She answered a phone call from her own number. She only knew this when the caller spoke. It was one-thirty am when the phone rang. Having just fallen into REM sleep, Alice awoke to the trill reverberating through the house. 


She yawned, stumbled to the phone, and picked up the receiver from its cradle. “Hello–”


“Hello there, Alice!” A shiver crashed across her body like lightning. It was her own voice. 


“Who… who's this?” She managed with a tremor.


“Surely, you recognise your own voice, Alice!” The voice was smooth, almost too perfect, and slimy.


Alice took a deep breath and let it out as slow as she could. Her birthday was around the corner and this had to be a prank. Jean, her BFF, was an incorrigible clown.


“Cut it out, Jean!” Alice snapped with a snicker. “And why are you still awake at this hour, sis? It’s not the weekend.”


There was a definite pause. Then, the voice crackled through the receiver. “That bastard Kevin! Who does he think he is, eh?”


Alice almost dropped the receiver. She hadn't told any of her friends about the date with Kevin. Did they follow her to the cafe? Sneaky pests!


“And how do you know?” Alice asked evenly.


Another long pause. “He shall pay. Mark my words!”


Before Alice could reply, the familiar dial tone greeted her as the caller disconnected. 


By now, Alice was wide awake as the call kept playing in her head. It had to be one of her friends. They ragged her for being single incessantly. She was certain this was a novel way to coax her. Until now, they would corner her over weekend brunches and evening drinks. 


She lay planning her revenge on them for a while but then nodded off.