A Game Begins

After that night, things were far from normal. The keychain and note haunted me, a constant reminder that the nightmare wasn’t over. I kept it hidden in my drawer, but every time I opened it, the words “Round two coming soon” seemed to taunt me.

For days, I tried convincing myself it was just a prank—an elaborate, cruel prank. But deep down, I knew this was something more sinister.

One evening, a week after the incident, I was walking back from school. I’d chosen a busy route, avoiding the quiet shortcuts I usually took. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the bustling streets.

Just as I reached the corner near my house, my phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: “Turn around.”

I stopped in my tracks, my pulse quickening. Slowly, I turned.

At first, I saw nothing out of the ordinary—just people walking, cars passing, and the faint hum of daily life. Then, amidst the crowd, I spotted it.

The taxi.

It was parked casually on the side of the road as if it belonged there. But I knew better. The driver wasn’t visible, yet the sight of the car alone was enough to send shivers down my spine.

I turned back and walked faster, my heart pounding in my chest. I was only a few steps from home when the phone buzzed again.

Unknown Number: “You’re not safe anywhere.”

I rushed inside, locking the door behind me. My mom looked up from the kitchen, concerned. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“It’s nothing,” I lied, forcing a smile. “Just tired.”

That night, sleep eluded me. The faint hum of the ceiling fan did nothing to drown out the paranoia buzzing in my mind. Every creak of the house, every rustle of wind outside felt magnified.

At exactly 3:00 AM, my phone buzzed again.

Unknown Number: “Ready to play?”

I hesitated, my fingers trembling as I typed back:

Me: “What do you want?”

The reply came almost instantly.

Unknown Number: “A game. If you win, you’re safe. If you lose… well, you’ll find out.”

I stared at the screen, dread settling in my stomach. What game? What did they mean by “safe”? My phone buzzed again before I could think.

Unknown Number: “Your first clue: Check the place where your fear began.”

I knew exactly where they meant.

The abandoned bungalow.

I didn’t want to go. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to ignore the message, to call the police, to stay where it was safe. But something compelled me—curiosity, fear, or maybe a desperate need for closure.

The next evening, just before sunset, I stood at the entrance of the bungalow. The place was even more haunting than I remembered. Vines crept up its cracked walls and shattered windows gaped like empty eyes.

The door creaked as I pushed it open. The air inside was thick and musty, laced with an unsettling silence. I shone my flashlight around, every shadow seeming to move.

Then I saw it—a small, folded piece of paper lying on the floor in the center of the room. With trembling hands, I picked it up and unfolded it.

“Welcome to the game. The taxi waits. Follow its lights.”

Suddenly, the sound of an engine roared outside. I peered through the broken window and saw the familiar glow of the taxi’s headlights.

It was waiting for me.

I didn’t want to go, but something told me I had no choice. My legs moved on their own, taking me outside. The driver’s window rolled down as I approached, revealing that same unnerving smile.

“Get in,” he said.

And like a pawn in some twisted game, I obeyed.

As the taxi sped off into the night, I realized I was no longer in control. Whatever this game was, I was now a player. And losing was not an option.