My MIL Hid Plastic Containers of Brown Mixture All over My House — Her Reason Stunned Me
When Lisa and Jim returned from vacation, everything seemed perfectly normal until Lisa discovered mysterious containers hidden around their home, each filled with a strange, aromatic mixture. What began as a faint, peculiar smell soon revealed a chilling family secret.
My husband, Jim, and I had planned a two-week trip to visit my parents, so we asked his parents to house-sit and feed our pet turtles while we were away. It seemed like a simple favor, and we trusted them completely. They agreed readily, promising to take good care of everything while we were gone.
Couple on a vacation | Source: Pexels
When we returned, everything seemed normal at first. The house was tidy, the turtles were well-fed, and there were no immediate signs of anything unusual. We unpacked our bags, grateful for the break and glad to be home.
However, a few days later, things started to feel a bit off. It began with a peculiar smell, faint but persistent, that I couldn't quite place. I decided to do a thorough cleaning, thinking maybe some food had gone bad or something had spilled while we were away.
Woman sweeps floors | Source: Pexels
As I was cleaning, I opened the closet in our bedroom to put away some clothes and noticed a small plastic container tucked into the back corner. It was filled with a brown mixture that looked like a strange combination of herbs and oils.
I frowned, wondering what it could be. I carefully picked up the container, planning to show it to Jim later.
The mixture of herbs and oil | Source: DALL-E
Later that afternoon, while tidying up the living room, I found another plastic container under the couch. This one was almost identical to the first, filled with the same peculiar brown mixture. A sense of unease began to creep over me. Why were these containers hidden around our house?
Determined to get to the bottom of it, I continued my search. In the kitchen, I found another plastic container hidden in the back of a cabinet, behind some pots and pans.
The mixture in a container under a couch | Source: DALL-E
Then, in the guest bedroom, there was one under the bed. Each discovery made me more anxious. What were these containers for, and why had Jim's parents put them here?
By the end of the day, I had found eight plastic containers in total. They were in the most unusual places: inside drawers, behind furniture, even in the attic. My curiosity turned to worry. I decided it was time to show my husband what I had found.
The 8 containers she found | Source: DALL-E
When Jim came home from work, I led him to the kitchen table, where I had placed all the containers. "Look at this," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "I found these hidden all over the house. Do you know what they are?"
His eyes widened as he took in the sight of the containers. He bent down to examine one closely, then looked up at me sharply. "Don't touch them! My mother..."
The woman showing her husband the mixture | Source: Midjourney
His words were cut off by the sound of a car pulling into our driveway. We glanced at each other, and he quickly went to the window. It was his parents. My heart pounded as I wondered what was going on.
"Stay here," he instructed and headed downstairs to meet them.
I couldn't resist following him quietly. From the top of the stairs, I could hear the tension in their voices. His mother was speaking in hushed tones, but I could catch fragments of the conversation.
The woman at the top of the stairs | Source: Freepik
"...didn't think she'd find them so soon," she whispered.
"What's in those containers, Mom?" Jim demanded.
"It's... it's a secret. One we never wanted to involve you in."
I couldn't take it any longer. I descended the stairs and joined the conversation, asking, "What is it? What's in the containers?"
Remorseful middle-aged woman | Source: Pexels
The tension in the air was palpable. Jim's mother, Mary, looked genuinely remorseful as she began to speak.
"I need to explain," Mary said, her voice shaky. "This isn't something we usually talk about outside the family. It's a burden we've carried for generations."
Jim crossed his arms, his face stern. "Go on."
Man with crossed arms on colorful background | Source: Pexels
Mary took a deep breath. "Our family has always been followed by dark spirits. It's said to have started centuries ago, with an ancestor who dabbled in forbidden rituals. Ever since, these spirits have clung to our bloodline, causing misfortune and fear."
I leaned forward, trying to wrap my head around what she was saying. "But what do the containers have to do with it?"
"They contain a mixture of herbs and oils," Mary explained.
Confused woman grabs her head | Source: Pexels
She continued, "It's a recipe passed down through the generations. When placed strategically around the house, it creates a protective barrier that keeps the spirits at bay. We've always used it, and it's kept us safe."
