The Phones On The Other Side

The phone rings

It rings…and rings…and rings, the sound so shrill so never-ending the poor girl had no choice but to awaken. But to awaken to what exactly? For the girl had no clue where she was except that she had seemed to have awoken in a rotting corner of what seemed to be a rotten room.

The phone’s still ringing.

She gazed upon the room in a complete daze, as if still in a dream, although the room itself seemed like a nightmare, the dimly lit room only allowed her to discern only the most unsettling parts of where she was. A suitcase was half open, the contents that was once stuffed inside was now strewn across the floor as if a hurricane had just hit it, the bed unkempt with what seemed to be a broken lamp wrapped up inside, the suspiciously dark stains littered the bed sheets like overgrown bed bugs. The girl had no time to think of the terrible implications the room presented before her, for the phone was still ringing the sound bombarding her head, drumming into her brain to the point she could swear she felt drumsticks banging onto her brain.

She finally answered…what met her was a deep silence almost compelling her to be the first to start their long needed conversation. She tried to speak, tried to say anything yet the heaviness in her throat overtook her, she tried again and again to swallow it back to say something, to scream through the heaviness trying to drown her, to beg and plead to whomever was on the other side of the phone to save her from this feeling, the desperation was getting to her.

She was incapable of speech, the only noises coming through were gargled chokes with a touch of pleading whimpers. She clung onto the phone hearing her nails scratch against the plastic, feeling at any moment either the phone or herself will break from this antagonistic pressure.

That is until a sound started coming through, soft at first, discernible to the casual listener but the girl had an unknown anxiety that deemed the only salvation to her was this phone call. She gripped even tighter, ignoring the pain in her fingers; the numbness in her ear, she listened closer…hearing it all so clearer now, as if she was right there, right in the ocean. The sounds of waves rolled calmly through the phone, it was almost as if she could feel the waves exhaling through into her brain, making the drums slowly stop beating. She felt as though she could disappear then and there, the docile feeling taking over her whole body, her grip loosening on the phone, she took the first real breath, one she didn't know was being held in. She felt as though she was dissolving into the blissful ocean, she almost did, that is until the shrieking sirens destroyed the spell snapping her back into the harsh reality that was waiting to destroy her.

This siren called to her, willing her to investigate, but this was no beautiful song, this call to death was one of a police boat. It was at this moment as the girl gazed through the snow-globed window the abysmal sky was alight with flashing red and green lights, to the girl it was almost as if they were dancing in the night sky, calling her to join them and she wished she could, she longingly looked toward these aurora lights until she allowed herself to give in, allowing her to give in to her desire to see this tragic dance. She ran through the door, through the dark hallways not even taking in her surroundings or the people around her, knowing she needed to get to the first sight of brightness she’s seen since she’s awakened on this mysterious adventure. She walked past many others, though she took no notice of them and vice versa, she couldn’t hear the waves but she could see the inky mast violently slap against the ship, she ignored it in fear of being swallowed like she nearly was on the phone. She searched and searched for the source of the lights every step seemed to release the fog surrounding her, it seemed the girl was becoming more of herself.

As she walked she could feel something inside, a memory, a feeling something that finally allowed her to feel her soul, she didn’t know what this was until she finally reached her destination, until she finally saw the person who lifted the fog as soon as their eyes met…her mother. Her footsteps couldn’t be heard despite how hard she was running. She now remembers her life, her memories, her family, if only she could remember why she woke up in that decrepit room. But the poor girl was so blinded by her happiness she did not see the despair surrounding her, she did not think of the one thing that eluded her.

Police gathered all around the deck looking at photos, interviewing the other guests of the ship… the crew as well, she noticed their odd blue lanyards with what seems to be yellow dots, they seemed odd and familiar but she couldn’t quite place them. The girl took no notice with the same negligent attitude she's had to everything in her current situation, that is until she stood before her mother that she at long last realised how sinister her situation truly is, the evidence was adding up, her room, the police, no one taking notice of her, the fact she couldn’t talk; that she couldn’t even remember how she got to her room or even what happened before that. Besides all that evidence, it was her mother’s face that truly clinched it… that look of true desperation, her once gleeful warm eyes were replaced with a frightened misty look, swollen as if she’d been crying for hours, her mother’s body was shaking but not from the freezing sea air only from the fear of what she was about to find, shuddering trying to repress the sobs that kept quietly escaping her, she clutched onto a tattered photograph, one the girl instantly recognised from her 18th birthday.

