The 365 Letters

The rain started at exactly 6:17 in the evening. Ariana remembered the time because that was the exact moment her phone rang. She stared at the screen. Unknown Number. For a few seconds, she didn't answer. Her twenty-third birthday was already terrible enough. Her mother had forgotten to call. Her brother had sent a short message—Happy birthday. Busy. Talk later. And the small cake sitting untouched on her kitchen table was beginning to look more pathetic by the minute. The phone continued ringing. Finally, Ariana answered. “Hello?” Silence. “Hello?” she repeated. Still nothing. Then the call ended. Ariana frowned and placed the phone on the table. “Perfect,” she muttered. “Even strangers are calling to ruin my birthday.” Three sharp knocks came from the front door. Ariana froze. She wasn't expecting anyone. She slowly walked toward the door and looked through the peephole. No one. Another knock. This time, louder. Ariana opened the door. The hallway was empty. She stepped outside and looked left, then right. Nothing. But lying on the floor in front of her door was a white envelope. Her name was written on it. ARIANA HAYES Her heartbeat suddenly became louder. She picked it up. There was no stamp. No sender's address. Nothing except her name. She returned inside and locked the door. Her fingers trembled as she opened the envelope. Inside was a single piece of paper. Ariana unfolded it. The handwriting made her stop breathing. She knew those letters. She knew every curve. Every uneven line. It was her father's handwriting. Her father had been dead for three years. She read the letter. My dearest Ariana, If you are reading this, I am already dead. Do not trust anyone in our family. Tomorrow, you will receive another letter. Until then, do not tell anyone about this. Not even your mother. —Dad The letter slipped from Ariana's hand. For a moment, she couldn't move. Her father had died in a car accident. Everyone knew that. Her mother had told her a drunk driver had crashed into his car. The police had closed the case. There was nothing mysterious about it. Nothing. Ariana picked up the letter again. Her eyes returned to one sentence. Do not trust anyone in our family. Her breath became shallow. Then suddenly— BANG! Something hit her window. Ariana screamed. She ran toward it. Outside, the rain had become heavier. The street was empty. No one was there. She looked down. A small black box was sitting outside her apartment door. Ariana slowly turned around. The door was still locked. She hadn't heard anyone come. Her phone rang again. Unknown Number. This time, Ariana didn't answer. A message appeared. OPEN THE BOX. Ariana stared at the words. Another message arrived. Your father was murdered. Her phone slipped from her hand. For three years, Ariana had believed she knew the truth about her father's death. But as she stood alone in her dark apartment, holding a letter from a dead man, one terrifying question entered her mind. If her father hadn't died in an accident... who killed him? And more importantly— Who was watching her now?