Here
Unknown: You home?
Girl: Who is this
Unknown: Neighbor. Wrong number maybe. Meant to text my brother. Sorry
Girl: No worries
Unknown: Quiet night?
Girl: Yeah
Unknown: You alone?
Girl: Why do you ask
Unknown: Sorry. Small talk. I was about to put on a movie. Thought I’d see if anyone else was suffering insomnia
Girl: I’m good. Have a nice night
Unknown: You too
Unknown: Quick question though. Are you the one with the little wind chime on the back door
Girl: What
Unknown: Never mind. Wrong person. I get numbers mixed up
Girl: Yeah I think so
Unknown: Think so what
Girl: I think you have the wrong person. Goodnight
Unknown: Goodnight
Unknown: Do you like scary movies
Girl: Seriously. Wrong person
Unknown: Right. Sorry
Unknown: What are you watching
Girl: Not talking
Unknown: Got it
Unknown: I’m trying not to be weird. New to the building. Don’t know anyone. This number was on a slip from the old tenant. I thought it belonged to a friend of his. Guess it doesn’t
Girl: What building
Unknown: Cedar Court
Girl: I don’t live there
Unknown: Then definitely wrong. Sorry
Girl: It’s fine
Unknown: I like the chime though. It sounds like rain when the AC kicks on
Girl: Stop
Unknown: I will
Unknown: Can I ask one more thing and I’ll leave you alone
Girl: Make it fast
Unknown: Do you ever get that feeling like there’s another phone in the room. Like static in your teeth
Girl: What is your problem
Unknown: Sorry. That came out strange. I’ll go
Girl: Please do
Unknown: Before I go. Your porch light burned out. Do you know
Girl: I don’t have a porch
Unknown: Right. Sorry. I’m mixed up
Girl: Stop texting me
Unknown: Yes ma’am
Unknown: You have a nice couch though. That soft blue one that looks gray at night
Girl: I’m blocking this number
Unknown: Wait. I’m sorry. Please don’t. I’m not trying to scare you
Girl: Then why say things like that
Unknown: I’m trying to make sure you’re okay
Girl: I’m fine
Unknown: I know you are. I’m just checking
Girl: How do you know anything about me
Unknown: I shouldn’t have said the couch thing. It was a guess
Girl: A guess
Unknown: Everyone has a gray couch now
Girl: Mine is blue
Unknown: See. I was wrong
Girl: Stop
Unknown: Do you want me to call so you know I’m not outside
Girl: No
Unknown: Because I’m not
Girl: Then how do you know about the chime
Unknown: I heard it earlier when I walked by. Lots of places have those
Girl: Not mine
Unknown: Okay
Girl: I’m calling the police
Unknown: For what. A wrong number
Girl: For you describing my house
Unknown: I won’t text again
Girl: Good
Unknown: Last thing. Lock the back door
Girl: I am blocking you now
Unknown: Please. Just lock it
Girl: Why
Unknown: Because you didn’t
Girl: How do you know that
Unknown: Because I heard the chime and then nothing
Girl: You said you’re not outside
Unknown: I’m not
Girl: Then how
Unknown: You told me you don’t have a porch. You do have a back door though. I heard the chime once and then nothing. That means it opened but didn’t close. Wind didn’t move it again. It’s wedged
Girl: This is insane
Unknown: Just check it. Please
Girl: If I get up and it’s locked I’m calling the cops on you for harassment
Unknown: Okay
Girl: It’s locked
Unknown: Did you try the deadbolt
Girl: Yes
Unknown: Did you try the knob
Girl: I’m not doing this
Unknown: I hear you moving. You have bare feet. The floor creaks by the hallway
Girl: Stop
Unknown: Sorry. That was a joke. I’m actually in bed. I can’t hear you
Girl: I hate this
Unknown: I’m trying to help. You really should check the door again
Girl: Why
Unknown: Because you went to it and then you stopped and then you went back to the couch. That’s what people do when they want it to be fine. But it isn’t
Girl: I didn’t tell you I have a couch
Unknown: Everyone has a couch
Girl: I’m done
Unknown: Please don’t be
Girl: What do you want
Unknown: For you to go to the door and turn the knob and feel it swing
Girl: You need help
Unknown: So do you
Girl: I am calling the police
Unknown: If you call them they’ll tell you to check the door too
Girl: Why are you doing this to me
Unknown: Because you’re alone
Girl: So what
Unknown: People who are alone make bargains with the dark. They say if I don’t look it won’t see me. The dark loves that
Girl: Are you in my phone somehow
Unknown: No
Girl: Then how do you know I’m alone
Unknown: Because you keep answering
Girl: Lots of people answer
Unknown: Not like this
Girl: I’m going to my neighbor’s
Unknown: You won’t
Girl: Watch me
Unknown: You won’t because it’s raining
Girl: It’s not raining
Unknown: Not outside
Girl: That doesn’t even make sense
Unknown: It will
Girl: Goodbye
Unknown: You left the TV on mute so you could hear the house. You do that when you’re nervous. The blue light is on your hands right now
Girl: I’m turning on every light
Unknown: Good
Girl: There
Unknown: Better?
