You should’ve distrub the graves

There’s an old abandoned haunted house that has just of an old abandoned pond behind it. People think it’s the house that you need to be worried about but instead it’s really the pond. The house was built first in 1805 and the pond was built much later. People say that families have kept dying over the years of drowning especially after the pond was made. This pond is always foggy and it’s always been creepy. There are so many theories about this pond. That a family dug up a graveyard to make it. The Jones built the house in 1805 but over the years being hot and they wanted something fun for their children. Jack and Rita the family had lived in this house for years. In 1820 they were able to build this pond the reason they took so long was because they built the house in front of a graveyard. A family graveyard no less, fortunately where they built the house the graveyard didn’t get disturbed. However, wanting to build the pond they would have to dig up the graveyard and distrub it. The wife Harrietta was against all of this said, “Frank, there is no way I’m allowing you to disturb our family graveyard. It was close enough with the house but I will not allow you to make a pond.” Frank was upset and distraught about this because all he wants to do is make his children happy. He’s been wanting a pond in the back yard for the children because of how hot it’s been. It’s been over 100 degrees everyday in the Louisiana heat. Harrieta let him know that they didn’t have to man power to help and the money has been scarce the mills are almost done and Frank will be out of the job soon. Frank said, “I’ll be getting a promotion the mills are fine. I also don’t like my children seeing so much death. A graveyard is no place for a child.” Harrieta stay, “well you should have thought about that before building a home by the graveyard.” Frank, then gets upset saying, “ we had no choice it was a cheap lot and we needed a home. This is our family home near my families graveyard. We can move the bodies and the graveyard else where.” Harrieta felt scared of the thought her pale features became even more pale like she saw a ghost, her red lips went pale, and her green eyes went black. “Are you serious?” In disgust. “ We cannot move the bodies and the tombs stones somewhere else that is just insane.” “I will not be apart of that or allow it.” Frank said, “well, it is my family graveyard so I’ll do what I wish with it. I already made up my mind it’ll be done tomorrow.” Harrieta in fear, sadness, and shock looked at him turned then walked away.

The next day Frank and some work buddies started on fhe digging of the tombs and bodies to make the pond. Harrieta was in the house making lunch when Jack and Rita comes running in 8 year old twins but extremely smart for their ages sometimes Harrieta thought too smart. Both at the same time, “hey mom, what is Dad doing out there with his buddies? They’re destroying the graveyard.” Harrieta stopped what she was doing turned to them and said, “ your father decided to make you kids a pond to swim in. The family graveyard is in the way so he is going to move it.” The twins looked at each other then back at their mother. “What do you mean move it?” Harrieta knew she had to explain or they wouldn’t give up on the question so she said, “your father needs to take down the tombstones and dig up all the families bodies then he is moving them all to an different section of the land.” The twins thought a moment then said, “ wouldn’t that disrupt their peace and isn’t that not something not to mess with?” Harrieta said,”I believe so but he got the permission to do so and Father Thomas will come by to cleanse the land.” The twins looked at her and at each other then after a few moment made an approval nod.

It took months to get the tombstones down and relocate the bodies to a different section. Father Thomas cleansed the new gravesite. This now gave Frank the opportunity to finish with the pond. Him and his buddies made a beautiful pond clean water, some algae growth, brought in some beautiful rocks for decore. The children were laughing and playing an splashing around. He was happy that his children were happy. After awhile the children relaxed and Frank nearly forgotten it use to be the family graveyard. Harrieta on the other hand didn’t forget. She was still feeling uneasy. Always watched the children just in case. Except for one particular day. That day ruined the rest of her life and Frank’s and the children. The day the children drowned. They had one simple rule not to swim alone in the pond without Harrieta or Frank around to watch them. That rule was broken for that the tragedy of both children were lost forever.

