The Wrong Number

The Wrong Number

“Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, mom. I’m sixteen, I’m pretty sure I can take care of myself for one night.”

My parents examined me from head to toe. They were dressed in fancy clothes, ready to go to a dinner party in the next town over. I was going to spend the night by myself for the first time tonight.

“She’s sure, Angela,” my dad said, fixing his tie in the mirror that hung in the hallway by the front door. “It’s only for one night, remember?”

I smiled at him gratefully when my mom finally sighed in defeat. “Well okay. Be safe, okay? Lock the doors and turn on the alarm. And for God’s sake, keep your phone on so I can call you later.”

“Okay, mom,” I promised. She leaned over and we kissed each other’s cheeks, then hooked her arm very fancy-like with my father’s. “Have a good time, you guys.”

“Oh, I’m sure we will,” my father chided. My mom grabbed her shawl from the coat rack next to the front door and put it around her, then opened the door.

“Be safe, honey,” she said. They walked out the door and down the sidewalk. Not feeling like watching them, I closed the door immediately and locked all three locks on it. I sighed and leaned against the door, then became jumpy with excitement. I was finally alone, in my huge house- no parents telling me to be quiet or to go to bed. Finally!

I moved into the living room and turned on the lights, then the automatic fireplace below the TV. It sparked and the fake logs burst into flames, radiating the heat through the vents above the heat-resistant glass. I then grabbed the TV remote and turned on the TV, then flopped down onto the huge sofa.

The TV came to life and I turned up the volume. I stayed like that for two hours, watching the stupid yet funny TV shows that appeared to be on.

Knock, knock, knock

I looked in the direction of the door. The hallways leading to the door was pitch black, which made me feel uneasy, but I had to answer the door nonetheless. I muted the TV and got up from the sofa, then made my way to the door. When I was in the hallway, I fumbled for the light swtch. I found it and flipped it on. The light illuminated the hallway. The door was at the very end.

Knock, knock, knock

“I’m coming, I’m coming!” I said, making my way to the door. I undid the chain and let it drop to the side, then unlocked the two remaining bolts sealing the door closed. I opened the door, but to my bewilderment, no one was on the porch. Taking the risk, I leaned outside, looking from left to right. No one was at the door, or even around it. I looked further down the path, running my eyes over the bushes of flowers that lined the sidewalk. An owl hooted in the distance, along with the sound of the water in the fountain in the front yard.

“Hello?” I called. It was impossible. How could someone have been knocking seconds earlier, and not be anywhere in sight? I shrugged and rolled my eyes, then closed the door and locked it once more. I made my way back into the living room and almost sat on the couch, but then stopped when the phone rang. It echoed throughout the house, causing shivers to run down my spine. I grabbed the nearest phone from the table next to the couch and pressed the answering button.

“Hello?”

No one answered at first. I could their faint breathing coming from the other end. It sounded like a man, but I couldn’t be sure.

“Hello?” I said impatiently. “Look, if this is some sort of prank-”

“First rule of being home alone: Never open the door at night,” a deep, scratchy voice said. It was definitely a man, and not a voice I recognized.