Page 133 of Shhh…It’s A Killer Story

“Come On!” I screamed.

Two.

“Answer the phone, Reed!”

Three.

The line clicked. A familiar, gravel-rough voice answered.

"Reed."

The sound of it shattered something inside me. I opened my mouth, but no words came. Only a broken sob. A raw, helpless sound that scraped its way out of my throat before I could stop it.

"Elias..."

Silence. Then his voice changed immediately. The detective disappeared.

"Seraphina?"

Another beat.

"Seraphina…"

His breathing sharpened.

"Talk to me, baby."

My heart shatters further. Come on, stop crying, it's not the time.

"Please, talk to me."

I tried. I tried to tell him about Max. About the man running into the woods. About the awful feeling that had been sitting in my chest all morning. But before a single word escaped…

The screen went black.

No warning. No low-battery notification. Nothing. Just darkness. The battery had died. I stared at my own reflection in the dead screen for one long second. Then another.

"No..."

My whisper cracked.

"No... no, no..."

I slapped the side of the phone.

"Please..."

Again.

"Please don't do this!"

Nothing.

The screen remained black. People always talk about mother strength. They tell stories about women lifting cars off their children or running through burning buildings without feeling the flames. I don't know if any of those stories are true.

But I do know this.

When someone you love stops breathing…