An Anonymous Call

Chapter 13- Danger

April, 2014:

It's been a month since he last contacted me. It has been the longest period I've experienced away from the stress and desolation. I was free. I felt reassured; John Doe was gone, he disappeared from this world. His existence was missing. 

The joys in life had restored in me. I was once again a normal being. 

As planned, Sai and I studied at a café. I brought her to the one which emitted the satisfying aroma of freshly baked pastries. We enjoyed teacups of chamomile tea and slices of Tiramisu. We managed to cover up four to five chapters of literature. The employees eyed us vainly as we were spending the most time there and we were not regulars. 

Sai led me to an arcade where we broke away from our school life. We bought heaps of tokens to be inserted into various machines. We played so many games, I lost count. The ones I remember were Dance Dance Revolution and Taiko No Tatsujin. 

. . . 

I've been to a customer service center for mobile phones. They've said that all numbers are recycled, there was no way getting out. I've changed my phone number, that way this person couldn't call me again. So far, not a single extraordinary phone call came in. I was relieved. I was stress-free. I made a right decision. 

Then, I thought, what if I had called back John Doe?

Why didn't I think of that in the first place? Oh, because it was dangerous? 

It wasn't a big deal now. I was convinced that I wouldn't be receiving any unusual phone calls. I took on the challenge, but I didn't plan when. 

7th June, 2014:

I was home alone. My parents were out on a business trip. I had to keep track on my meals and take care of myself. I was using the laptop, with the television switched on in the living room to get my neighbors into thinking that I was accompanied by my family, nothing strange was happening. 

I was upstairs in my bedroom, with the air conditioner blasting in this boiling afternoon. The latest tracks were booming from the laptop speakers as I jumped on the mattress, swinging my arms insanely, dancing to the music. My neighbors would thought of me mad. 

Two hours had gone by. I was worn out, breathing heavily, gasping for air. I lay on the parquet floor with my arms and legs splayed. I've completely lost my energy from partying like a maniac. 

As I gained my consciousness, I stood up, shut off the AC, and trudged downstairs. I abandoned my laptop in Sleep mode under my pillow. 

The living room was eerily hushed. The television screen was black, indicating that it had been switched off. I was overwhelmed with curiousity, so I tiptoed to the back of the television cabinet to discover splinters of wood dispersed among the disarray of electrical cords and wires. The main plug was not connected to the socket, it was tied in a knot and layed on top of the other wires, creating a massive jumble that would take eternity to sort out. I noticed three or four sparks emitted, and underneath the enormous coils of wires, I spotted a pool of sangria red fluid. I took a few steps back, overcome with shock and terror. 

An intruder had broke into my house. I could not have known how a person could enter my own house with me upstairs and the doors and windows fully secured. I bumped into a grey leather sofa, where my family and I would sit and watch Fox Movies on Friday Movie Night. 

My phone was on the coffee table, alongside some newspapers and remote controls. I retrieved my phone, and stood in a standstill. If something were to jump out at me at this moment, I would be prepared to block any incoming assaults.