5. Call
Sally Acorn - March 20, 2036
I looked the balcony of my bedroom. The view of the sky was beautiful today, but it isn't elegant enough to make me feel any better today.
Things haven't been going well between Sonic and me. There are several reasons why, but it's mostly due to financial problems. Ever since our marriage, we've had issues about money. At first, they were no big deal; there were times when we had struggles paying up our taxes and bills, times we owed money we've borrowed, and so on. But right now, we've been major debt to medical services and I've been laid off temporarily from my job as a logistician. Though I insist and assure him that we're doing alright and that there's nothing to be worried about (which is obviously, even to me, a lie), Sonic constantly begs to differ. We've been having arguments about the situation for about a month now.
Another reason why Sonic and I haven't been getting along is because he's always bothered by what happened 11 years ago. He still feels guilty that he made Amy hang herself. And this isn't just an average "chip-on-the-shoulder" kind of guilt. It's almost as if he has PTSD or something.
Now don't think of me as some heartless bitch or something, but Sonic really needs to let all of that go. I know that how dreadful and wretched it feels to cope with the death of a friend, but he's not going to get any further in life if he's always this gloomy. Sometimes I have to call his sister Sonia just to make him feel spirited, and even that doesn't always work out.
Anyways, all of the stuff that's been going on recently has been affecting our life in the worst way possible. It's even making Manik (yes, his name is derived from Sonic's deceased brother's name) downright nervous. He's afraid that our family is going to break down someday. I keep telling him not to worry and that everything's going to be alright, but even I don't believe in what I say.
"Oh, where did we go wrong?" I asked myself. "It wasn't meant to be like this. It was meant to be joyous and bright."
I went back inside, pondering on what I should do. I don't want my family to keep on living this way. I want to change how things are right now. How am I supposed to that, though?
I hear the front door from downstairs open and then close. Manik's voice calls out, "Mom, dad, I'm home!"
I go down to see him. I haven't been able to relax for a long time because of all the issues, so maybe I can take Manik out to do something fun. I really need a break from all this stress.
"Welcome back, sweetie!" I reply back. "How was school today?"
"It wasn't anything special today. It was just the usual stuff like math and writing."
"That's great, Manik. I'm just glad that you seem to be doing well." I really wish Sonic was here with us right now. I want to have a little family time with everyone, and I know Manik would be happy if his father was with him. But sadly, today Sonic had "other business to take care of" or whatever.
"Say Manik, do you want to go out someplace today? I don't have any other plans for the afternoon."
"Okay, I'll go" Manik shrugged. "But where are we supposed to go, mom?"
"Well, let's see⦠we can visit to the National Park if you'd like."
"Oh sure! I haven't gone out for a walk there in a long time, so I guess we can go there. Is dad here? Can he come with us?"
My smile partially faded when he asked that. Sonic wasn't here, and it's been a while since he and Manik have spent some time together. I doubted that Sonic was available, but I didn't want to disappoint my son.
"Um...I don't know. He's not home right now. Do you want me to call him to see if he come with us?"
Manik nodded, implying that he wanted really wanted Sonic to come with us. So I picked up the home telephone, dialed his phone number, and waited for him to answer my call.
The phone kept ringing on the other side for the first ten seconds. Manik and I waited for Sonic to pick up and answer the call, but nothing happened. All I heard was the ringing sound and nothing else. It remained that way for thirty more seconds, and just as I was about to put the phone down the ringing stopped a voice called out, "Hello?"
"Hey Sonic, I was wondering if you could come home right about now." I greeted with slight relief. "You see, Manik and I-"
"Hell? Is anyone on? Hello?"
What? What is he saying?
"Sonic? What's wrong?"
"Um... Is anyone on the line?"
What's happening? Am I being disconnected? I was speaking in the phone and I can hear Sonic clearly, so why can't he hear me?
"Sonic? Sonic!" I called out.
"Sally? Is that you?" He finally responded.
Oh Sonic! Thank goodness I was able to get to you! Anyway, I was wondering if you could come home now."
"Hmmm... I don't know. What's the matter?"
"Well, Manik just came back from school, and we were just about to-"
Before I could finish sentence, a loud, high-pitch buzzing noise screeched from the phone,startling me. I moved the phone away from my ears so I wouldn't be deafened from the awful noise.
"My goodness! What is up with this thing?"
Thinking that the phone was defective, I was about to hang up and forget about tagging Sonic along.
Immediately after I hung up, the answering machine received a new message. At first, it was just white noise playing, then it became silent. The message kept recording, but not a single sound could be heard.
"Mom, what's going on?" Manik asked.
"The phone's probably broken," I told him.
"So Dad isn't coming?"
"Sorry Manik, but I guess so. We'll just leave without him if that's okay. Now why don't you go upstairs and put your backpack away?"
Manik disappointingly went upstairs. What a shame... He was really anticipating for his father to come.
The message continued to record, but it still didn't produce any noise. I was about to pick the phone and hang up again just so the recording would stop.
But right before my hand touched the handset, sounds of raindrops started playing from the answering machine. Now curious and suspicious, I decided to let the message resume to find out if there was someone on the other side.
That was when something frightening happened.
After listening for a few more seconds, I heard a feminine voice crying. It was strange, because whoever was on the line sounded extremely sad; it was like she had sobbing for a very long time. But that was not the disturbing part. In the background, I could vaguely hear whispering among the girl. I listened to it more closely, and I could make out someone grumbling over and over. Finally after about ten seconds of that, the message stopped.
I was clearly disturbed by this. This was the strangest and creepiest thing I've ever heard from the answering machine.
This has to be some kind of prank, I simply thought. There is no way that it was some technical error.
Shortly after, I heard banging from Manik's bedroom upstairs. Concerned, I went up to investigate.
"Manik?" I called out. "Are you okay?"
Manik didn't answer. I got to the top step and walked up to his bedroom door. What was he doing in there?
"Manik, you know I don't like it when you don't respond." I called out again. "Is something wrong?"
I opened the door and entered his room, only to find no one inside. At this point, I was really scared now.
"What the hell is going on?" I said to myself. "Where's Manik?"
Suddenly, something wrapped around my face, blocking my vision completely. I tried to scream, but it also covered my mouth, preventing me from making any loud noises. I struggled to fight back, but whatever was grasping me restrained my arms. I couldn't move. I couldn't even see what was happening.
Oh god no! What is this?! Am I being kidnapped?! My mind cried frantically. Who's doing this to me?!
As I struggle I heard giggling from behind. It sounded like a girl's voice, but I couldn't tell. Then someone whispered to me, "Goodbye, Sally. Goodbye forever."
Sonic - March 20, 2036
I wonder what that call was all about. It sounded like had something important to talk about, but there must've been some interference with the signal. It sounded like she couldn't hear me. Well, whatever the issue was, I hope she and Manik are doing alright.
