The nice weather gave the Pitts a calm and peaceful night. In short, it seemed like a night like all the others. Seemed being the key word here. In fact, Ted Schmidt would never have thought that a strange phone call could have been so dangerous. Hearing the phone ring Ted quickly picked it up hoping it was Blake. “Hello?” he answered cheerfully. Since Blake had become a part of his life, Ted felt fulfilled and he couldn’t help but smile every time he thought about him. In short, Ted felt like a totally different person; a better person. “Hello?” the man asked as Ted picked up the phone. “Yes?” Ted answered, a little confused. It wasn’t Blake after all. “Who is this?” the man asked. Probably he called the wrong number, Ted thought. Gee, I hate when people ask who they’re talking to. Fuck, you’re the one who called, so you should be the one to identify yourself, Ted thought once again. “Who are you trying to reach?” Ted asked politely. He thought it might be more prudent to be the polite one. Ted couldn’t believe this; it was all Blake’s fault. Blake’s love changed him, it made him feel happy and he didn’t have it in his heart to be rude to the unknown caller. “What number is this?” the man asked. Now that Ted was thinking more clearly he noticed the man had a sexy voice. No, he said to himself, don’t even think about that. You’re with Blake now. “What number are you trying to reach?” Ted questioned, even if the game was starting to wear on him. “I don’t know,” the man said. Wow, Ted thought, what a smart man! He may have a sexy voice but I don’t think his brain works very well… well let’s stop this conversation once and for all. “I think you have the wrong number,” Ted said politely, even though he had enough of the stupid man. “Do I?” the man asked. Yes idiot, you have the wrong number. Is it too difficult a concept for you? Do you at least understand the meaning of the word wrong?All these thoughts raced through Ted’s mind as he hoped the caller would hang up. “It happens. Take it easy,” Ted said and hung up the phone but it immediately rang again. “Hello?” “I’m sorry. I guess I dialed the wrong number.” It was the same man as before. “So why’d you dial it again?” Ted asked. Now he really had enough of him. “To apologize,” the man said simply. What a strange person, Ted thought, hey… maybe he’s trying on pick me up. “You’re forgiven. Bye now.” “Wait! Wait! Don’t hang up.” “What?” Ted asked, surprised. Yes, it seemed the man was definitely trying on pick him up. “I want to talk to you for a second.” “They’ve have 900 numbers for that. See ya.” Ted hung up and the phone rang again. “Hello?” “Why don’t you want to talk to me?” the man said and this time he seemed a little irritated. “Who is this?” Ted asked. Since the man was so insistent, at least he could tell him his name. “You tell me your name and I’ll tell you mine,” the man said simply. Wait a moment, Ted thought; maybe it’s a joke. “I don’t think so,” Ted replied. Yeah, it was definitely a joke, he thought while opening a popcorn packet. “What’s that noise?” the man asked curiously and in need of something to say for Ted not to hang up again. “Popcorn,” Ted said simply. In fact, he was about to watch a new porn movie. “You’re making popcorn?” the inquisitive sexy voice asked. Here was the perfect excuse to talk about his favourite subject. “Uh- huh.” “I only eat popcorn at the movies.” “Well, I’m getting ready to watch a video,” Ted answered. I hope he doesn’t expect me to say what kind of video I’m getting ready to watch, Ted thought to himself. “Really? What?” The voice on the other end silently prayed, please tell me it’s a scary movie. Please, please, please. It would have been the perfect excuse. “Oh, just a scary movie” “You like scary movies?” “Uh- huh.” “What’s your favourite scary movie?” “Uh, I don’t know.” “You have to have a favourite. What comes to mind?” “Ummm… Halloween.” “You never told me your name,” the man said changing the subject. Now it was time to take things seriously. He had already wasted too much time. “Why do you want to know my name?” Ted asked, glad that the conversation about scary movies was finished. “So I know who I’m looking at.” “What did you say?” Ted asked, a worried look clouding his features. “I wanna know who I’m talking to,” the man corrected himself but Ted wasn’t convinced. After all it didn’t sound like a joke. “That’s not what you said.” For the first time that night Ted was frightened. “What do you think I’ve said?” the man asked sardonically. Now he realized Ted was afraid. He was happy; his plan was working perfectly. Wait until he saw his surprise. “What? Hello?” he asked, checking to