The Call From Inside the House

At the end of a quiet road, behind a veil of twisted black oak trees,

there was a house. A woman lived there. On bitter nights like this one, she sat by the fire

and read until she grew tired enough for sleep. But on this night, as her lids grew

heavy, she was startled by a sound. A sound she wasn't accustomed to hearing

these days. Who could be calling, she wondered? And this late? She rose from her

chair and picked up the phone. "Hello?" "I'm going to kill you," a man with

a deep voice said. "Who is this?" she asked. No answer. "Who is this?"

she repeated, her hand trembling. There was a click. Silence. She quickly dialed