Harrieta was making lunch one day knew that after lunch the children likes to go for a swim. Frank was at work and he got the promotion so he won’t be home until later that night. The day was beautiful clear skies warm it was always eerie that not matter what time of day or what the weather was like the pond had a fog on top which made it really spooky. She could never understand why the children loved swimming in it with the fog and it always scared her of it seeing them. This was the day she wasn’t able to and they disappeared forever. While making lunch the children snuck out to the pond. They were hot and uncomfortable. Jack wasn’t really sure about it without his mom but Rita was determined. “Look, Jack it’s hot really hot today and mom is still making lunch. I can’t take this heat. We will be ok mom will be out with lunch soon.” “I know but still it’s a rule we can’t break it we will get in so much trouble and I really don’t want to get grounded over the summer it’s too hot to stay in.” Jack said. “Well, we won’t get in trouble we can tell mom we got hot and got in a little bit early knowing she was coming with lunch.” Said Rita. “We can say we got too hot and wasn’t thinking.” Jack wasn’t buying it. He said, “ let’s at least ask mom if we can go in early before her maybe just sit beside it or put our feet in the pond.” Sighs, “fine let’s go ask her then” exclaimed Rita. They go in the kitchen. “hey mom can we go by the pond and just put our feet in? it’s really hot today.” Rita asked. Harrieta was almost done making their lunch she said, “ok, but just your feet I am almost done with lunch.” The twins excitedly screamed out thanking her. They go running off to the pond. They get to the pond and sat down by it and put their feet in. Kicking and splashing giggling. They started splashing the water at each other. Then stopped after getting tired. They layed down on the grass with their feet still in the pond. Jack crossed his arms together and put it on the back of his neck. Closed his eyes enjoying the moment the birds chirping the sun on his face, the air even though it was not and muggy. All of a sudden he hears a scream from Rita. “Jack!” Jack sits up and sees Rita getting pulled in the pond. Rita is now flipped on her belly and she’s scratching at the ground trying to get a grip from being pulled. “Jack, help me!” Rita cries in fear. Jack gets up runs to Rita and slides down to grab her hands. He catches her hands trying to pull her. He can’t see with all this fog of what was taking his sister. “Jack, something has me it’s hurting me help me.” Crying Rita is still being pulled in the pond at this point Rita is now at her neck. Jack is now sliding with her can’t get a good grip on the ground he’s crying out for his mother to help. They both go under quickly being held down by something. Dragging them down deeper and deeper. Drowning fighting to swim up but they can’t because something sinister is holding them down. They both try to swim and fight but the more they struggle the worse it gets. They go deep into the pond into the fog. Disappearing in it. Gone forever.

Harrieta is in the kitchen getting the plates together. Getting the tray three plates of food they’re favorites. “Ok, time for lunch.” As she opens the screen door with her body to go outside she looks up and she doesn’t see her children. Which isn’t unusual since the fog is so dence she have to get closer to see them. As she walks closer and puts the plates on the outside tables. She walks over to the pond. “Children time for lunch.” She yells hoping they hear her. Nothing she gets closer and starts walking around the pond. She doesn’t see them or hear them. She sees something floating in the pond she gets closer and she sees Rita’s pale face eyes open in fear mouth open and then vanished something pulled her daughter back in. Harrieta screams, “noooo not my baby, she goes in the water trying to find Rita and Jack she’s in there what feels like hours but only minutes. Nothing no sign of them. The pond isn’t that deep. She gets out runs in the house. She calls dispatch, “please someone help me my children drowned in the pond I can’t get them out help me please.” Dispatch notifies the police. She runs back to the pond. Tried again to find her children nothing she’s getting weaker and weaker. The police finally shows up helps her out. They go in for hours they were looking for the children in the pond. Every in of it nothing no sign of their beloved children. Frank comes home holds his wet scared, distraught wife. Goes outside to the police finding nothing. He goes back to his wife. “What happened? Where’s the children? What did you do?” “Me what I did? I told you not to distrub the graveyard bad things always happens when you do but you didn’t listen you had to make this pond and now our children are gone forever.” Frank stood there shocked. He couldn’t believe his wife blamed him. He turned away from her leaving her crying and grief stricken. He needed to get a grip he goes to the police. They let him know there’s no one in there. They had to leave. They said their sorrys had them make a statement and left.

That night Frank couldn’t sleep he goes to the bathroom for a shower to relax from the grief. To himself, “ I can’t believe she would blame me for this. How is this my fault. It’s just a pond. It was just a graveyard. How dare she blames me.” He gets out toweling off. The steam and fog from the shower left condisation on the mirror. After drying off his face he looked up to the mirror someone or something started writing, “You shouldn’t have disturbed the graves.”

By Laura L. Bottini