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Title: “The Last Notification”
(A short horror story that can be read in 2 minutes)
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It was 2:43 AM when Sarah’s phone buzzed.
She was alone in her apartment, half-asleep on the couch with the TV muttering static. The buzz startled her. She glanced at the screen.
[1 New Notification: "Are you awake?"]
There was no app listed. No name. Just the message.
Thinking it was a glitch, she locked her phone and got up to turn off the TV. But the static grew louder. Louder than it should’ve been.
Buzz.
She turned back. The phone lit up again.
[Still watching you.]
Chills ran down her spine.
She tried to power the phone off, but it wouldn’t shut down. The screen stayed lit. Then the front camera blinked — like it had just taken a photo.
She gasped. The photo app opened by itself. There, under "Recents," was a picture of her on the couch... taken from above.
But there was something worse.
Behind her in the photo, standing in the dark hallway, was a tall, shadowy figure. Its face blurred. Watching.
She turned, heart pounding — but the hallway was empty.
Buzz.
["Don’t turn around again."]
She dropped the phone. Suddenly, every light in the apartment shut off.
And in the silence, she heard it. Breathing. Close. Slow. Right behind her.
---
When the police arrived the next day, the door was locked from the inside. TV off. Lights working. No sign of struggle.
Only her phone, lying on the ground.
Still open.
And still taking pictures.
It was 2:43 AM when Sarah’s phone buzzed.
She was alone in her apartment, half-asleep on the couch with the TV muttering static. The buzz startled her. She glanced at the screen.
[1 New Notification: "Are you awake?"]
There was no app listed. No name. Just the message.
Thinking it was a glitch, she locked her phone and got up to turn off the TV. But the static grew louder. Louder than it should’ve been.
Buzz.
She turned back. The phone lit up again.
[Still watching you.]
Chills ran down her spine.
She tried to power the phone off, but it wouldn’t shut down. The screen stayed lit. Then the front camera blinked — like it had just taken a photo.
She gasped. The photo app opened by itself. There, under "Recents," was a picture of her on the couch... taken from above.
But there was something worse.
Behind her in the photo, standing in the dark hallway, was a tall, shadowy figure. Its face blurred. Watching.
She turned, heart pounding — but the hallway was empty.
Buzz.
["Don’t turn around again."]
She dropped the phone. Suddenly, every light in the apartment shut off.
And in the silence, she heard it. Breathing. Close. Slow. Right behind her.
---
When the police arrived the next day, the door was locked from the inside. TV off. Lights working. No sign of struggle.
Only her phone, lying on the ground.
S