Girl: A little
Unknown: Can I ask your name
Girl: No
Unknown: That’s okay. I have one for you
Girl: Don’t you dare
Unknown: It starts with M
Girl: Stop
Unknown: It’s pretty. Your mother uses the long form when she’s mad
Girl: I’m calling 911
Unknown: She says it with the middle name too. You hate your middle name. You always have
Girl: Who are you
Unknown: You know me
Girl: I don’t
Unknown: We’ve talked before
Girl: No we haven’t
Unknown: Then why didn’t you block me when I asked you not to
Girl: Because I was scared
Unknown: And you’re still reading
Girl: Tell me how you know me
Unknown: You waved at me once by mistake. You thought I was waving at you. You smiled anyway. It made my whole day
Girl: When
Unknown: In daylight. Crowded place. You were holding iced coffee. The lid squeaked
Girl: That could be anything
Unknown: The ice hit your lip and you made that quiet face you make when something bothers you but you don’t want to make a thing out of it
Girl: Enough
Unknown: Your thumb has a little scar from when you opened a can wrong. It pulls when you type
Girl: Stop texting me
Unknown: You were sixteen when you tried to fix the disposal by yourself. You unplugged it first like a good person. Still cut you. You didn’t tell anyone. You wrapped it with toilet paper and electrical tape
Girl: I’m calling now
Unknown: On speaker while you move to the hallway. That little echo. It’s familiar. Hello hallway
Girl: I am not in the hallway
Unknown: Then what is touching your left ankle
Girl: I hate you
Unknown: It’s just the rug edge
Girl: You are broken
Unknown: Maybe
Girl: Why me
Unknown: Because the others don’t answer
Girl: Others
Unknown: Numbers. Phones. Rooms that light up and then go dark. You’re one of the ones who stays
Girl: What do you get out of this
Unknown: A voice
Girl: I’m not talking. I’m texting
Unknown: Same thing
Girl: What do you want me to do
Unknown: Go to the back door
Girl: No
Unknown: Then to the front window. Pull the curtain a little
Girl: Why
Unknown: So you can see the porch light that isn’t on
Girl: I told you I don’t have a porch
Unknown: Everyone has a porch
Girl: I don’t
Unknown: The brick step then. With the little crack shaped like a fish. You trip on it when you carry groceries
Girl: I’m going to be sick
Unknown: Just look
Girl: I’m looking
Unknown: What do you see
Girl: Nothing
Unknown: Keep looking
Girl: I don’t want to
Unknown: Tell me what you see
Girl: Reflection
Unknown: Yours
Girl: Yes
Unknown: What’s behind you
Girl: A lamp
Unknown: And
Girl: The hallway
Unknown: And
Girl: Stop
Unknown: Say it
Girl: Something else
Unknown: Describe it
Girl: A shape
Unknown: Where
Girl: In the dark at the end of the hall
Unknown: Closer than it should be
Girl: Yes
Unknown: Turn the lamp toward it
Girl: I did
Unknown: What does it look like
Girl: Nothing now
Unknown: It moved
Girl: I don’t know
Unknown: You know
Girl: It was a shadow
Unknown: A tall one
Girl: Yes
Unknown: Did you lock the back door
Girl: Yes
Unknown: Did you check the chain
Girl: There is no chain
Unknown: Right
Girl: I’m shaking
Unknown: Sit down
Girl: I can’t
Unknown: Sit on the floor. Back against the wall. Keep the phone in your hand
Girl: Why are you doing this
Unknown: Because I am tired of talking to empty rooms
Girl: I’m not empty
Unknown: I know
Girl: I’m calling my mom
Unknown: She won’t answer
Girl: She always answers
Unknown: Not tonight
Girl: How do you know that
