“The Call That Shouldn’t Exist”
The night was unusually quiet.
The walls of the house seemed to swallow sound, and the ticking of the clock felt louder than usual.
Anna was alone.
Her husband, Arman, had been on a business trip for three days. At first, it seemed normal. But that night… something wasn’t right.
She was sitting in the living room, her phone in her hand, when suddenly the lights flickered for a moment.
Anna looked around nervously.
— The power?..
The lights came back, but the silence in the room had already changed.
At that exact moment, her phone rang.
Anna looked at the screen… and froze.
Her own name was displayed.
“Anna – incoming call”
For a few seconds, she just stared.
— How is this… possible?..
With trembling hands, she answered.
— Hello?..
A few seconds of silence.
Then… a voice.
But it wasn’t someone else’s voice.
It was her own.
Crying, breathless, rushed:
— Anna… listen to me… there’s no time…
Anna’s heart started pounding.
— Who is this…?
— It’s you… — the voice was almost screaming. — Please, listen… don’t open the door… no matter what happens…
Anna looked at the door in confusion.
— What are you talking about… who’s there—
At that moment.
A knock.
Slow. Heavy.
The house seemed to freeze.
Anna held her breath.
— He’s already there… — the voice whispered from the phone. — If you open it… everything will end…
Anna stepped back.
— This is a joke… right?.. Arman?..
But the voice on the phone was crying.
— Please… I already made the mistake… don’t make it too…
Fear filled Anna’s eyes.
— What mistake…?
A moment of silence.
Then the voice said quietly:
— I opened the door…
Anna’s body went cold.
The knock came again.
Stronger this time.
— Anna… open the door, — a man’s voice came from outside.
It was Arman’s voice.
Her husband’s.
— It’s me… open up.
Tears filled Anna’s eyes.
— Arman… is that you?..
— Of course it’s me, — the voice replied. — What are you doing in there? Open the door.
The “Anna” on the phone screamed:
— STOP. THAT’S NOT HIM.
Anna closed her eyes.
Part of her wanted to run and open the door.
The other part… was frozen in place.
— If it’s not him… then who is it…?
The voice from the phone whispered:
— I thought it was him too…
The knocking came again.
This time, more impatient.
— Anna, open up, — the voice became harsher. — I know you’re inside.
Anna slowly walked toward the door.
Her hand reached for the handle.
— Don’t open it… — her voice cried from the phone. — Please… if you want to live…
Anna stopped.
Her gaze fell on the mirror.
And in that moment…
she noticed something.
In the reflection of the small glass on the door…
the person standing outside…
had no face.
A moment.
Silence.
Anna’s breath caught.
The voice outside stopped.
Then… very slowly…
a whisper:
— You saw… didn’t you…
Anna jumped back.
Her phone almost slipped from her hands.
— Now it knows that you understand, — whispered the voice on the phone.
— What now…?
Silence on the line.
Then…
very quietly:
— Now it will come in… whether you open the door or not…
At that moment…
the lights went out.
Total darkness.
And the last thing Anna heard…
was her own voice from the phone:
— I couldn’t save you…
The call disconnected.
…
The next morning, the neighbors noticed the door was slightly open.
The house was empty.
No signs of struggle.
No theft.
No Anna.
Only one thing remained on the table.
The phone.
With the last call recorded.