There was still some hope in the girl, although her mother’s gaze never acknowledged her, never put her in a bone crushing hug that always met her when they joined together, that even though she stands 2 meters away from her mother it was like she didn’t exist; she held on to some twisted form of hope that this was some cruel elaborate joke her mother made in poor taste. She needed to confirm her fate. Tentatively reaching out she attempted to cradle her mothers face, to get her to finally see her and stop this wicked joke… her hand slid through making the girl stumble forward crashing onto the ground, the truth finally reveals itself, this was no cruel joke but an even crueller reality.

Yet again the girl tried to speak, the best she could do was stutter out the beginning of a lost plea, she tried to scream to grab onto her mother. She scrambled to grab onto anyone else begging for someone to regard her to tell her this was just a demented prank or a depressing dream. No one ever did… the girl collapsed onto the ground silently sobbing, decimated by the extreme loss, the cruel reality. She tries one final attempt to speak or at least beg a god for guidance, for help through this hell or even just a friend, unfortunately the dead can’t talk and this girl will never speak again.

The phone rings.

The girl staggers as she charges towards the phone, unknown to her if it’s in terror or desperation for some sort of connection. The phone was at the bow of the ship and once she reached it, she froze, this will be the second time she answered the phone, the first time she nearly got swallowed by the waves, as calm as they were they almost made her disappear …maybe it would've been better that way, to completely disappear before she found out the truth, but if she were to disappear now, without knowing how it happened, she couldn’t bear it. Then it hit her, what if the phone could help? being the only thing she could communicate with even if it was one sided. The phone gave her peace because she needed it , because she didn't know any better. She knows different now, she knows she's gone forever and if there's anything to gain from that it would be to at least discover how it happened, she hoped the phone will help. She finally answers the phone staring out at the horizon, the stars shining across a midnight sky, she takes a deep breath and listens…a hellish scream of the waves burned her ears, she could feel the violent crashing as if she right in the middle of it all, it felt inescapable, as if the waves were pushing around her enveloping her in her terror it was like the phone was trying to repel her. Instead of being swallowed by the phone call, being made to feel as if she would disappear, this phone call made her feel more anchored into this world, the anger of the waves expelling her from the phone call, she couldn’t stand it anymore she had to hang up.

The tears slowly rolled down her face as she loosely held the phone, the frustration taking over her. She wished there was some sort of clue from the call, the violence of the phone call was all too much for her to handle. The girl could not see that violence was the clue, she was surrounded by it this whole time and yet she's taken no notice of it. The girl, frustrated and seeking a bit of familiarity went back to her room, forgetting about the chaos it was in. She stood at the door agape as she stared at the scene before her, one word popped into her head, violence, was this what the phone intended? To lead her to this scene of brutality to show where her last moments were, but was this where her last moments took place? If so, who else would’ve been there, who caused this horrific truth? The girl pondered looking throughout the room. Not able to touch anything the only thing she could do was gaze upon everything for even the simplest of clues. She looked through the shambled bed, her blood stains covered the sheets, the girl wished she could throw them away but the best she can do is just look away. The search felt helpless, she looked upon the mess all she could feel was defeated, ashamed that she allowed herself to get into this situation, she looked towards the most chaotic parts of her room hoping to see something new.

The destroyed lampshade was wrapped inside her sheets, she seeked out where it originally was leading her to see the partially destroyed oak table, it seemed as though someone was savagely thrown into it causing the ground to be covered in broken splinters. The girl squinted in the dark seeing what seemed to be a ripped piece of fabric hidden underneath the splintered table, taking a closer look she saw the fabric was dark blue with shark prints dotted on it and that it wasn’t just some lost piece of broken fabric from her suitcase, but something that made her heart fall to the bottom of her stomach, it was an employee lanyard.

The phone rings.

