Prompted Shorties

Note at a Construction Site

Prompt: You're a construction worker and, while in the middle of a dig to build a new building, you stumble upon a box with contents in it. There are five very specific items in it along with a note: "When you find this, call me. This is only phase one." The is a phone number so you call it. What happens next?

Story:

Jackson and I were digging around this spot and we just finished our lunch break. We needed to shovel the first few feet before we bring in the big guns. Don't ask me why, I'm just following orders.

Anyway, I stumbled on something metal as I was digging. Jackson heard it too because he looked my way. I made contact with his eyes. The wind drastically calling the storm, it was getting darker, everything became quiet.

"What was that?" Jackson addressed the unknown at hand. I just shrugged my shoulders for I too, don't know what it was. I motioned Jackson to help me and he did without hesitation. After a few digging we pulled up this strange metal box out from its resting place and we lifted it up and placed it near our bench.

"What do you think's inside?" Jackson asked.

"Only one way to find out" I took out some tools and started breaking the padlock. In no time at all, I got it open, and we inspected the items inside.

We found a music box, a framed wilted rose, a toy car, an old locket with a picture of some guy inside, a really old golf ball and a note. I took out the note first and read it carefully.

"Phase one?" I murmured.

"The is a phone number at the bottom Gabe, you gonna call it?" Jackson spoke.

"Say what now?" I looked at him weird. The is?

"Oh, sorry. THERE IS a phone number – is what I meant to say. Just a typo, I guess. Weird." Weird is definitely an understatement right now. Nothing exciting ever happens like this on the previous projects we've encountered.

I feel obligated to call though. It's like, there's some force that's telling me to make the call. What's with the items anyway?

I took out my phone from my pocket and dialled the number. I sat down the bench while Jackson kept inspecting the items inside.

It took five rings before someone answered the phone "Well it took you long enough" He spoke. An old man was on the other line. Before I could even reply, he already started talking again.

"Anyway. Welcome to phase one! Listen carefully as I will never repeat this message ever again" I eyed Jackson, and motioned him to come near me. I put the old man on speaker.

"Among the five items inside the chest, I want you to pick one and put the rest back inside the box." My mind was thinking. What item should we choose?

I looked at Jackson. He looked like he doesn't know what's going on. Is this a recorded message? Is this a prank? What is this?

"Oh, and before you think that this is a joke Gabriel Locke, it's not." My heart raced out of fear, and Jackson's eyes widen at the mention of my full name. Who is this guy? How does he know my name?

I felt the cold wind rubbing on my skin, the smell of wet soil hovering on my nose and the eerie voice of the old man still ringing in my ears.

"Now that I've got your full attention, I'm going to speak out the five items that was inside the box. I want you to press any number on your phone when I say the item that you've chosen."

Jackson was about to speak, so I covered the bottom part of my phone with my hand. "What do we choose?" he asked.

"Why should we even choose?" I answered.

"Because the moment you called my phone Gabriel, you've endangered five important people in your life." My heart froze. I feel like I'm about to have a stroke. Should I go to the police? But if I end the phone call now, what would happen to the five people I care about?

"Now, just press any number to make me stop" Wait. I haven't even chosen anything yet!

"Golf ball" Oh shoot. Should I choose that? What were the other items?

"Framed rose" Uhhhm. Uhhhm. Jackson looks more terrified than I am.

"Locket" Oh potato gravy! Should I pick it?

"Toy Car" I was sweating so much. How many items did he say already?

"and Music box" I pressed random numbers in panic. I think that was the fifth item he said. I don't know. I wasn't keeping track.

"Oh good. Now, I want you to take the music box, and place it at the dumpster in front of your neighbor Jackson's house at precisely 9:07 PM tonight and someone will call you once you've done it"

My heart was pounding very fast. What an odd request, and how did he know Jackson and the fact that he is my neighbor?

"Enjoy Phase one Gabriel. I know you'll do great and don't forget to bring home the box" He hung up the phone. I'm shaking uncontrollably that I might faint. I'm very far from calm right now.

Jackson just stood there, unable to speak. I'm still trying to put the pieces together. What does the old man want? What's gonna happen if I don't do what he wants? What's even gonna happen if I do exactly what he says?

So many questions, but at least one thing's for sure. It's gonna be a long wait 'till 9:07 pm.