The Woman They Tried to Bury Alive

Chapter 2: The Woman in the Coffin

Clara pulled free and swung the axe again.

The coffin lid cracked wider.

Two men rushed toward her, but Rose suddenly stepped between them and the coffin.

"Touch that girl," Rose said, her voice shaking, "and I will scream the truth in front of every guest here."

The men stopped.

The old man glared at her. "Rose, do not make this worse."

"Worse?" Rose laughed, almost choking on the word. "You put my sister in a coffin while she was still breathing."

Margaret began crying. "We had no choice."

Clara stared at her. "No choice?"

Arthur grabbed Margaret's wrist. "Be quiet."

That was when Clara understood.

This was not only about death.

It was about money.

Lady Evelyn had planned to change her will that morning. Clara had heard her speaking to the family lawyer in the library. Evelyn wanted to remove Arthur from the trust. She wanted to leave the estate to her sister Rose and fund a shelter for former servants.

By evening, Evelyn was "dead."

Clara had found the truth by accident. While preparing Evelyn's burial clothes, she saw the old woman's fingers twitch. Then she heard the faintest breath.

When she told the family, they called her hysterical.

So she found the axe.

Now the coffin lid finally broke apart.

Inside, Lady Evelyn lay pale and still, but her eyes were open.

Barely.

Clara dropped the axe and reached for her.

"Madam," she whispered. "I am here."

Evelyn's lips moved.

No sound came out.

Rose sobbed and reached into the coffin, touching her sister's face.

"She's cold," Rose cried. "But alive. Call a doctor!"

No one moved.

The old man said quietly, "No doctor is coming."

Clara turned.

"Why?"

Arthur answered this time, his voice low and ugly.

"Because if she wakes completely, we all lose everything."

Then Evelyn's hand rose weakly.

She pointed at the old man.

And whispered one word.

"Poison."