What Do You Have There?

Dead Air challenge: The Prompt - Write a horror story about a broadcast, recording, phone call, or transmission that should not exist. The radio picks up a station that isn't there. Your phone rings from a number that can't possibly be calling. You find a recording of something that hasn't happened yet. Or maybe, after hours of static, someone finally says your name.

For this challenge, start with a signal that shouldn't exist and follow it wherever it leads. Your transmission can come through a radio, television, phone, voicemail, tape recorder, livestream, emergency alert, or something much stranger.

Who sent it? Who was supposed to receive it? And once you've heard something you were never meant to hear, what do you do with it?

Whatever is waiting on the other end, make us afraid to keep listening.

Vocal Media

Honey, what do you have there? "What mommy?"

That noise? Where is it coming from Stevie?

"From this book Mommy."

What is it saying?

"To stay awake tonight. He said it is a good night to stay awake. He said, I shouldn't be afraid. That he will see me later tonight."

Who said that to you Steve?

"The story says that. I was just looking at the pictures and the book started to talk to me."

What else did the book say Stevie? Can I see the book?

"The book doesn't always talk. Sometimes it just hums. And sometimes it is no noise or talking at all."

So you think the book wants you to stay awake tonight to meet whoever is talking to you? Is the person talking to you one of the characters in the book Stevie?

" Sometimes I think so, and then I don't. He says he won't hurt me, but the story does get scary in places. He talks about where bad girls and boys go when they die."

Where did he say they go? Let me see the book now Steve!

"He did tell me to not tell anyone about our talks."

Give it to me now! No one can ever tell you not to tell your mother Stevie, you know that!

"He said you could get hurt if I didn't listen carefully."

Are you sure that is what he said? I heard just a small part of the talk and couldn't understand any of it!

"Yes, mommy, I am sure."

Honey, go and get your dad. He needs to know what is going on here.

"But mom, what if he wants to talk to me again. Should I take the book with me?"

No, your dad and I will handle this from now on.

"Mommy, I went to get daddy, and he is not there."

Okay, honey, calm down, we will look for daddy some more. He can be in the garden, or on his 4-wheeler. He has plans to change the oil in our cars too.

"I looked and hollered for him too! I didn't see him anywhere and he didn't hear me either!"

I will call him. Get my phone on the table for me.... Okay, I'm dialing him now. Hello, I need you in the house right now. Are you able to drop everything and head in. I prefer sooner than later. I'm not sure what is going on but I need your help.

Okay, your dad will be right in. He is at the neighbors. He went to get some maple syrup from the neighbors.

Dan, the book Stevie has been looking at started to talk to him. I overheard a short bit of it, and it is scaring me, so I want you here to take a listen.

Dan walks over and picks up the book, and under the book, there is a Kindle with the button pressed. It is nearing the end of the story, and Dan pushes the button to hear. "I'm not done with you yet... I will get all of you by the end of the night... tonight!"