The Forbidden Latch: The Price of Curiosity
by Patrina S. Clarke
The first thing anyone noticed about the new girl was her curiosity. She was the type to look into every corner and ask questions about everything. She wanted to know about the old part of the school, the closed off bathrooms, even the broken vending machines. People said she would touch anything just to see what it did.
So, when she found the box, no one was surprised it was her.
It was a Friday afternoon, and the sky was changing between rain and sunlight. Students were scattered around the school waiting for their buses. She wandered near the old auditorium which was closed off after the roof collapsed. She saw something sticking out from under some boards and caution tape.
A box.
Small. Black. Smooth.
And on top, a single gold latch.
On the box, it said: DO NOT OPEN
That was it, there was no explanation for why it shouldn’t be open. Those words made her eager to open it. So, she put the mysterious box in her backpack.
That evening, she went to softball practice like normal. Some of her teammates were already practicing. The echoing sound of bats hitting balls filled the air with the sound of their cleats running in the wet grass. She sat the box down on the bench and it was as if time froze as everyone immediately turned to look. The box was small but carried a big presence. It was as if everyone started gravitating to its existence.
“What is that?” Ari asked.
“What’s in it?” Syd asked.
“I found it near the auditorium,” Lidia answered. “I think someone left it there.”
Ari frowned and said, “Maybe it’s dangerous.”
“It’s tiny,” Lidia chucked, “How dangerous can it be?”
Syd shook her head and said, “It says ‘Do Not Open’ maybe you should throw it away.”