The last signal

At exactly 2:17 AM, Tunde’s phone buzzed. That alone wasn’t unusual. What was unusual… was that his phone had been dead for two days. He stared at it from his bed, his eyes narrowing as the screen flickered weakly to life. The dim glow cut through the darkness of his room, casting long shadows on the walls. Buzz. Another vibration. Tunde slowly sat up. “That’s not possible…” he whispered. He clearly remembered the battery draining. He had even tried turning it on earlier that night—nothing. Completely dead. Yet now, it was on. Working. Waiting. Reluctantly, he got up. The floor felt cold under his feet as he walked toward his desk. The air felt strange—too quiet, too still. He picked up the phone. 1 New Message. Unknown Number. His thumb hovered over the screen for a second before he opened it. “If you’re reading this, don’t leave your room tomorrow.” Tunde frowned. “Who’s this?” He checked the number. Nothing. No digits. No name. Just a blank space where the sender should be. A chill crept up his spine. Buzz. Another message appeared instantly. “I mean it. Don’t step outside. They’re watching you already.” Tunde scoffed nervously. “Very funny.” He quickly typed: “Who is this?” The reply came immediately. “You.” Tunde froze. The word seemed to echo in his mind. “You.” “That’s not funny…” he muttered, his voice weaker now. Before he could react further, the phone camera switched on by itself. He flinched, nearly dropping it. The screen showed his face—tense, confused, lit by the faint glow. But behind him… Something stood in the corner. Tall. Dark. Perfectly still. Tunde’s heart began to pound. He turned sharply. Nothing. The corner was empty—just his chair and a pile of clothes. He looked back at the phone. The figure was still there. And closer. A cold wave of fear washed over him. “No… no, no…” He turned again. Nothing. Back to the phone— Closer. Now he could see its shape more clearly. Long arms hanging at its sides. A head tilted slightly, as if studying him. It didn’t move when he watched it. But every time he looked away— It came nearer. His hands started shaking. “This isn’t real…” he whispered. “I’m dreaming…” Buzz. “Don’t turn your back again.” Tunde swallowed hard. “You can see it too?” No reply. The lights flickered once, then steadied. The room felt colder. He slowly stepped backward, keeping the phone raised, using the camera to watch behind him. The figure remained frozen on the screen. Unmoving. Unblinking. But too close. Way too close. Buzz. “It can only move when you don’t see it.” Tunde’s chest tightened. “That’s impossible…” Yet he had already seen it happen. The figure suddenly twitched—just slightly—before freezing again. Tunde gasped. “You moved…” His breathing became uneven. The silence in the room grew heavier. Every second stretched longer than the last. The figure was now only a few steps behind him. Close enough that he could almost feel it. Like a presence pressing against the air. Buzz. “It knows you can see it now.” Tunde’s fear spiked. “What does that mean?” No answer. The figure’s head tilted slowly to the side. Then— A faint sound. Scrrrrttt… Like fingernails dragging across the wall. Tunde’s blood ran cold. “You’re… moving…” It stopped instantly. But he had heard it. That meant one thing— The rules were changing. Or worse… It was learning. Tunde’s grip on the phone tightened. His arms ached, but he didn’t dare lower it. Didn’t dare blink for too long. Didn’t dare turn away. Buzz. Final message: “Don’t let it get close.” Tunde’s breathing hitched. Because it already was. Right behind him. The room went silent again. No movement. No sound. Just Tunde… Standing frozen in fear. And something behind him… Waiting. To Be Continued…