It was half-filled with marbles.
They were grimy, covered in dirt, ruined from rain that must’ve seeped into the container.
I havent been going to beaches with friends.
Amos G
I havent been going to the movies on dates.
Since Ive been bored out of my mind, I decided to start geocaching.
It gets me outside.
It gives me exercise.
And it allows me to explore more of my own town.
It seemed like the perfect way to spend my weekends.
Inside, there will be a little notebook or sheet of paper where everyone can write their name.
Sometimes, people take it a step further and will leave presents that can be swapped out.
It was half-filled with marbles.
They were grimy, covered in dirt, ruined from rain that mustve seeped into the container.
I didnt touch them.
I simply jotted my name down on the slip of paper and went on my way.
My next few stops were in more public places.
A jar was hidden beneath a park bench.
Another was at the front entrance of a shut-down mall.
Another was leaning against a street sign.
I came across a weird post, warning everyone to avoid a certain location.
It was written like a ghost story.
Allegedly, every single person who wrote their name on the list inside the jar there had died.
They had either gone missing or were found dead, their bodies mutilated.
It was the most ridiculous thing Id ever heard.
But I still had a strong desire to scribble my name off of the damn list.
I returned to the woods, stupidly forgetting to pack an umbrella in my bag.
By the time I got there, it was pouring.
I ran through the rain, my shirt absolutely drenched, and pulled out the jar from the tree.
Under the cover of branches, I slipped out the notepad and plugged the first name into my phone.
She came up in an article about a kidnapping.
She was listed as a missing person, presumed dead.
I tried the next name.
JACK PACE MISSING PERSON.
ELIZABETH BLACK MISSING PERSON.
Every single name on the list was missing, murdered, or MIA.
I stuffed the notebook back into the jar, planning to take it to the police.
In the process, my finger brushed against one of the marbles at the bottom.
Except they werent marbles.
They were too squishy.
I swallowed down vomit, sealed the jar, and clutched it against my chest.
I rose from the mud, turned to leave, and stumbled right into a masked man in black.
You have such pretty eyes, he said.
And then it all went dark.
