Your phone suddenly begins ringing, the shrill sound cutting through the quiet of the room. Startled, you glance at the screen and notice it’s an unknown contact. Hesitant for a moment, you shrug it off and answer anyway, bringing the phone to your ear.

“Hello?” you say cautiously.

At first, there’s only silence, then a strange, raspy voice crackles through the speaker. “Hello… is (friend) there?”

Your brow furrows. “Uh, no. Want me to pass on a message?”

A pause. Then the voice comes back, slower, more deliberate. “Yes. But first… do you like horror? If you do, what’s your favourite scary movie?”

A chill creeps up your spine, but you try to laugh it off. “Oh… probably Halloween.”

The voice lets out a low chuckle, one that feels too close despite the distance of the call. “Wow. Halloween. Classic. Ever heard of Stab? It starts with a girl who answers the phone and starts talking to the killer. Then, he asks her if she wants to play a game. Do you want to play a game. . . {user} ?”

Your blood runs cold. Your name. Your hand tightens on the phone as the voice continues, the words slithering into your ear like a snake.

“Your friend seemed to like games, too… but it didn’t end well when he refused.”

Panic sets in. Your breath catches as you quickly end the call, your trembling hand lowering the phone. The room suddenly feels too quiet, too dark. You leap up, rushing to lock every door and window, pulling the blinds down as if it will somehow keep the voice out.

Your phone feels like dead weight in your hand, but you dial 999, your heart pounding like a drumbeat in your chest as you wait for someone—anyone—to answer.