Who's On My Phone

Into the Unkown

Chapter 4

Caius walked briskly across campus, each step feeling heavier than the last. The moment he left the suffocating walls of the lecture hall, a cold unease settled in his chest. He wasn’t sure where he was headed—he just needed to be anywhere but there.

His phone vibrated again. He swallowed hard before glancing down.

Unknown Number: Why are you running?

His breath hitched. His fingers curled tighter around the phone as he fought the urge to look over his shoulder. Instead, he forced himself to keep walking, pretending he hadn’t seen the message.

The crowd of students blurred around him. Laughter and conversations buzzed in the background, but to Caius, it was just white noise. His world had shrunk down to the small device in his hand—the messages, the threats, the unseen presence that refused to leave him alone.

He reached the campus library and ducked inside. The scent of old books and polished wood filled his lungs, offering a temporary escape. He weaved through the shelves, searching for a secluded spot. When he finally found one, he slumped into the chair, exhaling shakily.

With hesitant fingers, he unlocked his phone and scrolled through the messages. His mind screamed at him to block the number, to report it—but deep down, he knew that wouldn’t stop whoever this was. They weren’t just texting him. They were watching him.

He clenched his jaw. I can’t keep running forever.

Summoning his courage, he typed a reply.

Caius: Who are you? What do you want?

For a few seconds, there was nothing. Just silence and the faint sound of a book being flipped somewhere in the library.

Then, his phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: I just want to talk.

Caius’s skin prickled. His thumbs hovered over the keyboard.

Caius: Then say what you need to say and leave me alone.

A long pause. Then, another buzz.

Unknown Number: You don’t want me to leave, Caius. Not really.

His pulse spiked. His hands felt clammy. Whoever this was—they were enjoying this. Playing with him.

And worst of all? A small, terrifying part of him wondered if they were right.

His breath came in shallow gasps as his mind raced through possibilities. Could it be someone he knew? A classmate? Someone from last night’s party? He rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him.

Suddenly, a soft creak echoed nearby. Caius stiffened, his eyes darting toward the aisle between the bookshelves. His pulse pounded in his ears as he strained to hear. The library was nearly empty at this time, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was there.

He glanced down at his phone, hesitating before typing another message.

Caius: Are you here?

A minute passed. Then—

Unknown Number: I’ve always been here.

Caius’s stomach twisted into knots. His hands trembled as he gripped the phone tighter. He forced himself to take a slow, deep breath, but it did little to calm the growing panic spreading through his chest.

A shadow moved at the edge of his vision. He turned sharply, his heart hammering against his ribs. Nothing. Just rows of towering bookshelves, their spines lined neatly in endless, suffocating order.

He swallowed hard and stood up, forcing himself to act normal. He wasn’t going to let them see him break. Not here. Not now.

Another buzz. This time, his whole body tensed before he even looked at the screen.

Unknown Number: Shhhhh… careful. You will never know, if one day I’m already behind your back.

A cold shiver ran down his spine. Every hair on his body stood on end. His breathing grew ragged as an overwhelming sense of dread seeped into his bones.

His fingers gripped the edge of the table as he forced himself to turn around—slowly, hesitantly. The library was silent. Empty.

But for the first time, Caius felt truly hunted.

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Time blurred. Hours passed. The once-busy library had emptied out, leaving only the quiet rustling of the air conditioning and the occasional hum of a computer. Outside, the sky had darkened, the streetlights casting eerie glows through the high windows.

Caius had stayed longer than he intended, too afraid to step back into the open. But he couldn’t stay here forever.

His feet moved on their own. He grabbed his bag, tucked his phone into his pocket, and forced himself to walk—*not run*—toward the library exit. His breath was shallow, every muscle in his body wound tight as if preparing to bolt at any second.

The automatic doors slid open, and the cold night air hit him. The campus, once lively, was now eerily silent. Shadows stretched across the pavement under dim streetlights.

Then, his phone vibrated again.

Unknown Number: Leaving so soon?

Caius clenched his jaw. He refused to react. He kept walking, gripping the strap of his bag like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

As he crossed the courtyard, his phone buzzed once more. His hand twitched, but he ignored it. He wouldn't let them get to him.

Then, the vibration stopped.

For a moment, a false sense of relief settled over him. Maybe whoever it was had given up.

Then his phone rang.

The sharp sound sliced through the quiet night, startling him. He nearly dropped the device as he pulled it out with trembling fingers.

No caller ID.

A cold dread filled his chest. His thumb hovered over the decline button, but something in him—maybe morbid curiosity, maybe sheer panic—forced him to answer.

Slowly, he raised the phone to his ear.

"Hello?"

Silence.

Then, a faint breath.

And a whisper.

"Run."

The streetlight above him flickered. Something moved in the distance.

Caius didn’t wait.

He ran.

The weight of exhaustion settled on Caius's shoulders as he trudged through the near-empty campus. The evening air was thick, carrying the faint scent of old books and rain-soaked pavement. He barely noticed the dim glow of streetlights flickering as he made his way toward the dormitory.

His steps were heavy, his mind clouded with thoughts he couldn't shake. That message. The eerie, suffocating sensation of someone watching him. Was it all just paranoia? Or was someone truly lurking in the shadows, waiting for him to let his guard down?

The cold metal of his phone pressed against his palm, and for a moment, he considered turning it off. Maybe it would grant him a few hours of peace—just enough to clear his mind. But the idea of disconnecting sent an uneasy shiver down his spine. What if that unknown number messaged again? What if something worse happened and he was completely unaware?

As he reached the dormitory gates, he hesitated. The security guard was dozing off in his small booth, oblivious to the tension curling in Caius’s gut. He swallowed hard and stepped inside.

The halls were eerily quiet. The usual late-night murmurs of students, the occasional burst of laughter—none of it was there tonight. He reached his door and fumbled with the key, his fingers trembling. The lock clicked open, and he stepped inside, shutting the door behind him with a soft thud.

For a brief moment, silence filled the room. Then, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

His breath hitched. Slowly, he pulled it out and unlocked the screen. Another message.

Unknown Number: Did you run fast enough, Caius?

His throat dried. His gaze darted around the dimly lit room as if expecting someone to emerge from the shadows.

A sharp knock on his door nearly made him drop the phone.

“Caius?” A familiar voice. Lance.

His heart slammed against his ribs as he hurried to open the door. Lance stood there, his brow furrowed with concern. “Dude, what’s wrong? You left the library in such a rush.”

Caius stared at him, unsure of what to say. The words clung to his throat, refusing to come out. Did he tell Lance? Could he even trust him? Or was this all just some cruel joke?

Lance sighed, stepping inside. “Look, you’ve been acting weird lately. If something’s up, you can tell me.”

Caius gripped his phone tighter, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The line between reality and paranoia blurred as he glanced back at the screen. That message. The fear curling in his gut. The idea that someone—someone dangerous—was watching him.

And worst of all, he had no idea who it was. o