Photograph

BZZZZZZZT! BZZZZZZZT!

"Hm!"

BZZZZZZZT!

"ughhhh"

It's cold, dark and I'm in bed. A wave of emotions flows through my body as I'm startled awake by the wall telephone in the other room. BZZZZZZZT! Groggy, then confused. Confused, then annoyed. Annoyed, then angry. Angry. Yes…. Who in the world is calling me at this time?

BZZZZZZZT! BZZZZZZZT!

I sit up and stare into the darkness. Then at the window. Muddied autumn leaves begin swirling, the wind as their ride, landing softly on the floor below the window. I don't care about that, let the leaves be, I just need the energy to get to that darn phone. I slide my smartphone off the nightstand, blocking my eyes with the other so as to not blind myself with a bright screen. I turn it on and slowly uncover my eyes. Midnight. I pull the lamp cord and the darkness quickly escapes. BZZZZZZZT! God, put down the phone already!

I carefully slither out of bed and tiptoe around my digital camera equipment I haphazardly left out all around the room. Really need to put that away soon. I grasp the chilled doorknob and head to the living room. BZZZZZZZT! It's getting louder as I get closer, like it's taunting me for being too tired to get to it any faster. I don't even bother turning on any other lights. I huff and puff as my snail crawl towards the phone is finally complete. BZZZZZZZT!

"Who is this?"

"Is this Omar?"

"We are closed."

"I'm Lilith, I would like to book an appointment." she asserts, completely disregarding my words.

"I said we're closed. That means we aren't taking pictures anymore, sorry."

"I would like to have my picture taken at 496 Shinpi Lane." She is cheerful, yet calm and calculated in delivery.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but we are closing for good, shutting down. Goodbye."

"See you there!" she cheerfully chirps before hanging up."

"See you there…." I scoff after putting the phone up. Glad that it went shortly, I begin to shuffle back to my room.

BZZZZZZZT!

"You've got to be kidding me. What is this, a human robocall?" I murmur before picking up the phone again.

"We are closed, this business is no longer operating." I don't try to cover up my agitation.

"Is this Omar?" She repeats my name in the same exact tone, unwavering from the previous call.

"And what if it was? We. Are. Closed."

"I'm Lilith, I would like to-" She doesn't get another word in as I hang up on her. Immediately after I turn around, yet another buzz from the phone, presumably from this mysterious annoyance. This time, I practically rip the phone from the wall in hostility.

"Look, whoever you are, leave me alone! It's past midnight!"

"Is this Omar?"

I stand in the dark, bewildered. That exact same tone. She won't give up the act, huh.

"How did you come across this number, who are you?"

"I'm Lilith, I would like to book an appointment." She repeats, like deja vu. I'm starting to feel chilled. Do I play into this supposed request, and what if I don't? Will she just keep calling me? Only one way to find out. I press my ear harder on the phone. I can't even hear her breathing on the other side, dead silence. But I know she's patiently waiting for my answer, I can just….feel it.

I clear my throat.

"You would like to book an appointment. Okay…."

"Yes!" She exclaims sharply, "I would like to have my picture taken at 496 Shinpi Lane." I repeat in my head to not forget. 496 Shinpi Lane, 496 Shinpi Lane, 496 Shinpi Lane. Why am I so nervous!!

"And, um," I try to hide the fear in my voice and gulp, "when would you like to schedule this for?"

"Now."

My heart dropped. I shouldn't have asked, I shouldn't have asked, I shouldn't have asked! I hang up the phone and draw a shaky breath in the now freezing air. I'm full of energy now. I run to my room, run to the light. I try to calm myself down. It's just some kids pranking me. I am gullible and I am stupid for getting so freaked out. But I've gotta check it out. I look towards the window, which is still open. In morbid curiosity, I slam it shut and hurriedly open my closet to throw on my clothes. Anything'll work. I scoop up a random camera and pack it in my bag. Shoes on, coat on, and ready to go. I swipe my keys and head to the front door. Gently laying my hand on the knob, I slowly twist it, second guessing myself. Well, if she wants a picture taken, then I'm gonna take it.

The scent of wet yellowed grass and mud stinks up my nose as I circuit around to the driver's side. I slam the car door shut and turn the heater on. I then search the directions to the address. 496 Shinpi Lane, right? Boom, one result. I look around with the headlights on, the wind still twirling around dead leaves.

I drive for about an hour down lonely winding wooded roads till the voice on my phone tells me to take the upcoming left. As I do, I realize where I've been taken. It alarms me. A cemetery. As I slow down to park. RING! A call from an unknown number. On my smartphone! Now they have my personal number? This is insane! And they called me at the perfect time, as if they saw me pulling up. I inch the phone closer and closer to my ear and answer.

"You've made it! How lovely!" The woman shouts in excitement, but her enthusiasm is only making me feel worse. I step out with my camera bag and gently close the door, too afraid to close my eyes for just a second.

"Wh- where do I go?" I ask puzzledly as I observe my surroundings. The darkness enveloping any object for as far as I can see. Leafless trees towering over the tombstones. The silence looming over me. I can feel it in all directions.

"Follow the path." She replies. I struggle to step forward, watching my cold breath disperse in the air. One step at a time as I wonder where a strange woman is guiding me. I walk and walk, careful not to step on one branch or twig, not one crunchy dried leaf, until my phone utters a "Stop" and I freeze in place. I then whip my neck around to see where I am and gather my bearings as my eyes are now adjusted to the dark night. Next to me stands a lone gravestone. I bend down, point my phone light at it and study its details. The rounded stone is cracked and worn, and the name on it appears rubbed out, making it illegible. I can make out one letter 'L' and one 'I'. Maybe a 'T', too.

"I'm here, where are you?" I question.

"Take the picture." How do I even reply to that? None of this has made any sense. I open the bag and grab the camera and place my phone on top of the emptied bag. I'll just snap a picture of this grave and hurry out, I'm tired of this crap.

I kneel down, make sure the flash is on and hold still.

Snap

Easy.

***

Back in the safety of my home, I sit at the kitchen table and view the photo.

Thi- this can't be happening!

Next to the gravestone lies a woman, posing for the camera. Smiling with glee. I was alone! I am not crazy! That woman was not there, I know it! Her eyes are staring deep into the camera, deep in me.

Crash

I throw the camera down trying to break it. The screen is still on, as if not wanting to let go of that cursed picture. I don't know what to do. The temperature suddenly drops to absolute freezing. I freeze. Then a voice.

"Take another picture." It's the woman. But I'm not holding the phone anymore….. That means…..

"TAKE ANOTHER PICTURE."