The Midnight Call

PART 1 – “The Call” I used to work the overnight shift at a little roadside motel just off Route

19. Nothing fancy — twelve rooms, flickering neon sign,

and a front desk that looked like it hadn’t been updated since the 80s. It was usually dead

quiet after midnight. The only people who ever came in that late were truckers, stranded travelers,

or people who didn’t want questions asked. This night started like any other. I was at the desk

doing paperwork, sipping stale coffee, trying to stay awake. At 3:12 AM, the phone rang.

That alone was weird. Nobody ever called the desk that late unless it was an emergency.

I picked it up and said my usual: “Motel front desk, how can I help you?” What I heard next