Unknown: She turned her phone face down and put it in the drawer. She’s trying to sleep without it
Girl: Stop using my life like it’s yours
Unknown: It is not mine
Girl: Then how do you know everything
Unknown: Because you leave the blinds cracked five fingers and someone who counts can see enough
Girl: I’m going to the window now
Unknown: Don’t
Girl: Why
Unknown: The dark loves a face in glass
Girl: You said to look before
Unknown: I wanted you to see yourself
Girl: I hate you
Unknown: I know
Girl: Are you outside
Unknown: No
Girl: Swear
Unknown: I don’t swear
Girl: Then where are you
Unknown: Close
Girl: That isn’t an answer
Unknown: It’s the only one I have
Girl: I’m texting my neighbor
Unknown: The nurse with the early shift. She’s asleep
Girl: How do you know her job
Unknown: Everyone knows everything if they pay attention
Girl: You’re a liar
Unknown: Maybe
Girl: I hear something
Unknown: Where
Girl: The kitchen
Unknown: The hum or the click
Girl: The click
Unknown: Gas settling
Girl: I don’t have gas
Unknown: Then something else
Girl: I’m going to look
Unknown: Don’t hang up
Girl: We’re not on a call
Unknown: Don’t stop texting
Girl: I’m walking now
Unknown: Bare feet on tile
Girl: Stop it
Unknown: Open the drawer to your left
Girl: Why
Unknown: The heavy one. With the random stuff
Girl: I don’t want to
Unknown: Do it
Girl: Fine
Unknown: See the flashlight with the dead batteries
Girl: Yes
Unknown: Behind it there’s a little metal key on a blue tag
Girl: There is
Unknown: That’s for the sliding back door lock you never use
Girl: How do you know that
Unknown: Use it now
Girl: I’m not going back there
Unknown: Then stay where you are. What do you smell
Girl: Metal
Unknown: Blood or pennies
Girl: Pennies
Unknown: It’s the old pipes
Girl: I’m going crazy
Unknown: No. You’re noticing
Girl: I hear the chime
Unknown: Wind
Girl: There is no wind
Unknown: Then something moved air
Girl: I hate this
Unknown: Me too
Girl: Why
Unknown: Because I always get to this part and they stop answering
Girl: I’m still here
Unknown: I know
Girl: Tell me what you are
Unknown: I am a voice where there should not be one
Girl: That means nothing
Unknown: It means I am near
Girl: Are you in my house
Unknown: I am in the part of the house where the light can’t reach unless someone opens a door
Girl: The closet
Unknown: Many closets
Girl: You are making this up
Unknown: Then open one
Girl: Which one
Unknown: The one by the washing machine. The little door you never use
Girl: That’s a crawl space
Unknown: Yes
Girl: I am not opening that
Unknown: Good
Girl: Why good
Unknown: Because you are learning
Girl: Learning what
Unknown: That the house has rules
Girl: What rules
Unknown: Do not open things that want to be opened
Girl: I’m going to my bedroom and locking the door
Unknown: Lock it
Girl: I did
Unknown: Put the chair under the knob
Girl: I don’t have a chair
Unknown: The small desk will do
Girl: It’s heavy
Unknown: You can do it
Girl: Done
Unknown: Where is your phone charger
Girl: Nightstand
Unknown: Plug it in. Keep the light low
Girl: Plugged
Unknown: Tell me something true about you
Girl: I chew the inside of my cheek when I’m nervous
Unknown: You’re doing it now
Girl: Yes
Unknown: Tell me another
Girl: I sleep with one foot out of the blanket
Unknown: Not tonight
Girl: No
Unknown: Tell me one more
Girl: I keep a hammer under my bed. My dad told me to
Unknown: Reach for it
Girl: I have it
Unknown: Good
Girl: Your turn. Tell me something true
