experienced wasn’t anything cute. Instead, it led me to a world of deceit I never knew existed.
It all started about a month ago when I was leaving for work. It was around 8 a.m., and my husband, Matt, had already left.
I picked up my bag, grabbed the car keys, and had just opened the front door when my gaze landed on a shiny gold necklace sitting right beside our welcome mat.
I immediately placed my bag on the floor and knelt to examine it closely.
“What the…” I muttered as I picked up the necklace. Its weight and texture confirmed it was REAL GOLD!
I looked around for a note or something that could explain how it ended up there, but I found nothing.
That’s strange, I thought. That’s super strange.
I quickly slid the necklace into my bag and left for work because it was already getting late.
Later that evening, I pulled the necklace out of my bag and placed it on the kitchen table. I was certain it belonged to one of our neighbors because I couldn’t find any other logical explanation for its sudden appearance.
So, I took a clear photo of it and uploaded it to our neighborhood Facebook group. I wrote, Hey, found a necklace on my doorstep, anyone missing it?
I thought I’d wake up to a few message requests on Facebook from people claiming the necklace. I even planned to ask for proof of purchase to ensure I gave it to the rightful owner. But that never happened.
I woke up to zero message requests and a few kind comments from Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Jonathan saying they’d pray the owner finds it soon. Nothing else.
So, I just kept the necklace in my jewelry box and went on with my life, hoping to give it back to its rightful owner one day. I had no idea the person who bought the jewelry was someone I knew very well.
The following day, I was leaving for work as usual when I stumbled across another piece of jewelry on my doorstep. Gold earrings.
However, this time, I felt scared. What was going on? Was it a prank? Was someone watching me? Was this the beginning of something sinister?
I walked toward the street and looked around to see if someone was there, but I couldn’t find anyone.
What am I supposed to do now? I thought as I picked up the earrings and put them on the kitchen counter. I had no idea what to do with them.
The following day, I found a gold ring on the mat. The next day, another ring. And then a diamond-studded brooch. I was so occupied with work during those days that I didn’t get the time to investigate this properly.
Then, on Friday night, I told Matt about it.
“I have no idea who’s leaving the jewelry on our doorstep but we need to do something about it,” I said. “It’s so creepy!”
“Oh, c’mon Katie,” he said, still glued to his phone. “Doesn’t sound like it’s something bad. Maybe you’ve got a secret admirer.”
He laughed it off like it was a joke, but I was sure something was off. This wasn’t normal.
So, I decided to install a camera on our doorstep hoping to catch the generous person leaving gold jewelry on our doorstep. I was shocked when I saw the footage a few days later.
It was around 5 a.m. when a woman, dressed in a black shirt and a matching cap, appeared on our doorstep with a gold necklace in her hand. The footage showed how she looked left and right before quietly placing the necklace on our mat.
Then, she walked away like nothing had happened.
I couldn’t believe it. Why would a woman leave jewelry on our doorstep? Who was she?
Curious, I decided to wake up early the next morning. I quickly made myself a cup of coffee and sat by the window, waiting for the woman to appear at our doorstep. Sure enough, just as the sun started rising, I saw this mysterious woman tiptoeing across our driveway with another piece of jewelry in her hand.
I opened the door right when she placed it on the mat.
“Hey! Stop!” I shouted before she could walk away.
She froze and stared at me with eyes wide open.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” she said, dropping the bracelet on the ground as she raised her hands.
“Who are you?” I demanded. “And why are you leaving all this jewelry on my doorstep?”
She looked at the bracelet on the ground before her gaze landed on me again. This time, I could see a slight disappointment on her face, like I had said something she wasn’t expecting.
“You had to know the truth no matter how horrible it is,” she began, fidgeting with her fingers nervously. “I’m Tara, and I have been dating your husband, Matt. I had no idea he was married.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. I couldn’t believe the man I loved the most was cheating on me. I had heard of cheating stories, but I never thought it would happen to me.
“I’m so sorry,” she continued. “I had no idea he was married until I saw your picture on his phone last week. He told me he was single. I swear I didn’t know.”
I could feel a cloud of anger rising within my chest. I was angry, but not at her. I knew she was as clueless as me.
It was Matt who had betrayed me.
“So, what’s with the jewelry?” I asked, trying to stay calm.
Tara took a deep breath and leaned against the wall.
“This is all the jewelry he gave me,” she began. “I couldn’t keep it, so I decided to drop it here because it belonged to him. I didn’t know what else to do.”
I should’ve been furious, but instead, I was impressed by this woman. She returned the jewelry without creating a scene despite Matt’s manipulation.
I sensed she wanted revenge, so I devised a plan that would benefit us both.
“I have an idea,” I whispered. “But you’re going to have to trust me.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“What is it?” she asked.
That’s when I told her the plan and she agreed to execute it with me.
Later that night, I wore the bracelet Tara had dropped that day, but Matt didn’t notice or recognize it. Then, as Matt began to get ready for bed, I went to the living room and sent him a message from an unknown number, pretending to be Tara.
I wrote, Hey, I miss you. Can we meet tomorrow?
As expected, he took the bait and replied, Sure. Same place as always?
The trap was set.
The next day, Tara and I went to the restaurant where Matt thought he was meeting his lover. We picked a table at the back of the restaurant, ensuring it was hidden from the entrance. After a few minutes of waiting, I saw Matt entering the place with a smile.
He scanned the room for Tara, and his face lit up when he saw her approaching. But his smile vanished when he noticed me walking behind her.
“Surprise!” I exclaimed sarcastically.
“What’s happening?” he asked with wide eyes.
“Oh, I was just having lunch with your wife,” Tara smiled. “You never told me about her, did you?”
“I… I… uhh,” Matt stammered. “This isn’t what it looks like, Katie. Let me explain, please.”
“Explain what?” I snapped. “That you’ve been cheating on me for months, giving away jewelry like it’s candy, and lying to both of us?”
“No, I—”
“Don’t bother, Matt,” I cut him off. “We’re done. The jewelry you thought my secret admirer was leaving? That was from Tara. Did you really think you’d never get caught?”
Matt was speechless. I can never forget the look on his face.
“Oh, and one more thing. Here’s your engagement ring,” she said as she threw the ring at him. “Turns out, I’m not the only one who’s done with you.”
At that point, the entire restaurant was staring at Matt, and it looked like he wanted the earth to tear apart and swallow him. As planned, Tara and I walked out of the restaurant, leaving Matt to suffer in shame.
And that was the last time I saw my ex-husband, Matt. I immediately filed for divorce after the confrontation, and soon, I was free as a bird. I didn’t have to worry about a man cheating behind my back.
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