THE CALL I SHOULDN'T HAVE ANSWERED
955 Words
My phone started ringing at 2:13 a.m.
"Who the hell is interrupting my beauty sleep?"
I pulled my blanket over my head and ignored it.
The ringing stopped.
Finally.
I closed my eyes again.
A few seconds later, it started ringing again.
"Oh, come on."
I grabbed my pillow and shoved it over my head.
I wasn't answering.
Whoever was calling could wait until morning.
The ringing stopped again.
Good.
I pulled the blanket back over my head and tried to go back to sleep.
Then my phone buzzed.
I reached over, grabbed it from my nightstand, and glanced at the screen.
And froze.
I didn't know which scared the hell out of me more.
The fact that someone had called me at 2:13 in the morning...
Or the name on my screen.
Evan Carter.
The boy everyone thought was dead.
I stared at the screen.
No.
That couldn't be right.
I blinked a few times, hoping the name would somehow change.
It didn't.
Evan had been dead for three months.
I knew that.
I'd been at his funeral.
I'd watched his mom cry beside his casket. I'd stood in the rain with everyone else while they lowered him into the ground.
So why was his name on my phone?
The ringing stopped.
I stared at the screen.
Missed Call — Evan Carter
My stomach twisted.
Maybe it was a prank.
Maybe someone had his old number.
Maybe his number had been reassigned.
Those were the only explanations I could think of.
But who would do something like this?
And why me?
Before I could think any further, my phone started ringing again.
I nearly dropped it.
Evan Carter.
I just stared at it.
My thumb hovered over the answer button.
I didn't want to pick up.
But I needed to know.
I pressed it.
"Hello?"
Nothing.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked at the screen.
The call was still connected.
I put it back against my ear.
No one spoke.
I listened.
There was a faint sound on the other end.
Breathing.
Slow.
Quiet.
My heart started pounding.
"Who is this?"
Nothing.
I sat up straighter.
"Evan?"
Still nothing.
For some reason, I couldn't hang up.
I don't know why.
Maybe because some part of me already knew.
Maybe because I was terrified of what would happen if I did.
Then I heard something.
A voice.
So quiet I almost missed it.
"Riley."
My entire body went still.
I knew that voice.
I knew it better than anyone.
"Evan?"
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone.
Call ended.
I called back.
Straight to voicemail.
I tried again.
Voicemail.
I lowered the phone slowly.
What the hell was happening?
There was no way Evan had just called me.
He was dead.
Wasn't he?
I sat there staring at my phone, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Was I dreaming?
Maybe I was.
Maybe I was still asleep and my brain had somehow made all of this up.
I looked around my room.
Everything looked normal.
My clothes were still thrown over the chair.
My lamp was still on.
My phone was still in my hand.
I pinched my arm.
"Ow."
Okay.
Definitely awake.
I let out a nervous laugh.
I didn't know what was happening.
And honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to know.
I needed some fresh air.
I got out of bed and walked toward the window.
I pulled the curtains open.
The street was empty.
For a second, I just stood there.
Everything looked normal.
The streetlights were glowing.
A few houses had their porch lights on.
No cars.
No people.
Nothing.
I rested my forehead against the cool glass.
Maybe I was losing my mind.
Maybe I'd imagined the whole thing.
Then I noticed someone standing underneath the streetlight across the road.
I froze.
A man.
He wasn't moving.
I couldn't see his face from where I was standing.
But he was looking straight at my house.
My phone vibrated in my hand.
I looked down.
One new message.
From an unknown number.
Don't look outside again.
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