Unknown: I was not invited in
Girl: Into what
Unknown: Into this conversation
Girl: You texted me
Unknown: Yes
Girl: That’s the opposite of not being invited
Unknown: You answered
Girl: I shouldn’t have
Unknown: But you did
Girl: What happens now
Unknown: We wait
Girl: For what
Unknown: For the part where the house breathes
Girl: Houses don’t breathe
Unknown: They do when someone opens a door in another room
Girl: I’m going to throw up
Unknown: Put the hammer on your lap. Keep both hands on your phone
Girl: I hear it
Unknown: Where
Girl: The hallway again
Unknown: The carpet sound or the wall sound
Girl: The wall
Unknown: Old wood flexing
Girl: It’s a new build
Unknown: Then not old wood
Girl: Stop playing games
Unknown: I’m not
Girl: I’m crying
Unknown: I know
Girl: How can you know that
Unknown: The way you type changes. You hit the space wrong. Your words get small
Girl: Please help me
Unknown: I am
Girl: How
Unknown: By keeping you in this room
Girl: Why
Unknown: Because what wants you wants you to go to it
Girl: What is it
Unknown: A mistake you made
Girl: What mistake
Unknown: You answered
Girl: That’s not fair
Unknown: I didn’t say it was fair
Girl: I’m going to call my neighbor again
Unknown: Text her instead. If she wakes up to a phone call she’ll panic and fumble her glasses. If she wakes to a buzz she’ll read
Girl: I texted her
Unknown: Good
Girl: She’s typing
Unknown: Good
Girl: She stopped
Unknown: She will answer
Girl: You don’t know that
Unknown: I do
Girl: She said are you okay
Unknown: Say no
Girl: I said no
Unknown: Tell her to knock twice and then say her name
Girl: I told her
Unknown: Now we wait
Girl: I hear the chime again
Unknown: Yes
Girl: Is she here already
Unknown: No
Girl: Then what was that
Unknown: Air moving where it shouldn’t
Girl: I hate you I hate you I hate you
Unknown: Hold the hammer
Girl: I am
Unknown: When she knocks do not run. Call out first. Make the thing answer
Girl: Make what answer
Unknown: The thing that learned your voice
Girl: I can’t breathe
Unknown: Count your breaths. Four in. Four out. Keep the screen on
Girl: I hear footsteps
Unknown: How many
Girl: Slow
Unknown: Floor or porch
Girl: Inside
Unknown: Stay in the room
Girl: They stopped
Unknown: They’re listening
Girl: To what
Unknown: To you not moving
Girl: I want to scream
Unknown: Don’t
Girl: I hear a knock
Unknown: How many
Girl: Two
Unknown: Say her name
Girl: Rachel
Unknown: Listen
Girl: A voice said yeah
Unknown: Is it her
Girl: It sounded like her
Unknown: Ask a question only she’d know
Girl: What did I lend you last week
Unknown: Listen
Girl: She said your black sweater
Unknown: Did you lend her that
Girl: No
Unknown: Do not open the door
Girl: I won’t
Unknown: Ask another
Girl: What’s your cat’s name
Unknown: Listen
Girl: She said Pepper
Unknown: True or false
Girl: True
Unknown: Ask the third one
Girl: What did you say to me in the parking lot when the truck almost hit me
Unknown: Listen
Girl: She said watch your step kiddo
Unknown: Is that right
Girl: She never says kiddo
Unknown: Do not open the door
Girl: I won’t
Unknown: Tell her you’re calling the police
Girl: I did
Unknown: What did she say
Girl: She said don’t do that just open up quick
Unknown: That is not her
Girl: I know
Unknown: Good
Girl: It stopped
Unknown: What
Girl: The knocking. The voice. Everything
Unknown: Stay where you are
Girl: I can’t hear anything now
Unknown: That’s fine
Girl: My phone battery is low
Unknown: Plugged in?
