Nightmare on the Line: Don’t pick up

The fear of waiting for death is far more than the fear of actual death.

Dipesh Joshi

It was a chilly August evening when Daniel Parker first heard the phone ring. The shrill sound echoed through his small, dimly lit apartment. Glancing at the clock, he noticed it was well past midnight — an unusual time for anyone to call. He hesitated, then picked up the call.

“Hello?” His voice was thick with sleep.

At first, there was silence. Then, a faint whisper crackled through the line. “I’m cominggggg for youuuuuu…”

Daniel’s heart skipped a beat. “Who is this?” he demanded, his voice rising in panic.

The whisper returned, this time clearer, and filled with malice. “You have one night left to live.”

Chills ran down Daniel’s spine, but he quickly shook off the fear, convinced it was some cruel prank. “Nice try, but I don’t scare that easily,” he said and hung up. He tried to go back to sleep, but the unease lingered, gnawing at the edges of his mind.

The phone rang again.

Daniel stared at it, dread blooming in his chest. Reluctantly, he answered. The same voice — cold, lifeless — drifted through the receiver. “You can’t escape me, Daniel. I see youuuuuu…”