Ethan

Ethan was walking home late through the park—a shortcut he usually avoided, but today he'd decided to take. The streetlights flickered, casting uneven shadows, and the end credits of the horror movie he'd watched with his friends still echoed in his ears. "It's silly to be scared after the movie," he thought, but a chill ran down his spine nonetheless.

Suddenly the phone rang. The number was unidentified. Ethan hesitated, then answered:

• Hello?

A hoarse, distorted voice came through the receiver:

— Hi, Ethan. Do you like horror movies?

His heart skipped a beat. He turned around sharply—there was no one behind him.

“Who is it?” His voice was as hard as steel.