Jack in the Box

Stranger's Gift

My name is Emily. I was seventeen years old when my parents died, they left me a heritage worth more than I thought. They left me a big mansion I never knew existed. I moved to the house a while ago, my aunt stayed with me until I turned eighteen, she left me because she was scared of the mansion. I never knew what scared her exactly. She would tell me a horror story every night since I was a kid.

This is what my life is now. I live alone in a gigantic mansion, a few of my friends come to visit on the weekends. My boyfriend Chris comes for visits a lot, but he is currently studying in Australia to get his Master's degree in law. My best friend Stacy is on vacation with her family, and I'm left alone now. My aunt rarely comes for visits. I dearly miss my parents.

I was out today for work, I work at a retail store. When I got back home, I saw a package in front of my house, I took it inside and checked it, my name is on there, but the sender's name isn't. To be honest it kinda scared me, but I didn't mind it much. I opened the package, it was a Jack in the Box toy, I wonder why would someone send it to me. There was a letter in there, it said, "Take care of this toy, or you'll regret it. Your dad sent it to me when we were a bit younger, I never knew what it does or anything. I resent this to you so you can take it as part of your heredity. I'm sorry about your parents' loss. I've gone through the same thing. I know how you feel. Just don't forget!! Take care of the toy or YOU WILL REGRET IT!!" To be honest that scared me. The police never knew how my parents were killed. We found them just laying there on the ground, dead.

It was time for me to go to sleep now. The toy looked really creepy, I lit the fireplace and threw it in. I watched it burn and then I went to sleep. The next morning, I went downstairs to get breakfast and leave for work. While I was passing through the living room, I saw the toy again. It wasn't burnt, it wasn't even harmed in any way. I left it there for a while and I decided to get rid of it when I get back from work.

I went to work as usual. Mandy's shift was after mine today. Mandy is the kind of girl that would bully everyone and anyone. She always picks on me, but when Chris is here, she doesn't even get near me. I finished my shift from work today and I headed back home. I found a note in the front of the door. It said, "I hope you're taking care of the toy." I though it was all just some stupid prank pulled on me by one of the teenage boys. I didn't care. I went in and took the toy outside my house and threw it in the dumpster.

I woke up early today to the sound of knocking on my door. I took a quick glance at myself and headed to the door. I opened it and I found the toy again, with another note, it said, "I WARNED YOU!" I thought of the teenage boys again, they were playing around here yesterday. I took the toy in again, and I realized there was another paper in there. It said the rules to taking care of Jack.

1. Feed him.

2. Keep him warm and comfy.

3. Give him his own room and space.

4. Never deny him.

5. Clean him and take care of him like he's your only child.

I didn't listen to any of this bullshit. It sounded stupid. I knew someone is pulling a prank on me. I went to sleep and left the toy in its place. I heard a knock on the door again today. I opened it and I saw a few police officers. One of them came up to me and said, "Are you Emily?"

I replied, "Yes, is there anything wrong?"

He said, "We're just here to search the house. You know your parents died here."

I said, "They did, now you come searching for answers??!!"

He said, "Sorry ma'am, we got a call from someone and they said a lot of sound are coming from your house, any ideas?"

I replied, "I didn't hear any sound around here, and I didn't make any."

He said,"Do you mind if we search the house?"

I shook my head and I let them in.

They searched the entire house and left me with unanswered questions. They got me suspicious, and I wanted to get answers. I'm gonna find whoever sent me the toy, and find every thing I want.