Strange Case File #1: If Death Calls You...

A young boy ignores the signs of the world and pays a horrible price for it...

Dennis heard the bell that signaled the end of the school day and he started packing up his things. The reaction was clockwork, his mind already thinking of what he'd be playing online when he got home.

Needless to say, school wasn't his favorite place to be. But when he opened up his locker, his favorite little distraction fell out at his feet. He picked up his cell phone and was a little glad it had a case over it. He threw his book to the bottom of the locker and closed it without taking his eye off of his cell.

He flipped it open and saw he had no reception. Damn thing couldn't even get a signal in the middle of a building. So worthless...

He slung his bag over his shoulder and to his surprise it started to vibrate in his hand, making him drop it. It was a text. He looked at the Caller ID and saw the name “Death” but no number. How did that even come through? Dennis wondered. He looked at the corner of the screen and saw he still had no signal.

Dennis deleted the message and started walking. He ignored the administrators as they bade him goodbye for the day. They were only getting in his way home. He left the building and made his way for the busy street intersections, people crowding around him.

His phone Vibrated again.

It was his cell again. Dennis looked down, slowing his pace a little to the annoyance of everyone behind him. They jostled him out of the way as he stared in disbelief at the text message waiting to be opened... and who it was from...

Death.

This freak again? Who calls himself that anyway? What does he want?

Like he was really going to open it up. What if it had a virus on it or something? Dennis deleted it and closed the phone. He crossed the street and twisted and turned down the sidewalks, darting through the crowds. He got to another intersection and felt his phone vibrate a third time, but didn't bother to look. He deleted it from inside his pocket.

How did this guy even get his number anyway? And why wasn't he taking the dang hint?

Dennis made his way to his home neighborhood finally, and the phone hadn't rung since. Dennis smiled, thanking God the wierdo had finally left him alone. All that stood between him and his home now was a particularly quiet intersection. He put his earbuds in and played some music loudly.

Dennis didn’t even bother to look. People barely used this street, and who wouldn’t see a kid anyway? He lifted his foot to step out into the intersection when-

Ring!

Another text. Dennis looked down as he walked into the street from the safety of the sidewalk. It was from Death again. Dennis was fed up now and opened the text to see what this jerk had to say-

He never saw the minivan coming. The driver tried to stop, but it wasn’t enough. They hit each other and the van won, throwing Dennis back onto the sidewalk and sending his phone from his hand to the sidewalk yards away. It was too much for him, and he never opened his eyes again.

A neighbor and his son outside saw what happened, and the father quickly ran inside to call 9-1-1. The driver ran out to try to revive Dennis, to no avail. But the boy... he found the cell. He flipped it open and saw the text message.

“Look before crossing�"R.I.P.”

Reviews

[warrencook]

pretty tight writing. started quickly and held interest the whole time. well done. as for usefull comment, all i can say is maybe take a little more time with the character. maybe its a little too tight. i don't know, just say'n. it was good though. i liked it.