The Call From Under the Bed

I woke up to my phone vibrating on the nightstand. UNKNOWN CALLER. Half asleep,

I answered. All I heard was breathing—ragged, panicked. Then my own voice

whispered, “Don’t move.” I sat up anyway. The voice on the phone started crying.

“I woke up under your bed,” it said. “I can hear you breathing. You’re about to

stand.” My bedroom door creaked. The voice screamed, “If you see yourself—run!”

The call cut out. Something exhaled beneath the mattress. And my phone lit up again.

MISSED CALL — 1 MINUTE AGO.