Collection of Short Scary Stories

Planner

    Don't you just love those little calendar things that have all those cute little time slots to put in what you're doing at what time? Planners, I believe? You just write in what activities you had planned for that day or the next day or the next week or, if you're really organized, next month.

    No?

    Well I do. They make life so much simpler. Just write in your appointments and what-not and you're set for the day. I usually have most of my plan for the week scheduled. I write them in my own individual planner with my name in sparkley letters on the front. Usually I have all my plans down on Sunday.

    Yesterday, a Sunday evening, I had to break this usual pattern to cancel a doctor's appointment. I had, earlier that day, written it in the Monday slot, but my manager had just called and said I had to work late which coincided with my prior event. However, she made a good argument that I should cancel my doctor's appointment in favor of work. ("I will dock your pay so badly you'll only have enough for a can of green beans for dinner every night!")

    "Oh sure that's fine! What day do you want to reschedule it to?" the office worker had kindly replied when I had explained my predicament.

    "Is Friday okay?" I asked.

    "Uhh...." she trailed off and I distinctly heard the clicking of a mouse in the background. She was checking to see if the doctor's plans were able to conform to my request, I assumed.

    "Yup. At five o' clock is that okay?" she said.

    "Yes, that's fine," I answered.

    "Okay, thank you."

    "Thank you," I repeated her statement back and hung up the phone.

    I picked up my planner and a pen and made a big "X" over the previous arrangement.

   

*****

    I was a waitress at a restaurant that was near my residence. Only a few blocks away, actually.

    My usual shift was from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. but, as previously stated, I had to work late today.

    Later that day, though, the manager informed me that I didn't have to work late.

    "Are you sure?" I asked with confusion. "Because yesterday you threatened to practically deduct my whole pay check from itself."

    She sighed. "Yes, I'm sure. Unless you do really want to stay late...?"

    "No!" I said a bit too quickly and a bit too loudly.

    "That's what I thought," she muttered and walked away.

    I shambled over to a pay phone in a corner of the restaurant and called the doctor's office once again.

    "My schedule just opened up. Can I come see him at the original appointment time, so...about four?" I implored.

    Again, she paused and messed around on her computer until it became almost too uncomfortable to bear.

    "You're in luck," she said, "because no one called in for an appointment."

    "Fantastic, thank you," I sung into the phone's speaker and hung it back on its holder.

    I turned around to get back to work but I bumped in to someone before I even took a step.

    "Oh! I'm sorry," I cried.

    "It's fine."

    I looked up and was met by the gaze of a black haired man. His eyes were a dull green-blue. He had chiseled features and had stubble around his chin.

    I realized I was staring and apologized again.

    "It's okay," he assured. He stuck out a hand. "I'm Chris," he said as I put my hand into his much larger one.

    "Sarah."

    We talked for a bit and, just as I was about to step around him, he asked if I wanted to have something to eat after work. I couldn't deny.

*****

    After a long day that seemed to drag on I spotted the Chris sitting at a two person table. I walked over, greeted him, and sat down. We casually talked about this and that through out the dinner. At 3:30 I said I had to go but handed him my number.

    "I thought you were free all day today," he said to me as I left.

    "No I have a doctor's appointment," I replied.

    "I thought you had cancelled..." he almost whispered to himself.

    I walked out and to my car, thinking about what he just said.

    How would he have known I was free, that I had cancelled? I asked myself.

    Then, walking past a car parked just in front of mine, I noticed something familiar.

    My blood turned cold and I grew pale as I looked in the window of the car and, clear as day, saw my planner sitting inside, my name glittering in the moonlight.

    The sudden honking of the horn of the car before me made me jump. I looked to the door and saw Chris walking out, car keys in hand.

    He stole my planner, I thought unable to move as I stared at him, slowly, gracefully shambling towards me. He broke into my house, and stole my planner.

    He walked up and whispered in my ear, "I think your evening just cleared up."

    That's the last thing I remember.