make sure Ted was still on the line. “Look I got to go,” Ted replied nervously and quickly hung up the phone. “Don’t hang up on me!” the caller shouted but Ted hung up anyway. The phone rang again. “Yes?” Ted answered in an annoyed tone. “I told you not to hang up on me.” “What do you want?” Ted asked. Now things were really scaring him. “To talk,” the voice said simply as if nothing was wrong. Ted thought for the first time that night that he was talking to a psycho. “Well, dial someone else, okay? You’re really starting to annoy me, ” Ted replied in a voice he hoped didn’t convey how scared he really felt. “Listen, you little bitch, you hang up on me again, I’ll gut you like a fish. You understand? Hehe… yeah.” “Is this some kind of joke?” “More of a game really. Can you handle that…Ted Schmidt? Can you see me?” “Hey, how did you know my name?” Ted as he walked over to the window, turned on the lights and looked out. “I have my ways of finding these things out, Mr. Schmidt.” “What do you want?” he said sobbing like a baby. “To see what your insides look like.” “Look, you’ve had your fun. I want you to quit calling me… or else”. “Or else what?” “Or else my boyfriend will be here any second, and he’ll be pissed when he finds out.” “His name wouldn’t be… Blake would it?” When Ted heard the caller mention Blake by name he was shocked. How can he know about Blake? God I hope he’s fine. “How do you know his name?” Ted asked. He prayed that nothing would happen to Blake. “Turn on the balcony lights… again,” the caller demanded as he ignored Ted’s question. Ted turned on the lights and cried out,“Oh God!” He unlocked the door, opened it and was about to step outside… “I wouldn’t do that if I was you!” Ted closed the door quickly. “Where are you?” Ted asked. He was fucking terrified. “Guess.” Ted wasn’t in the mood for joking anymore. “Don’t hurt him,” he sobbed. “Please do whatever you want to do with me but leave him alone” “Okay, it all depends on you. I wanna play a game.” “Wha…what kind of game?” “Turn off the lights. You’ll see what kind of game. Now, just do it! Are you ready? Here’s how to play… I ask you a question, if you get it right Blake lives. Come on it will be fun. I’ll give you a warm-up question. Name the killer in Halloween?” “Michael… Michael Myers,” Ted said sobbing. “Yes, very good! Now for the real question, name the killer in Friday the 13th ? “Jason! Jason! Jason!” “I’m sorry that’s the wrong answer.” “No it’s not! No it’s not! It’s Jason!” “Afraid not, NO WAY.” “Listen it was Jason,” Ted frantically shouted. “You should know that the original killer was Jason’s mother.” “You tricked me,” Ted said sobbing again. “Lucky for you there is a bonus round. Poor Blake, I’m afraid he’s out.” Ted quickly turned on the lights and looked outside… “Hey…turn off the lights, we’re not finished yet. Final question, are you ready?” “Please… please,” Ted pleaded. Leave me alone!” “Answer the question and I will,” the caller taunted. “What door am I at?” Ted looked in both directions from where he sat on the sofa. He had two choices. “There are two main doors to your house; the front door and the balcony door. Very simple.” “I can’t do this,” Ted said crying. “It’s your call.” Before Ted knew what was happening a chair was thrown through the balcony doors. He got up and ran into the kitchen and once there, looked down the corridor from which he came. He reached the doors in the kitchen, sat on the floor for a few seconds and tried to catch his breath. Ted heard a car coming down the road and stood up to look out the window. Maybe if he could flag the driver down, they would save him. Hopefully, it would be someone he knew. Ted was too slow to react, when a fist came flying through the kitchen window, grabbing the hand that held the phone. As the fingers wrapped around Ted’s hand he took a few seconds to get a good look at the man who was making the night a real nightmare, and yet, he couldn’t help but appreciate the great Halloween ghost costume the unidentified person was wearing. After the initial surprise, Ted hit the ugly, ghostly face with the phone, and the man immediately let him go. He ran back toward the balcony too afraid to use the kitchen door. However, he wasn’t prepared for what he saw outside on the balcony; it was Blake. His head had fallen back as he sat there lifeless in the chair. Ted stood there in shock and gaped at his boyfriend, slowly he looked up and noticed a parked car close by with two men sitting inside. Too stunned and unable to move, Ted was caught unaware as the ghostly figure jumped through the window, landed on top of him and stabbed him three times in the heart.