The Eerie Phone Caller Part 1.

On a cold Saturday night in the middle of winter, my parents were out for the evening celebrating their anniversary. My siblings went to their friends' houses, leaving me all alone with the cats, dogs, and an abundance of homework. I was home...alone. The phone rang. "Hello," I said. "Hello," I repeated again. No one was there. I hung up. That was strange. It was at that moment, all the lights went out and mysterious noises were heard coming from the basement. Knowing that is where the circuit breaker and power is located, my concern began to fade away. Probably just some typical house noises. But just in case, I made sure to lock all the windows and doors, especially the basement door. Maybe the eerie phone caller wasn't just a coincidence. Maybe what I heard was not from the mechanicals, but rather from an intruder. Either way, if someone is down there, they won't be able to get me. I took my phone out and tried calling my parents, nothing. Rather than bother them on their anniversary, I called the police next. Shockingly, they didn't answer either. Why are the bars on my phone completely empty? What is going on? Did the mysterious caller somehow cut the power to everyone’s house. I looked out the windows, and saw my neighbor’s house. They still had power. Quickly, I put on my shoes and a jacket. I was about ready to step out of the door, when suddenly I was confronted by figure with a knife. Without warning, the figure slashed my left shoulder. Immediately, I slammed the door shut and locked it before he could enter my house.  The intruder continued banging on the door while I yelled, “I’m gonna call the cops!”  Rushing to the bathroom, I was able to find bandages and a cloth to clean my cut. When I returned to the kitchen, I grabbed a sharp kitchen knife for protection. I could hear noises coming from outside, but didn’t dare step out there. Then the noises started coming from the roof near my bedroom and parent’s bedroom. As I listened closely, I could hear a window open and the thud of feet against the floor. It was coming from my parents' room. I panicked; not knowing where to hide. Then I remembered a little secret hiding place I found as a kid. It was in a closet near the basement. I slowly walked towards the closet, afraid of giving myself away to whoever is up there. While trying to squeeze into the hiding spot, I accidentally opened up my cut and it started bleeding. Despite the returning pain of my injury, I didn’t make a sound or noise. It was in that moment that I heard my parents’ bedroom door open up; the killer was making his way down. The approaching sound of heavy boots on the creaky steps fell in unison with my beating heart pulsating through my body. Just then....

Do you want to know what happens next? Be sure to read about it in the next issue of The Valley Voice!