Episode 7 — The Photograph
328 Words
Daniel stared at the screen.
The photograph showed him sitting behind the wheel.
His hands.
His phone.
The rain sliding across the windshield.
It had been taken from inside the car.
Daniel's eyes moved slowly toward the back seat.
Empty.
He checked the passenger seat.
Empty.
Then the floor behind him.
Nothing.
His breathing became shallow.
He grabbed the key and shoved it into his jacket pocket.
Another message appeared.
Keep driving.
Daniel looked into the rear-view mirror.
The car behind him was gone.
He should have felt relieved.
Instead, he felt completely alone.
He drove toward Ashwood Lane.
The streets became quieter as he left the center of the city behind.
Old warehouses appeared on both sides of the road.
Most of their windows were broken.
Daniel hadn't been here in years.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown Number.
He hesitated.
The ringing continued.
Finally, he answered.
“Who is this?”
For several seconds, there was only static.
Then a woman spoke.
“Daniel?”
His hands tightened around the steering wheel.
He knew that voice.
“No.”
The woman breathed shakily.
“Don't hang up.”
Daniel pulled the car to the side of the road.
His heart was racing.
“That isn't possible.”
“Daniel, listen to me.”
His throat tightened.
He hadn't heard that voice in seven years.
“Maya?”
Silence.
Then the woman whispered something that made Daniel forget how to breathe.
“I never went into the lake.”
Daniel stared through the rain-covered windshield.
Ahead of him stood the faded sign for Ashwood Lane.
Then Maya spoke again.
“Daniel…”
Her voice suddenly changed.
Fear filled it.
“They found me.”
The call ended.
At that exact moment, Daniel's headlights illuminated a figure standing in the middle of the road.
He slammed on the brakes.
The car stopped only a few feet away.
Daniel looked up.
The figure slowly raised its head.
And smiled.
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