The Last Message

The Last Message

It was nearly midnight when Ethan received a text message from his own phone number.

He frowned and looked at his screen.

"Don't go to sleep tonight."

A chill ran through him.

He checked his phone again. The message was real. It had come from his exact number.

Assuming it was some kind of glitch, he ignored it and placed the phone on his nightstand.

A few minutes later, another message arrived.

"I'm serious. Leave the house now."

Ethan's heartbeat quickened.

He tried calling the number, but the call instantly disconnected.

Then a third message appeared.

"You have 12 minutes."

Now he was frightened.

He walked through the house, checking every door and window. Everything was locked. Nothing seemed unusual.

Outside, the street was silent.

No cars.

No people.

Nothing.

The phone vibrated again.

"Look under the bed."

Ethan stared at the message.

Slowly, he stepped into his bedroom.

His hands trembled as he knelt beside the bed.

He took a deep breath and looked underneath.

Nothing.

Just darkness and a few dusty boxes.

Relieved, he stood up.

Then another message arrived.

"That wasn't your bed."

Ethan froze.

A strange sound echoed from upstairs.

A soft creak.

Followed by slow footsteps.

But Ethan lived alone.

The footsteps continued.

One step.

Then another.

Then another.

As if someone was carefully descending the stairs.

His phone vibrated once more.

"It's looking for you."

The lights suddenly went out.

Darkness swallowed the house.

Ethan's breathing became shallow.

The footsteps stopped.

Silence.

Then, from somewhere in the darkness, he heard a voice.

His own voice.

Whispering:

"I found you."

The phone lit up one final time.

A new message appeared.

"Run."

But before Ethan could move, he felt a cold hand close around his shoulder.

The next morning, the police found his house completely empty.

No signs of a struggle.

No broken doors.

No footprints.

Nothing.

Only a phone lying on the bedroom floor.

Its screen displayed a draft message that had never been sent.

"Don't go to sleep tonight."

And the sender's number was Ethan's own.