The girl stared, eyes widened, terrified at the implications, no, at the truth that stared at her. It was a damned employee of this bastard ship that killed her, nothing could disrupt her from this truth. Her hands shook as she answered the phone, she can’t disappear now, she needed to find who killed her just to see who they are, for the full truth. She picked up the phone, there was silence at first until there wasn’t, until the malicious sound of laughter filled her ears, there was no warmth, only an army of men laughing down the phone to her. It felt as though she was being mocked, she was stuck in her misery and these men were laughing down the phone to her, why was it showing her this? She held the phone to her ear hoping to hear something else, something besides the cruel laughter that taunts her. That’s when the screaming started, it was quiet at first, a tiny murmur among the roar of laughter, she could barely hear it…she wished she didn’t, for the scream she heard was the one she was trying to produce all night. She slammed the phone down not wanting to hear anymore, she couldn’t bear it, but it didn’t stop, she slammed the phone again, the screaming continued and the laughter followed with it . The chorus was endless. She felt as though the laughter and the screams were going on for eternity, she repeatedly slammed the phone waiting for it to stop, begging to end it all, but it wouldn’t. She didn’t stop slamming the phone, she couldn’t, not until the phone itself fell apart.

The sounds continued, the violent uproar of laughter slammed into her head, her screams felt as though it would pierce her eardrums, she had no option but to run, to run from the deafening sounds of what she could only guess was her final moments. The sounds followed her, as she weaved through the dark hallways not knowing where she was going, only hoping she could get away from this curse. The sounds only got louder as she delved deeper into the ship, the damp smell invaded her nose, but she felt a strange warmth as she continued her escape, a deep connection to something hidden in the depths of the ship, it spurred her forward, she knew despite this demonic song she had to keep running.

The cursed music reached its peak, when the girl arrived at a desolate stairway, old and rusted with mould surrounding the stairs. She stared in utter despair and horror as she looked at the cold dead hand peeking out from underneath the stairway, but that wasn’t what she could focus on, her eyes could only see the butterfly tattoo on the wrist, she looked down at her own wrist seeing the beautiful tattoo of what was the very same butterfly. She scrambled towards her body, wishing she could just jump back in, wishing this wasn’t her fate, she stared down at her face, cold and peaceful not knowing what has become of her. She couldn’t look away, it felt as though she finally found what she needed, but now that she had found herself what does she do do now? Leave her body here? alone with no one ever finding where she is. Her thoughts got interrupted by a sound that has haunted her through her journey , the sound of laughing men. They were coming towards her, their walks cheerful, as they came closer their conversation came clearer and what they said made her heart drop to the bottom of her stomach, their discussion was how they would get rid of her, she would be made to completely disappear in the violent oceans surrounding them.

The girl felt as though the world was going to end, she couldn’t allow this to occur, she couldn’t die again, not like this , the men finally reached her, they looked upon her body, as it lay on the ground lifeless and they laughed. The anger and disgust filled her to the bone as she leaped towards her body, she pulled all her hatred and anger into holding on to herself, as the men tried to grab onto the body to hide her away for eternity, it was as though the girl clinging onto the arm of her dead self was anchoring it down. She would never allow these men to take her she would never allow herself to disappear, she would rather stay here and guard herself for the rest of eternity then allow her fate to be determined by what she can only guess are her murderers. They pulled and pulled trying with all their might to drag her away, but the girl held on the tears welled up in her eyes as the men held on tighter. The girl overcome by her frustration, her anger, her disgust and contempt for these men let out a blood curdling scream, the first scream she had made since awaking in this nightmare, they will never touch her again, she’ll be free of the pain they caused her, of the death that has anchored her down , that taunted her as she tried to reach out. She watched as the men shot up terrified, screaming of curses and ghosts. She watched in joy as a storm of police surrounded the men alerted by their terror, alerted by her scream. She watched as her mother ran towards her body, despair and relief wrapped up in her eyes as she saw her daughter's body dead on the ground.

The girl smiled for the first time since the beginning of her journey, sighing as she leaned against the wall as she watched her corpse get taken away.

The phone rings, the girl answers and hears the calm ocean begging to take her away.