THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES #2 – Do Not Open - Horror Narration/Horror Stories

Introduction to the Magnus Archive Episode 2

Joshua Gillespie's Statement

• Joshua Gillespie recounts his experience in Amsterdam during a holiday with friends, highlighting their youthful exuberance and lack of sobriety.

• He describes getting lost while exploring the city alone, emphasizing his background in architecture and desire to appreciate the local buildings.

• After wandering for hours without a map, he eventually finds his way back but feels stressed as night falls.

• In a café, he encounters an unremarkable man named John who introduces himself and expresses a need for help with a package.

• John offers Joshua £10,000 to look after this package temporarily; despite initial suspicions about smuggling, Joshua accepts the money.

The Aftermath of Acceptance

• Following John's departure, Joshua experiences immediate panic over what he has agreed to and contemplates returning the money.

• He refrains from spending any of the cash throughout their trip home, feeling haunted by his decision.

• Upon returning to England nearly a year later, he finally considers using some of the money while starting work at an architect's firm in Bournemouth.

• Struggling financially due to high rents and low pay, he decides to use John's money for living expenses since he believes it would be difficult for anyone to trace him.

Delivery of the Unexpected

The Arrival of a Mysterious Package

• The narrator describes moving into a new place and receiving an unexpected delivery from two imposing men carrying a large package.

• The delivery men, who do not appear to be from any known company, push past the narrator and leave without explanation after placing the package down.

• The package is described as large and heavy, with no return address or postmark, prompting curiosity despite time constraints for work.

Unveiling the Contents

• Upon opening the box, the narrator discovers a coffin made of pale yellow wood, secured with a thick metal chain and padlock that has its key inside.

• A piece of paper labeled "delivered with gratitude J" is found alongside an ominous message scratched into the coffin: "do not open."

Contemplation and Fear

• Conflicted about what to do next, the narrator reflects on their connection to someone in Amsterdam who mentioned needing someone to look after a package.

• As time passes while staring at the coffin, anxiety builds over whether it contains something dead; there’s no smell detected yet.

Decision-Making Under Pressure

• After contemplating for what feels like hours, the narrator decides to investigate further but is unnerved by how warm the coffin feels.

• Seeking distraction, they make tea but remain aware of the coffin's presence in their living space.

Living with Uncertainty

• Eventually deciding to move it out of sight into their living room, they try to avoid thinking about it too much despite its unsettling nature.

• Days pass without incident until one day when they accidentally use the coffin as a table while drinking juice.

An Unexpected Movement

• While resting their glass on top of it, they hear scratching noises coming from within—an alarming development given that nothing had moved for over a week.

The Mystery of the Coffin

Initial Encounter with the Box

• The narrator reflects on a mysterious box that has been making scratching sounds, questioning why it hadn't made noise before.

• After some contemplation, the narrator decides to ignore the box rather than investigate further, feeling torn between curiosity and fear.

• The narrator labels themselves as a coward for choosing not to open the coffin but resolves to minimize interaction with it.

Life with the Coffin

• The presence of the coffin affects social interactions; the narrator avoids inviting friends over due to its ominous nature.

• While reading Michael Crichton's "The Lost World," heavy rain triggers strange sounds from the coffin, described as almost melodic singing.

• Despite recognizing where the sound originates, the narrator remains resolute in their decision not to open it.

Coping Mechanisms

• Over time, strange occurrences become routine; scratching and moaning noises are accepted as part of life with the coffin.

• Sleep disturbances arise; nightmares lead to panic attacks and sleepwalking episodes centered around the coffin.

Attempts at Control

• Concerned about sleepwalking incidents involving a key to the coffin, which they find in hand upon waking up, prompting visits to a sleep clinic.

• To prevent accessing the key during sleepwalking episodes, they resort to freezing it in water—a method that becomes part of their daily routine.

Change in Routine

• After nearly 18 months of living with this bizarre situation, silence during rain signals an end is near when no sounds come from within the coffin.

The Mystery of the Coffin

The Eerie Incident

• The narrator describes a haunting experience involving a coffin, expressing reluctance to witness its opening or the ensuing chaos, marked by screams. They only left the kitchen when delivery men carried the coffin past them.

• After the delivery, there was no further news about John, leading the narrator to move to London and attempt to forget about him. They reflect on their hometown's odd occurrences and eerie stories.

Investigation Insights

• The narrative shifts focus to Mr. Gillespie's statement, which begins with drug use and highlights a lack of corroborating witnesses. This raises questions about the credibility of his eerie story.

• Initial investigations by an institute found no evidence supporting Mr. Gillespie’s claims regarding a scratched coffin, leading the narrator to believe it wasn't worth pursuing further at that time.

Uncovering Records

• Mentioning Tim's recent findings, it is revealed that "Freaking and Hope" was indeed a courier service operational until 2009 but based in Nottingham—far from Bournemouth. Their delivery records are now unavailable.

• Investigations into housing records show that during Mr. Gillespie's two-year residence in his flat, he was reportedly the only tenant among eight units; all others remained vacant after his departure.

Conclusion of Findings

• Following Mr. Gillespie’s exit, the building was sold and demolished shortly thereafter. Attempts to contact former Housing Association employees yielded no explanations for why he lived alone with just an old wooden coffin for company.

Episode Credits