I was unlocking the door to my apartment when the phone started to ring. I quickly set my armload of groceries down and picked up the phone.
"I want you," was all he said, but that was enough. I'd received the same call yesterday. I had instantly hit the numbers for instant call back, but the only result was a recording that said the service was unavailable at that number. I tried the same thing this time, despite my guess that I would receive the same results. The phone didn't ring again that night. I thought maybe it was a prankster who would soon grow tired of the joke, but something inside me said it was more than that.
The phone was ringing again the next day as I entered my apartment. I picked it up, knowing it would be him.
"I'm going to have you," the deep male voice stated before hanging up. I felt a shudder run up my spine. Why was this person calling me? Obviously he was watching me, he knew what time I got home. My answering machine hadn't had any messages or hang-ups before then. I tried to let the creepy feelings I was having go as I went about my evening.
The next day, Thursday, I was ready for the phone call but none came. I was glad the joker had tired of his game. Friday the phone was ringing as I walked in the door again. I picked it up, not expecting it to be him.
"I'm still watching you," he stated before the line went dead. I dropped the headset back into it's cradle like it had burned me. Whoever it was, he was not giving up like I'd thought. I checked my door and all the windows. The place was locked up tight. Still, I slept uneasily that night.
I didn't go anywhere the next day. I didn't want him to see me and call me again. At the usual time, 5:30, the phone rang. A chill went up my spine as I picked the receiver up. I didn't speak this time, just waited to see what he would say.
"Bridget? Is that you?" I heard my mother ask. I exhaled the breath I'd been holding in a huge gust. I was so relieved. We talked for a bit, then I hung up the phone, no sooner had I replaced the handset than it rang again.
"Hi Mom," I said as I put it back to my ear. "What'd you forget?"
"It's not Mom." that now familiar male voice said. "I'm going to have you soon." I slammed down the receiver before he could say anything else. Monday morning I called the phone company.
"I'd like to get my number changed, please," I told the technician on the other end. "I've been getting threatening calls."
"I'll put your name in the works, but don't expect it to happen for a couple weeks or so," she said. "I'll have someone call you." I hung up the phone frustrated.
I got home that night to the phone ringing. I let my machine picked it up. I listened as it played the recorded message, then the line went dead. The next night there was an envelope taped to my front door. I tore it open as soon as I was inside. There was a note, and a photograph of my little sister in front of her high school. The note said "You will answer my calls."
Startled, I screamed when the phone rang, but I picked it up on the third ring. "Hello."
"Very good," the caller said, "I'm glad you take me seriously. Now you know I mean what I say. You will be mine soon." Then the line went dead. I called my sister just to make sure she was ok. I was too worked up to eat, so I just tried to lose myself in the t.v. offerings for the night. The Tuesday night movie just happened to be about a woman being stalked. "Great," I thought to myself as I clicked to another channel. "That's all I need."
I woke up that night dreaming that the phone was ringing but I couldn't find it. I could hear my sister screaming at me to answer it, but as hard as I listened I couldn't tell where the ringing was coming from. I sat up in bed with a start, realizing it was just a horrible dream.
I looked at the clock, it was only 5 a.m. I didn't have to be up for another hour, but I got up anyway. I was early for work, but that didn't bother me nearly as much as the thought of going home that evening. I took my time that evening, stopping for gas even though I didn't need it, and going out of my way to pick something up for dinner. I got home an hour later than usual.
There was another envelope on my door when I got home. I tore it open and read the note inside. "As I have noticed you don't have one, go here," the note said giving an address. "Buy item #4683. The cashier has already been paid." The name of the place was a dead giveaway, it was an adult store.
The phone rang as soon as I stepped inside. I had scarcely picked it up when I heard him say, "You're late. I don't like waiting on you. Buy it after work tomorrow and then hurry home. I'd hate to have to visit with your sister."
The next day after work I went to the adult store and looked for the item he had told me to buy. There it was, what seemed like a huge vibrator. It was long and thick. I was embarassed as I took it up to the checkstand. Of course the phone was ringing as I walked in my door. I picked it up and waited for him to say something.
"I see you went shopping like I told you. Good." he said to me. "How do you like your new toy?"
"Not at all," I answered, my distaste obvious. "What do you think?"
"You'll learn to love it," he answered before hanging up.
I was left to wonder what was next in his game as I put the vibrator in my dresser drawer and tried to go about my normal evening activities. I was scattered and unfocused the next day at work, which earned me the displeasure of my boss. I had a flat tire on the way home from work, so I was late again. To my relief, there was no call that night.
The next day I had to work a few extra hours. The phone didn't ring right away when I got home. When it did, I walked over to pick it up, hoping it wasn't him. It was worse than that. It was my sister.
"Bridget!!" she squealed into the phone. "You'll never guess what happened to me today! A guy came up to me at the mall and told me he was a recruiter for a modeling agency. He gave me his card and told me I was just what they're looking for! Can you believe it? He told me to call him in a couple weeks when he gets back from his trip, and he'll arrange for someone to take some pictures of me!"