2:17am: Remember - by Tari Elise

Chapter 2 “Now you see why I told you not to turn around.”“What's happening?” I whispered.The voice on the phone went silent.Then it said,“You're remembering.”I frowned.“Remembering what?”There was a long pause.Then the voice whispered,“2:17 a.m. Three years ago.”My stomach dropped.My fingers tightened around the phone, and a sudden chill ran through my body.For some reason, I couldn't breathe.I knew that time.I just couldn't remember why.“What are you talking about?” I whispered.The voice didn't answer.Instead, I heard a faint sound through the phone.A boy crying.My heart stopped.I knew that voice.It was my brother.Then his voice changed.It became colder.Closer.“ you weren't supposed to leave me there.”The call went silent.Then, from somewhere behind me, I heard him whisper:“But you did.”I turned.My bedroom was empty.But the mirror wasn't.My reflection stood there, staring at me with tears running down its face.Behind it stood my brother.His head was tilted at an unnatural angle.He slowly raised one trembling hand and pointed toward the floor.I looked down.A dark stain had appeared beside my feet.When I looked back at the mirror, my brother was gone.My reflection was now standing inches from the glass.It pressed its palm against it.Then it mouthed four words:“You left me there.”“What are you talking about?” I whispered.My reflection slowly lifted its hand and pointed behind me.I didn't want to turn around.But then I heard it.A faint, familiar sound from the hallway.Three slow knocks.Knock.Knock.Knock.Then my brother's voice whispered:“You know exactly what I'm talking about.”“No, I don't,” I whispered.The room fell silent.My chest tightened, and my hands began to shake as a cold sweat formed along my forehead.Then my reflection slowly shook its head.Behind me, I heard the sound of something heavy being dragged across the floor.My phone buzzed.One new message.“Then look at the stairs.”I picked up my phone to call someone.My fingers trembled as I opened my contacts.I stopped when I saw my brother's name.I hadn't deleted his number.Before I could think, the phone began calling it by itself.One ring.Two.Then someone answered.My brother's voice whispered,“You finally remembered my number.”“It can't be,” I whispered."You are dead" I said crying.My hand went numb around the phone.The call was still connected.Then I heard something on the other end.Three slow knocks.I looked toward my bedroom door.Three more knocks came from the hallway.“Come downstairs,” my brother whispered.I stared at the doorway, my feet refusing to move.Every part of me was screaming to stay where I was.But then I heard a soft thud from downstairs.And somehow, I knew I had to go.I obeyed and went downstairs.Each step creaked beneath my feet, and the house felt unnaturally quiet.When I reached the bottom, I stopped.There was a dark stain on the floor.My stomach twisted.My knees suddenly felt weak, and I gripped the railing to keep myself upright.Then my phone buzzed.A message appeared:“Now remember where you left me.”Memories flashed through my mind.My brother standing at the top of the stairs.His voice.My voice, shouting back.Then a sudden movement—A hand.A stumble.I gasped and grabbed the railing.My head throbbed as the memory disappeared just as quickly as it came.I couldn't remember what happened next.But I knew one thing.Whatever happened that night...I was there.

2:17am

Contributor Points

Points-to-Coupons

Referral Earning