Ghost Stories

I put my phone on the kitchen counter; it was the first time I'd put it down since I'd gotten it earlier that morning, but I had to eat lunch, and didn't want to get my new phone greasy. An hour later, I returned to collect it, absently swiping my hand across the counter to catch my phone.

Something much lighter than my phone tumbled to the floor. I bent down to see my pink slip cover. Frowning, I carried it to my mother and brother, asking them if they'd taken it. My mother said no. My brother said to get lost.

I used my mother's phone to call mine, but after fifteen attempts, I gave up. I'd left my phone in high in case any of my friends had called or texted, but there was no sound from the house. I checked the door, but it was locked. Three searches of the house later, I collapsed on the couch, ready to cry. Nothing.

Though it was tough, I managed to survive a week without a phone and finally the package arrived from the carrier. I popped in the new SIM card, plugged it into the wall, and started to walk away, when I heard it ring with a text message.

I flipped it open and drew back in surprise. The number was my new number.

"YOU MAKE ME SICK!" the message read.

I knew I hadn't sent that. I checked the sent box just to be sure it wasn't a prank the manufacturer played on their customers, but the text was only in the inbox.

Chills ran down my back. I suddenly felt eyes on me, but when I whirled around, there was nothing there. Shivering, I went to take a shower. As I shampooed and rinsed, I saw the curtain move like something was in the bathroom with me. I peered out. Nothing.

I dashed to my room, wrapped in my towel, and pulled on a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of ratty sweat pants. I was still cold, so I went to turn up the heat.

Imagine my surprise when the thermostat read 85 degrees.

Then I saw the shadow on the wall.

I screamed and bolted downstairs, dashing into the kitchen to find my mother. She wasn't there. But my phone rang merrily from the corner.

Slowly, every inch of me trembling, I flipped open the phone.

"SOON YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ANYMORE," it said.

It was from my old phone.