You were taken aback after hearing your last name being said. You were freaked for all of two seconds before concluding that this must be a prank call. How else would this mysterious caller know your name?
"Ha ha, very funny," You rolled your eyes. "No, really, who is this? Randy? Is that you?"
The caller remained silent, leading you to believe you were right. "Nice try, Randy, but I've already told you that your pranks won't work on me anymore. I'm hanging up."
"Don't hang u—"
You set the phone back in its holster, ending the call with a relieved sigh. For a minute there, you worried that you were actually being watched.
"What did he say?" Casey asked, huddling close to you as her fear had yet to die down.
"It's just some stupid prank call." You brushed it off. "I think it might've been Randy. He usually pulls this kind of crap."
However, Casey was still apprehensive about the whole situation. You placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and gave a cheeky smile. "You have nothing to worry about while I'm here."
She scoffed, unable to stop her own smile that grew as she dramatically threw her arms around your shoulders. "My knight in shining armor."
"Well, who else is going to fill that position while Steve's away?" You joked, pulling away from the blonde as the popcorn kernels began to pop loudly.
"I got it." Casey chirped, walking over to the stove to check the temperature setting and rattle the jiffy pop.
The atmosphere felt a little easier to breathe in as you managed to subdue both your nerves. Still, you couldn't help but feel like something was... off.
Though there was no one there, you couldn't help but to peer out the window as if to catch someone lurking in her backyard.
Why do you still sense an impending doom?
For a passing moment, the house was filled with a deafening silence. It was so quiet that you could've swore even the crickets stopped chirping.
The quietude, however, was fractured by the telephone ringing once again. This startled you, and you both shared nervous glances. Dread filled your entire being as you knew who was calling.
With a sense of foreboding, Casey reluctantly picked up the phone. "What do you want?" She asked more forcefully, her tone hostile.
"To talk." The caller taunted.
"Dial someone else." She urged, irked by his profound persistence. Before Casey had the chance to click the button to hang up, you heard the man shout through the phone.
"𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏 𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍, 𝐈'𝐋𝐋 𝐆𝐔𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐀 𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇. 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃?"
Casey's face went pale, stricken with a sudden terror that immobilized her. Your eyes were the size of saucers as you looked at her, unnerved by the extremity of his words.
"Yeah," The caller chuckled low. He had now garnered both of your full attention.
Your stomach twisted into knots at the lifeless laugh, watching a deeply disturbed Casey slowly held the phone to her ear again. "Is this some kind of joke?" She asked, her tone emitting a hint of desperation.
"More of a game, really." The caller teased in a smooth voice, abandoning his previous veil of anger. "Can you handle that? Blondie."
Casey's head snapped to look at you, eyes brimming with tears. Full-fledged panic had set in for her as she bolted to the front door, locking it urgently. You quickly chased after her as she peered out the door's transom window. Whoever it was, they were really out there, watching like a predator stalking its prey. The thought alone made you sick to your stomach.
"Can you see me?" He questioned playfully.
"Listen, we are two seconds away from calling the police." Casey tried to sound strong and unafraid, but her weak threat rendered useless.
"They'd never make it in time. We're out in the middle of nowhere."
"What do you want?" The blonde's voice strained. She was seconds from breaking down, and you were the only thing keeping her together as you pulled her away from the windows.
"𝐓𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞." The caller spoke menacingly.
Anger had replaced your initial terror as the caller's tactless threats toward your friend only seemed to piss you off. You snatched the phone from Casey and held it to your ear. "Listen asshole, the joke's old now. We're calling the police."
You ended the call and attempted to dial the cops when the unexpected sound of the doorbell caused you to jolt. A broken sob ripped through Casey's throat as she turned to the door.
"Who–" She tried calling out to the person, but you immediately cut her off. You signaled for her to be quiet as you pulled her back into the living room, far away from the front door.
A disgruntled noise escaped Casey as the phone rang again. The terrifying clamor echoed through the silence of her home, making your heart pound louder.
The blonde, almost hyperventilating, tried to calm down before taking the phone from you. You were against answering, but she was determined to make this caller leave. "Look, you've had your fun now so I think you better just leave or else."
"Or else what?" The caller bit out venomously.
"Or else my boyfriend will be here any second, and he'll be pissed when he finds out." Casey threatened, but it came out feeble and uncertain. You did not feel hopeful at the thought of your brother coming to save you both. It was already so late, there was no way he was coming.
"I thought you didn't have a boyfriend." The caller obscenely teased.
"I lied!" She shouted through her cries, backing against the patio door. "I do have a boyfriend, and he'll be here any second so your ass better be gone!"
You stared out into the darkness of her backyard, unable to see anything suspicious or off.
"𝐎𝐡, 𝐈'𝐦 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝." The caller taunted. "𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬."
"So you better leave," Casey whispered weakly, both hands clutching the phone.
"His name wouldn't happen to be Steve, would it?"