Our metal detectors found a strange box buried in the sand.

Beep beep beep.
The familiar beeps of the metal detector rang out across the sand. Followed by the furious sounds of digging. When I got there, Elizabeth was already pulling it out.
“Woah. What is that?â€
“Treasure!†she squealed.
It was a thin, wooden box, faded around the corners. I was a bit jealous -- all I'd found so far were a few coins and coke cans. Elizabeth always found the good stuff.
“I can't get it open,†she said, prying at it with her fingers. The metal clasp at the front was rusted over badly.
“Maybe your dad can do it.â€
But her dad couldn't do it. Nor could her older brother, her mom, or me. “Do you have to keep it in the house?†her mom, Mrs. Greenberg, complained. “It smells.â€
It did smell. Like salty water, hot sand, and rotten fish.
“No way,†Elizabeth said. “If I keep it outside, someone will steal it.â€
We talked about it late into the night, as I was sleeping over. “Maybe it's got real, bonafide treasure inside,†Elizabeth said, her eyes dancing in the glow of the nightlight.
“Maybe,†I yawned. “Or maybe it's just some old dude's stamp collection.â€
“Hey! We know there's something metal inside.â€
“No, we don't. The clasp is metal. That could've set off the detector.†I pulled my sleeping bag over me and rolled over. “I'm tired, Elizabeth.â€
“Okay. Goodnight, Jackie.†I heard a soft thump and the scrape of wood as she placed the box back in the nightstand drawer.
***
My eyes fluttered open.
My back hurt from the floor. My neck ached. I glanced at the clock -- 4:07 AM.
That's when I noticed the smell.
The smell of rotting fish and salty water. Like the box -- except amplified by a thousand. I gagged a bit and turned to Elizabeth.
I couldn't see her. It was too dark. Did she turn off the nightlight?
I opened my mouth to ask, but stopped short.
Click, click.
Soft sounds, coming from the other side of the bedroom. Where Elizabeth was sleeping on her bed.
“Elizabeth?†I whispered.
No reply.
“Elizabeth?†I whispered, a little louder. “Is everything okay?â€
I reached for my phone. I pressed the power button, illuminating the room in a dim blue glow.
I froze.
A figure hunched over Elizabeth's bed.
Too tall to be her mom or brother. Too thin to be her father. Its fingers raked over the nightstand, as if looking for something. Click, click, click. My fingers fumbled for the power button. Shut off, shut off --
Thump.
The phone slipped from my fingers and clattered to the ground.
The figure stopped.
And turned towards me.
Milky white eyes met mine. Stringy hair fell down its shoulders, tangled with seaweed. Its plump, gray, water-logged skin shined in the light.
It took a shaky step towards me.
“The drawer! The box is in the drawer!†I shrieked.
For a moment, it stared at me with its milky eyes.
Then it slowly turned around.
Scrrrrrppp.
The familiar sound of the drawer pulling out. Clunk. Then the slap of wet footsteps against the tile. Creeeaaak. The door creaked open.
All was still.
***
“You stole my box! How could you?!†Elizabeth screamed. “Give it back! Give it back!â€
“Elizabeth, calm down,†Mr. Greenberg said. “Now, Jackie, please give Elizabeth her box back. I understand you were jealous, but --â€
“Let her take it,†Mrs. Greenberg interjected. “That thing reeked. Good riddance.â€
“I didn’t take it!†I said.
“Then what happened to it?†Elizabeth spat. “You were the only one who knew where it was! What, did it just disappear?â€
“Sort of?â€
“Get out!â€
“Elizabeth, no,†Mrs. Greenberg said. “Stop. Jackie’s not going anywhere.â€
I turned to her and smiled. Thank you, Mrs. Greenberg. Thank you --
Mrs. Greenberg turned to me and looked me squarely in the eye. “Jackie can’t leave yet. She needs to clean up all this sand she tracked in first."
BD


Source.