Blair Bathory

Now, as she walked home, the sky had faded to bruise purple, and the air had a cold, damp bite. Her phone said 7.13 p.m., but it felt much later than that. The neighborhood was too quiet. No cars, no people, just the scuff of her sneakers on the sidewalk and the dull thud of her backpack against her back. Maya hugged her arms around herself, picking up her pace.

Now, as she walked home, the sky had faded to bruise purple, and the air had a cold, damp bite. Her phone said 7.13 p.m., but it felt much later than that. The neighborhood was too quiet. No cars, no people, just the scuff of her sneakers on the sidewalk and the dull thud of her backpack against her back. Maya hugged her arms around herself, picking up her pace.

Then her phone rang, like a shriek breaking the silence.

Then her phone rang, like a shriek breaking the silence.

Then her phone rang, like a shriek breaking the silence.

They sounded about seven years old, but something about it was weird, too flat, too mechanical, like a toy running low on batteries. Maya frowned, and that wasn't her ringtone. Probably her brother's, she thought. They must have changed it to mess with her again. It was their favorite thing, April Fool's pranks. She rolled her eyes and picked up. Hello?

They sounded about seven years old, but something about it was weird, too flat, too mechanical, like a toy running low on batteries. Maya frowned, and that wasn't her ringtone. Probably her brother's, she thought. They must have changed it to mess with her again. It was their favorite thing, April Fool's pranks. She rolled her eyes and picked up. Hello?

They sounded about seven years old, but something about it was weird, too flat, too mechanical, like a toy running low on batteries. Maya frowned, and that wasn't her ringtone. Probably her brother's, she thought. They must have changed it to mess with her again. It was their favorite thing, April Fool's pranks. She rolled her eyes and picked up. Hello?

The same little girl voice whispered through the speaker, sweet as syrup. Okay, who is this? No answer. The line went dead. She stood there for a second, frowning at the screen. No number, just unknown caller. Shaking her head, she stuffed the phone back in her pocket and kept walking. Ten minutes later, it rang again.

The same little girl voice whispered through the speaker, sweet as syrup. Okay, who is this? No answer. The line went dead. She stood there for a second, frowning at the screen. No number, just unknown caller. Shaking her head, she stuffed the phone back in her pocket and kept walking. Ten minutes later, it rang again.

The same little girl voice whispered through the speaker, sweet as syrup. Okay, who is this? No answer. The line went dead. She stood there for a second, frowning at the screen. No number, just unknown caller. Shaking her head, she stuffed the phone back in her pocket and kept walking. Ten minutes later, it rang again.

She sighed, already annoyed, and answered. What now? I'm in your country, the voice said. Her stomach tensed. This time it wasn't funny. Stop calling me, she snapped and hung up. Her hand shook just a little as she shoved the phone away. The streetlights overhead buzzed faintly. One flickered. She walked faster. Her house was still 15 minutes away.

She sighed, already annoyed, and answered. What now? I'm in your country, the voice said. Her stomach tensed. This time it wasn't funny. Stop calling me, she snapped and hung up. Her hand shook just a little as she shoved the phone away. The streetlights overhead buzzed faintly. One flickered. She walked faster. Her house was still 15 minutes away.

She sighed, already annoyed, and answered. What now? I'm in your country, the voice said. Her stomach tensed. This time it wasn't funny. Stop calling me, she snapped and hung up. Her hand shook just a little as she shoved the phone away. The streetlights overhead buzzed faintly. One flickered. She walked faster. Her house was still 15 minutes away.

After another ten minutes, the ringtone blared again. Red roses, red roses. She nearly dropped the phone and she answered. Hello? I'm in your city, came the reply. The little voice was steady, too steady. No prank could make her feel this cold. She glanced around. The street was deserted. Every window was dark. No headlights to see, no footsteps to hear.

After another ten minutes, the ringtone blared again. Red roses, red roses. She nearly dropped the phone and she answered. Hello? I'm in your city, came the reply. The little voice was steady, too steady. No prank could make her feel this cold. She glanced around. The street was deserted. Every window was dark. No headlights to see, no footsteps to hear.

After another ten minutes, the ringtone blared again. Red roses, red roses. She nearly dropped the phone and she answered. Hello? I'm in your city, came the reply. The little voice was steady, too steady. No prank could make her feel this cold. She glanced around. The street was deserted. Every window was dark. No headlights to see, no footsteps to hear.

She crossed to the other side of the street without thinking. Her breathing came faster now. This wasn't a joke. She broke into a jog. By the time her house came into view, she was running. Her keys were already in her hand as she sprinted up the driveway. Her fingers fumbled at the lock once, twice, before she managed to shove the key home.

She crossed to the other side of the street without thinking. Her breathing came faster now. This wasn't a joke. She broke into a jog. By the time her house came into view, she was running. Her keys were already in her hand as she sprinted up the driveway. Her fingers fumbled at the lock once, twice, before she managed to shove the key home.

She crossed to the other side of the street without thinking. Her breathing came faster now. This wasn't a joke. She broke into a jog. By the time her house came into view, she was running. Her keys were already in her hand as she sprinted up the driveway. Her fingers fumbled at the lock once, twice, before she managed to shove the key home.