[Fiction] Unknown caller

Prompt: Unknown caller. You receive a call from an unexpected person. Who is it, and what is the conversation about? Go!

‘Hello?’ I squint. A lucky caller we’ve got here – my phone’s usually on mute and I miss a great deal more calls than I answer.

‘One.’ Comes a calm, gender-neutral voice. A brief word, cast into the phone line, irritatingly without any explanation.

‘What? What are you – ‘

‘Two.’ A hint of annoyance, at the interruption, I guess. Fear starts creeping in, as I’m not unfamiliar with ghost stories involving mysterious calls and miserable deaths of innocent girls.

‘Hey, this isn’t funny.’

‘Three.’ A sense of glee. Is this a prank call? I don’t even know why I haven’t hung up yet, this is pure nuisance.’

‘I’m going to hang up now. Bye.’

‘Four!’ As if to stop me. I’m really confused.

‘Well, let’s see what you’re up to.’ I put on the speaker mode and take the phone to my desk. I spread out my homework, and start flicking through my textbook.

‘Five.’

‘Six.’

‘Seven.’

‘Eight.’

‘Nine.’

I raise an eyebrow.

‘Ten.’

Why does this – whoever it is – sound so robotic?

‘Thank you for your cooperation, human #CNHK90503330. You are functional.’

A flash of bright light.

 

 

(Image source: Pixabay)