No Wrong Number

 Lucy, a widowed woman in her 60's, lived in a charming Colonial Style condominium, she had shared with her late husband Michael. The house was beautifully and meticulously maintained, with photographs of her and Michael adorning each wall--a testament to their life together..

Every morning at 6 A.M., Lucy begins her day with juice, a muffin and a walk- one of the many things she enjoyed doing with Michael. As she was about to head out, Lucy gets a phone call that started her. The Caller ID displayed an Upstate NY number, a number she did not recognize. "Hmm, weird. Who would be calling me from Upstate NY at this early hour"?, Lucy wondered.

She answered the phone.

"Hello?" 

There was a brief pause.

"Hello"?

Lucy was about to hang up, when a voice finally answered.

"Hi, I'm so sorry to bother you this early in the morning. "

"It's OK", Lucy replied. "But who is this"?

The woman hesitated before replying. "I know this might sound strange, but I actually had a dream about your number. It was so vivid so I curiously contacted it", the woman chuckled. Lucy too chucked, at the oddity of it, but she was eager to get her morning walk out of the way, so she politely tried to conclude the conversation.

"Well, thank you, but I need to get going now", Lucy told the woman.

"Of course, you enjoy the rest of your day and once again, I am sorry for disturbing you". 

Lucy stepped outside, and saw the bright and sunny sky had turned grim and ominous as though a storm was imminent. Despite the unsettling weather, Lucy went on for her walk.

As she walked through her neighborhood, memories of Michael flooded Lucy's mind. She recalled the joyful times they shared, holding hands when going for a walk, their romantic getaways, or just watching movies at home. They had one final trip to Lake George, NY. It was their last trip as a couple. 

Lake George was one of Lucy's favorite retreats, due to its quaint and serene atmosphere. The Bed and Breakfast Inns they stayed at, was nestled in the peace and beauty of the Adirondacks. Lake George had become such a frequent great escape, Michael considered it a second home. He always told Lucy how much he wanted to leave Long Island and move to Upstate NY, where there was sentimental value. 

As Lucy continued walking, the memories of Michael felt strangely vivid, almost as though she was reliving the same exact scenario all over again. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud roaring thunder, as the sky opened up and unleashed a terrential rain storm. Lucy hurried back to her house and ran inside. 

Once inside, Lucy grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator, and rested on the sofa. She turned on the television to watch some of her favorite Soap Operas, trying to distract herself from the dark and nasty weather. Midway through the episode, a breaking news report interrupts the program. 

"Police are still searching for the Long Island man who", the Reporter began. But Lucy did not want to hear the news because she hated its negative dominant effect. She turned off the television and went upstairs to take a nap.

A couple of hours later, around 3 P.M., Lucy's phone rings. She looks at the Caller ID and sees her friend Carla's number. It was still dark and rainy out, but Lucy needed a positive distraction by talking to her close friend. 

"Hi Carla"!

Midway through their conversation, Lucy's phone began beeping and emitting static, drowning out Carla's voice. Lucy glanced at her phone but there was no incoming call on the Caller ID. How is my phone having issues all of a sudden, Lucy thought. "Car, are you there??" 

"Hello"??

"Hello"??

She tried to hang up the phone so she can redial Carla's number, but the static got louder and louder and the beeping noise persisted. Lucy felt her apprehension grow. Amid the crackling noises, Lucy suddenly heard a voice-familiar, yet more distinct than the static. 

"Hello Lucy, I called you earlier before. I am the same woman who had a dream about your phone number. I am calling you again because it is imperative that I speak with you. Please, this is not a prank. I'm calling from...."

Lucy dropped the phone, her face drained of color, and her heart palpitating. The static continued, mingling with the woman's voice, filling the house with an eerie presence. 

Lucy let out a terrified shriek as the television turned on by itself...

It was the news...

::Reporter:- "A 64 year old Long Island resident, Michael Bailey, and an unidentified female, were found dead in a vacation cabin in Lake George, NY. Michael Bailey's throat was slit and the unidentified female's body was horrifically dismembered and decomposed. The police believe this heinous murder was motivated by revenge"...

The television had turned off as abruptly as it had turned on. Lucy stood in her living room, frozen with terror. She could not catch her breath. Her phone was still lying on the floor, with a fresh crack in the screen, emitting the woman's voice into the now chilling silence...

"Lucy, I really need you to answer me now. This is about Michael. I've been trying to reach out to you for the past two months so I can explain everything. You see, I didn't know. He never told me. When he finally did, he told me he was planning on getting a divorce from you, leaving you the house, and relocating to Lake George to be with me. I'm so sorry you had to find out this way.. I am so very terribly sorr----"...

Lucy let out a harrowing scream as she stomped on her phone, while screaming, screaming, and screaming. 

Fictional Story Written By Zainab Ali