The early morning hours were always a time of peace and hope for him. The fisherman, long accustomed to the silence and rhythm of the sea, knew every whisper of the surf, every subtle shift in the water. But that day, the familiar calm was broken. The sun had barely risen over the horizon when his attention was caught by a strange object washed up on the rocky shore.

At first, he thought it was a container, a rusty scrap of iron, or perhaps just an abandoned crate. But the closer he came, the heavier the tension in his chest grew. Before him lay a coffin. A metal coffin. Ancient, corroded by rust and salt, covered with barnacles and seaweed, as if it had been drifting across the waves for decades before finding its way here.

An Unexplainable Find

The fisherman froze in disbelief. Around him, the coast was deserted. Only the cries of seagulls and the eternal breathing of the sea kept him company. A shiver ran down his spine. His first thought was not to touch it, to call the police immediately. But human nature is merciless—curiosity is stronger than fear.

The coffin was secured with a small rusty lock, but the metal had long since been eaten away by the sea. One strong tug, and the lock disintegrated in his hands. His heart hammered in his chest. With effort, he began to lift the heavy lid, which groaned loudly, the sound echoing in his head like a warning.

A Shocking Discovery

Inside was not what he feared most—a human body. But the coffin was far from empty. Wrapped in fabric darkened by age lay peculiar items. An old leather diary, water-stained but still legible. Beside it—a tarnished cross on a chain and a small wooden box, eaten away by sea worms.

The fisherman froze, not knowing what to do. His eyes fixed on the diary. With trembling fingers, he turned a few fragile pages and saw faded handwriting. Words, written in the hand of a sailor long gone, told of a strange voyage, a curse, and a final warning: “The coffin must never be opened on land.” The words seemed to pulse with menace, as if they were meant for him alone.

The Legend Awakens

He suddenly remembered the stories told by old men in the village. They spoke of a ship that vanished in these waters over a century ago. A ship carrying not just passengers, but a «special cargo» no one was meant to know about. Its fate had remained a mystery: no survivors, no wreckage, nothing left behind.

And now, right before him, lay evidence, torn from the depths of that forgotten legend.

A Decision That Could Change His Life

The fisherman’s thoughts raced. Should he call the authorities? Should he take the items home? Or return them to the sea, as if nothing had ever happened? His hands, however, moved on their own, lifting the wooden box. At that moment, a cold wind swept along the coast, so sharp it felt like the world itself was warning him to stop.

Inside the box was an object—a strange metallic amulet, covered in symbols that made no sense. Its surface glowed faintly, shimmering with shades of green and blue, as if the depths of the ocean were trapped inside it. Instinctively, the fisherman pulled his hand back. His chest tightened—he felt he was being watched, though the shore was empty.

A Mystery or a Curse?

He snapped the coffin shut and staggered back. His head spun, thoughts tangled. Should the world know of this? Or should the secret be buried forever beneath the waves? The diary’s words echoed: “Whoever touches the amulet will bind his fate to the sea.”

Just then, an unusually high wave crashed against the shore, drenching him with icy water. The coffin shifted, as though it longed to return to the ocean. And the fisherman realized—the sea would never release this secret willingly.

An Echo From the Past

He did not take the diary. He did not touch the amulet again. He left everything where it lay. Yet as he walked back toward his boat, he could not shake the feeling of unseen eyes following him. The words from the diary thundered in his mind: “He who opens the coffin awakens that which has slept for centuries.”

From that day on, his mornings at sea were never the same. The surf no longer soothed him. The cries of seagulls reminded him of the secret he had left behind. But above all, he knew one thing with certainty—he was no longer alone.