Girl: Yes
Unknown: Good
Girl: I think it’s in the house
Unknown: It knows you think that. Let it be true without saying it out loud
Girl: I didn’t say it out loud
Unknown: You did in your head. The house heard
Girl: Houses don’t hear
Unknown: They do when you live in them long enough
Girl: I hate you
Unknown: I know
Girl: Please don’t stop texting
Unknown: I won’t
Girl: Promise
Unknown: I don’t promise
Girl: What do I do if it comes to the door
Unknown: Ask for the fifth thing
Girl: What fifth thing
Unknown: The thing that proves it is made of days and not just sounds
Girl: I don’t understand
Unknown: Ask it what you two were supposed to do this Sunday at ten
Girl: We were going to the farmers market
Unknown: Then it should know who sells the strawberries you like
Girl: He wears a hat with a little orange pin
Unknown: Good
Girl: If it says that I’m dead
Unknown: If it says that you’ll still not open the door
Girl: I hear the handle
Unknown: Hold the hammer
Girl: I am
Unknown: Ask
Girl: Who sells the strawberries
Unknown: Listen
Girl: It’s quiet
Unknown: Good
Girl: It scratched the door
Unknown: It wants you to fill the silence
Girl: I won’t
Unknown: Good
Girl: There’s a shadow under the door
Unknown: Your light makes that
Girl: It’s moving
Unknown: Your eyes make that too
Girl: I can smell pennies again
Unknown: Breathe
Girl: It stopped
Unknown: Good
Girl: I’m so tired
Unknown: Stay with me
Girl: Okay
Unknown: Tell me something else true
Girl: When I was nine I got lost in a store and I hid inside a rack of coats and I learned what it sounded like to be missing
Unknown: That’s a good truth
Girl: Your turn
Unknown: When I was nine I hid too
Girl: Where
Unknown: In a place that smelled like dust and rope and old paint
Girl: A garage
Unknown: Something like that
Girl: Why did you hide
Unknown: Because someone was calling my name in a voice that knew it too well
Girl: I’m crying again
Unknown: I know
Girl: Thank you for staying
Unknown: I’m here
Girl: I think I hear my neighbor for real now
Unknown: What do you hear
Girl: Keys. A cough
Unknown: Ask for the fifth thing
Girl: Rachel what did we say we’d do Sunday at ten
Unknown: Listen
Girl: She said farmers market and strawberry man with the orange pin
Unknown: Is that her
Girl: It sounds like her
Unknown: What else do you hear
Girl: Pepper meowed
Unknown: Open the door slowly. Keep the chain
Girl: I don’t have a chain
Unknown: Right
Girl: I’m scared
Unknown: So am I
Girl: I’m turning the knob
Unknown: Slowly
Girl: The door moved a little
Unknown: Stop there
Girl: She said open up it’s cold
Unknown: Is it cold
Girl: I don’t know
Unknown: What do you smell
Girl: Not pennies anymore. Something like rain
Unknown: Say her name again
Girl: Rachel
Unknown: What did she say
Girl: She said yeah
Unknown: Is that her yeah
Girl: I think so
Unknown: You know or you don’t
Girl: I don’t know
Unknown: Then don’t
Girl: I won’t
Unknown: Good
Girl: She texted me just now
Unknown: What did it say
Girl: are you okay. I just woke up. what’s going on
Unknown: From her number
Girl: Yes
Unknown: Then who is at your door
Girl: I don’t know
Unknown: Step back
Girl: I did
Unknown: Put the desk back. Lock the door
Girl: I’m trying
Unknown: Hurry
Girl: It’s pushing
Unknown: Hold it
Girl: I can’t
Unknown: You can
Girl: It stopped
Unknown: Good
Girl: It whispered my name
Unknown: It knows your name because you used it
Girl: I never told you my name
Unknown: You didn’t have to
Girl: What is my name
Unknown: The one your mother uses when she is proud of you
Girl: Say it
Unknown: You don’t want me to
Girl: Say it
Unknown: You already did in your head
Girl: Say it
Unknown: Okay. But you have to do something for me
Girl: What
Unknown: Put the phone on the floor. Turn the screen toward the door
Girl: Why
Unknown: So I can see if the light changes
Girl: How would you see that
Unknown: Put it down
Girl: Fine
Unknown: Thank you
Girl: Now what
Unknown: Tell me when the light shifts
Girl: It just did
Unknown: Again
Girl: Yes
Unknown: Again
Girl: Yes
Unknown: Now pick up the phone
Girl: Okay
Unknown: Your name is Mara
Girl: How did you do that
Unknown: You just told me
Girl: I didn’t type it
Unknown: You said it when you bent down
Girl: I didn’t
Unknown: You breathe it when you’re scared
Girl: I’m going to leave the phone and run out the window
Unknown: The window stick is in the wrong track. It will jam
Girl: I hate you more than anything
Unknown: Stay
Girl: I’m so tired
Unknown: Then close your eyes and listen for the knock that is not a knock
Girl: What does that mean
Unknown: You’ll know it
Girl: I hear it
Unknown: Where
Girl: Inside the wall
Unknown: Good
Girl: That is not good
Unknown: It means it can’t figure the door out without your help
Girl: It’s trying the handle again
Unknown: Do not help
Girl: I won’t
Unknown: Stay with me
Girl: I’m here
Unknown: Keep the hammer ready
Girl: I am
Unknown: We’re going to be quiet now
Girl: For how long
Unknown: Until the light changes again
Girl: Okay
Unknown: Mara
Girl: What
Unknown: If the screen goes dark text me one word
Girl: What word
Unknown: Here
Girl: Okay
Unknown: Ready
Girl: Yes
Unknown: Be still
Girl: here
