iFound an iPhone

Chapter 1

It was sitting on the curb right outside of my apartment complex. A silver iPhone 6 in very good condition. There were a few minor scratches, but nothing serious.

I looked up and down the street, looking for someone who might have dropped it, but nobody was around. It was just me and the iPhone. I scooped it up to get a better look at it. It looked like it had belonged to a high school girl, judging by the tacky, glitter-covered case. That didn't stop me from admiring the phone itself.

It looked like the phone had miraculously survived a fall from someone's pocket or bookbag.

I looked around one last time for the owner, but there was no one to be seen. I continued to examine the exterior of the phone as I walked up to my apartment.

I took out my key, and unlocked the door. I threw my bag on the floor and kicked my shoes to the side.

I needed to find out whose phone this was. As much as my selfish instincts told me to keep it, I had to do what was right and return it to it's rightful owner.

I clicked the home button, and sure enough, the phone was almost fully charged. The lock screen was an amateur picture of a sunset, probably taken by the girl.

A right swipe confirmed that the phone didn't have a passcode. Thank god for ignorant teenage girls. (Yes, I am aware that I used to be one).

The first thing I did was go straight to contacts. Down the list was a contact labeled "Mom".

BINGO!

I pressed the call button.

Nothing.

It was as if the screen didn't even register my touch. I pressed it again, a little more forcefully this time.

Again, nothing.

At that exact moment, my own phone rang, causing my heart to almost jump out of my chest. I pulled my iPhone 6s out of my pocket. The screen displayed "Anna". I accepted the call, throwing the suspicious phone to the side.

"Hey, Amanda! How was the test today?" My best friend asked.

Momentarily forgetting about the iPhone, I fell into a deep conversation about college and everything else 20 something year-old girls talk about.

"So, do you got any plans tonight? There's an awesome club downtown that opened not too long ago, and me and a few of my friends are going tonight. You should totally come with us!" She squealed.

I glanced around my cozy apartment. I was the quiet type who preferred cuddling up with a nice book over going out. Anna, on the other hand, was a party girl who loved to get wasted and get into trouble.

I guess it's true. Opposites do attract.

How could I say no to my best friend?

We set up plans, said our goodbyes, and hung up.

Then the phone came back to my attention. I picked it back up and went right back to the mom's contact information. What I did next was stupid.

I punched the number into my own phone and hit call. After a few rings, someone picked up.

"Yeah?"

Rude.

"Hi, um..My name's Amanda. I found a phone outside of my apartment, and I think it may be your daughter's. Is there any way I can get it back to her?"

"Do you think this is funny? You need to quit it with these stupid prank calls!" She yelled, and then proceeded to hang up.

I stood there in a state of disbelief.

What was her problem?

Maybe I dialed the wrong number? I rechecked, but it was the same number. Oh well, whatever, it's not my problem. Surely someone is bound to call the phone sooner or later.

I trotted up to my bedroom to get changed. I still had a few hours before I had to go, so I curled up on the couch with a book and some chips.

Just as I was getting to a good part of my book, a loud, constant beeping startled me.

My first thought:

FIRE!

Then I realized that the beeping was coming from the mystery phone. I breathed a sigh of relief, and picked up the phone to check the caller ID.

'Restricted Caller'.

I clicked accept, and held the phone up to my ear.

"Hello?" I asked.

Static.

"Hello...?"

The static grew louder and more intense. Right as I was about to pull the phone away from my ear, the line went dead.

Click.