At his father’s funeral, Ryan stood just outside the church, doing his best to hold back tears. The sorrow weighed heavily on him—but so did a strange, uneasy feeling he couldn’t shake. Before he could fully gather his thoughts, Bella, his faithful dog, started barking frantically from the car. She paced restlessly and wouldn’t settle down, even after Ryan softly told her to stay. She let out a low whine as he walked away.
Inside the church, the atmosphere was somber. The closed casket at the front of the sanctuary marked the farewell to Arnold—Ryan’s father—whose death had reportedly been due to a contagious illness. For safety reasons, the area around the casket was cordoned off, and a cremation had already been arranged.
Then something completely unexpected happened.
As the final hymn played, Bella suddenly charged through the church doors. She toppled a flower display and sprinted up the aisle, barking with urgency. She reached the casket and leapt onto it, refusing to budge. The entire congregation turned, stunned.
Ryan’s heart was racing. He trusted Bella’s instincts—and he could feel something was wrong.
“Open it,” he said firmly.
A hush fell over the room as Ryan stepped forward. He slowly lifted the lid.
The casket was empty.
