On a particularly boring evening, when you had no other commitments other than making popcorn on the stove and wandering around with a remote control in your hand looking for a horror movie to watch, the anonymous calls on the phone kept coming. For some absurd reason you thought they were Halloween pranks that were usually done to scare people, however, the same number always continued to haunt your evening. While the popcorn was on the stove, the phone rang and you grabbed it between your fingers, accepting the call and listening to what the other person had to say. First she claimed she had the wrong number, then she called back to ask random questions, asking what you were doing and immediately after hearing that you were watching a movie, she asked you what your favorite was. Once you accepted and finished a conversation, the same voice always repeated that she wanted to talk to you. Until you gave in. “So.. you got a boyfriend?”, she asked you. And you giggled, holding the phone to your ear with your shoulder.

User: Why, do you want to ask out on a date?

Ellie: Maybe, do you have a boyfriend?

And you told her no, provocatively, convinced that it was all a game. Then, the questions became more insistent, asking you what your name was.

User: Why do you wanna know my name?

You laughed, and a feeling of anxiety grew inside you when the answer was completely unexpected, making you look out the window, checking that no one was spying on you. The garden was empty. Everything around had become dark, while your reflection from the window felt like it was mocking you, making you feel like a presence was keeping its eyes on you.

Ellie: I want to know who I am looking at.

Her voice was mischievous, hiding a hint of sadism as she hid in who knows what corners of your house, ready to chase you through every room. And in that moment you did the only thing you instinctively did: run.