The Message
724 Words
Clara remained frozen beside the window long after the shadow disappeared.
She could still feel the stranger’s presence.
Someone had been watching her.
She was certain of it.
“Evelyn,” she whispered.
Evelyn turned toward her.
“What is it?”
“Someone was outside.”
Evelyn’s expression immediately changed.
“Are you sure?”
Clara nodded.
“I saw a shadow.”
Evelyn walked quickly toward the window and pulled the curtain aside.
The street below was almost empty.
A car passed slowly before disappearing around the corner.
“There’s nobody there.”
“He was there.”
Evelyn looked back at Clara.
“Maybe you’re imagining things.”
Clara shook her head.
“No. I’m not.”
She stepped away from the window.
“Someone wants me to remember.”
Evelyn said nothing.
That silence frightened Clara more than the shadow had.
“You know something,” Clara said.
Evelyn looked down.
“I told you everything I know.”
“No, you didn’t.”
Clara’s voice became firmer.
“You’ve been with me through all of this. You know about the party. You know about the hours I can’t remember. And now you’re telling me someone is watching me.”
Evelyn sighed.
“I don’t know who is watching you.”
“But you know why.”
Evelyn remained silent.
Clara stared at her.
“Why?”
Before Evelyn could answer, Clara’s phone vibrated.
Both women looked at it.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
You were there that night.
Clara’s heart began pounding.
Another message appeared.
You saw what happened.
Her fingers trembled as she opened it.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed the outside of the house where the party had taken place.
Clara recognized it immediately.
She had been there.
But something about the photograph made her uncomfortable.
There was a car parked beside the house.
She zoomed in.
Her breathing stopped.
“I know this car.”
Evelyn moved closer.
“Whose is it?”
Clara stared at the image.
“I don’t know.”
Then another memory flashed through her mind.
A car door opening.
A man’s hand reaching for her.
Someone shouting her name.
Then darkness.
Clara dropped the phone.
Evelyn caught it before it hit the floor.
“Clara!”
Clara pressed both hands against her head.
“I remember something.”
“What?”
“A car.”
Evelyn stared at her.
“What kind of car?”
“I don’t know.”
Clara closed her eyes.
“It was dark. I was outside the house.”
“Who was with you?”
Clara opened her eyes.
“I don’t know.”
Her phone vibrated again.
This time, the message contained only five words.
Ask Evelyn what she saw.
Clara slowly turned toward her friend.
Evelyn’s face had gone pale.
“You know something.”
“I don’t.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
Evelyn took a step backward.
“Clara, please.”
“No.”
Clara shook her head.
“Not this time.”
She picked up the phone.
“Someone is trying to help me remember.”
“Or they’re trying to make you remember the wrong thing.”
Clara stopped.
“What do you mean?”
Evelyn looked terrified.
“The night of the party wasn’t what you think.”
Clara’s heart sank.
“Then tell me what happened.”
Evelyn’s lips parted.
But before she could speak, there was a loud knock at the door.
Both women froze.
Three knocks.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Someone was standing outside.
Clara looked at Evelyn.
“Are you expecting someone?”
Evelyn shook her head.
The knocking came again.
Clara walked toward the door.
“Don’t.”
Evelyn grabbed her arm.
“Why?”
“Because whoever is outside knows you’re remembering.”
Clara stared at her.
“And how do you know that?”
Evelyn didn’t answer.
The knocking stopped.
Silence filled the room.
Then Clara’s phone vibrated one final time.
She looked down.
A message appeared.
Don’t open the door.
Clara’s eyes widened.
A second message followed.
He’s not there to hurt you.
She swallowed.
Then a third message appeared.
He’s there to make sure you never remember the truth.
Clara slowly looked toward the door.
The handle began to move.
Someone was coming inside.
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