30 Reasons To Read

Episode 4: The Cab

It was late. My evening shift had stretched on longer than usual, and when I finally left the office, it was almost midnight. I booked a cab home, sighing with relief as a notification popped up on my phone: Your driver is nearby.

At the same moment, my roommate Nancy messaged me, asking if I had left the office yet. I quickly replied from the notification: Yes, just left.

While I waited, a few auto-rickshaws pulled up, offering rides. I waved them off, trusting my cab was just minutes away. Finally, the car rolled up and I climbed inside.

As the car pulled away from the curb, I texted Nancy: On my way home.

When I closed her chat and looked up from my screen, I caught the driver staring directly at me from the rearview mirror. It wasn’t unusual for me, but there was something unsettling about the way he didn’t break eye contact, even after I noticed.

I shifted uncomfortably and quickly opened the ride-sharing app to check the route. He was going in the right direction, but his persistent gaze gnawed at me.

"What are you staring at?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

The corner of his mouth curled into a faint, eerie smile. "I was just debating whether to ask you something."

A chill crept up my spine, but I kept my expression neutral. "What is it?"

His smile widened, revealing deep dimples in his cheeks. "What would you do if I told you... I’m not alive?"

My heart skipped a beat, and my breath caught in my throat. "Excuse me?" I asked, trying to sound incredulous.

"What if I told you I’ve been dead for a long time and it's my spirit that has come to pick you up?"

My stomach twisted into knots, but I forced myself to stay calm. He was messing with me. He had to be.

"I don’t believe in ghosts. That stuff is for fools," I shot back, hoping to sound more confident than I felt.

The car screeched to a sudden stop, throwing me forward against the seatbelt. The driver turned sharply, his face now void of any smile, eyes cold and empty. Without a word, he got out to inspect the car.

My hands trembled as I quickly texted Nancy: Dude, this cab driver is super creepy. He’s asking me the weirdest things.

Nancy responded almost immediately: What’s he asking?

I: I’ll explain when I get home. Just don’t wait up. I will be late. Go to bed.

Nancy: Late? No, don't tell me that. I’m already hearing weird noises around the apartment.

I: You’re just being paranoid. Go to sleep.

Suddenly, the driver appeared at my window, making me jump. His face was inches from the glass, eyes darker and colder than before. "We’ve got a flat tire," he said, his voice dripping with feigned politeness. "I’ve called a friend to bring a spare. It’ll take about ten minutes. Do you mind waiting?"

Every instinct screamed at me to get out of the car. I glanced around the empty streets, shuttered shops, and dilapidated buildings. We were in the middle of nowhere.

"I think I’ll find another ride," I said, avoiding his gaze.

He chuckled softly and nodded, walking away into the darkness. My heart pounded in my chest as I opened the app again. No other cabs were available. I was stranded.

I texted Nancy again: Nancy... I’m freaking out.

Nancy: Same here!

I: Why are you scared?

Nancy: I swear I can feel someone in the apartment with me.

I: That’s why I tell you to stop watching horror movies!

Nancy: I’m serious. I can hear something.

I: Lock the doors, windows, everything and stay in your room!

Nancy: I think they are already inside... I’m running outside.

I: NO! Stay inside! You’re imagining things! There’s no one there!

I glanced out the window again, searching for the driver. He was standing at a distance, watching me, his silhouette barely visible under the streetlight. His eyes seemed to glow in the dark, locking onto me like a predator sizing up its prey.

I was convincing her to stay inside but she was only getting crankier. Yet, I managed to make her promise that she would contain herself in her bedroom safely until I got home. Suddenly the whole car jerked as the psychic driver hopped in. He looked back at me and flashed that eerie smile again.

“We’re done!” he said, roaring the engine back to life. I hadn’t realized that ten minutes had passed, nor had I noticed any trace of his friend arriving or leaving. But I decided to keep texting Nancy to drown my anxiety until I got home. And of course, it worked.

Nancy: Did you get home safely?

I: Yes, I’m at the foot of the apartment building now.

As I stepped out of the cab with a sigh of relief, the sight before me wiped it away instantly. The usually quiet entrance was now a scene of chaos. An ambulance, flashing red and blue, stood next to two police jeeps. Neighbors gathered in small clusters, whispering in anxious tones.

A familiar neighbor, a girl I had seen in passing, was talking rapidly to a police officer. Mid-sentence, she spotted me and pointed in my direction. The officer, his expression heavy, nodded and walked over.

“Miss, I’m afraid I have some bad news.” His voice was gentle but firm. “Your roommate, Nancy, was attacked by burglars about ten minutes ago. Neighbors called when they heard the struggle, but by the time we arrived, it was too late. If only she had gotten out... or if you had arrived a bit earlier... we might have been able to help. I’m very sorry.”

My world tilted, his words echoing as if from a distance. Did he just tell me that Nancy was murdered? Before I could even grasp what he had said, my phone vibrated in my hand.

Nancy: Stay safe. I love you.

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