Jim stood up abruptly, anger flashing in his eyes. "Mom, you know Lisa has severe allergies! You could have killed her with your 'protective' concoctions!"
My mother-in-law’s face went pale. "I... I didn't think..."
Jim turned to me, his voice gentle but firm. "Did you open any of the containers?"
Shocked elderly woman | Source: Pexels
I shook my head. "No, I was cautious."
Relief washed over his face, but he was still visibly upset. "Mom, you need to remove them. Now. I can't believe you brought this into our home without considering her safety."
My mother-in-law looked stricken, but she nodded. "Of course, we'll take care of it immediately."
As they began removing the containers, Jim took me aside. "I'm so sorry. I knew Mom was into this stuff, but I never thought she'd put you in danger."
Mary removes the container | Source: Midjourney
"It's okay," I said, squeezing his hand. "We need to make sure everything is safe now."
"I understand it sounds strange," she said, looking down at her hands. "But we've dealt with these spirits for so long. We thought we were helping."
Jim shook his head. "I appreciate the intention, Mom, but you have to think about the consequences. Lisa's health comes first."
His father, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "We truly didn't mean any harm. We'll find another way to keep the spirits at bay. Something that won't risk anyone's health."
Serious man touching his chin | Source: Pexels
I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thank you. I just want to make sure our home is safe for everyone."
As they left, Jim and I sat together on the couch, still processing everything. "What a mess," he muttered.
"Yeah," I agreed. "But at least it's over now."
"Let's hope so," Jim said, leaning back with a sigh. "Let's just focus on getting things back to normal."
Happy couple watches TV | Source: Pexels
But as I leaned against him, the thought nagged at the back of my mind: What if it wasn't really over?
My MIL Was Sneaking into Our House at Night, Unaware of Our Door Cam – When I Found Out Why, It Broke My Heart
When Lily heard the front door slam in the dead of night, she feared the worst and rushed to her son's room, only to find Gage munching on cookies left by his secret visitor. The discovery of her mother-in-law's covert late-night visits turned Lily's world upside down.
It all started one morning. I woke up and couldn't find my hairbrush. I always kept it on my nightstand, but it wasn't there. I searched around and finally found it in the living room. "I must be getting forgetful," I muttered to myself, trying to laugh it off.
Lily looks for her keys in her living room | Source: Midjourney
But it kept happening. One day, my keys were in the refrigerator. Another day, my shoes were in the bathroom. "What is going on?" I wondered, feeling a bit worried. I even joked with my husband, "Maybe we have a ghost!"
Then there was our son, Gage. He's usually a ball of energy, always running around and making noise. Lately, though, he had been so quiet and sleepy. "Gage, are you okay?" I asked him one afternoon as he lay on the couch, not moving much.
Sleepy Gage | Source: Midjourney
"I'm okay, Mommy," he said softly, but I wasn't convinced. He didn't have a fever or any other symptoms, so I couldn't figure out what was wrong.
Then one night, I heard the front door close with a loud slap. My heart raced as I sat up in bed, straining to hear any other noises. Was I dreaming? I listened closely. Silence.
Lily wakes up at night | Source: Midjourney
"No, that was real," I whispered to myself, feeling a chill run down my spine. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. It was 2 a.m. I quickly slipped out of bed, my feet hitting the cold floor, and rushed to Gage's room, my mind racing with fear.
"Are we being robbed?" I thought, panic rising in my chest. "Is someone in the house?" I moved quietly, trying to avoid making any noise. My heart pounded in my ears as I reached Gage's door. I took a deep breath and slowly pushed it open.
Clock showing 2 a.m. | Source: DALL-E
I gasped when I saw Gage sitting up in bed, wide awake. He was munching on cookies, and crumbs were all over his pajamas and sheets. Relief washed over me, mixed with confusion.
"Gage, what are you doing?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
He looked up at me with big, innocent eyes. "I'm eating cookies, Mommy," he said simply.
Gage eating cookies with crumbs all over him | Source: Midjourney
Want to know what happened next? Click here to find out how the cookies appeared in Gage's bedroom at night.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.