The Call (2025)

Flash fiction inspired by the song The Call, from the Backstreet Boys

James

When I arrived at the club, I couldn’t find my friends. The place was packed and the music was blasting — nothing out of the ordinary for me.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was my girlfriend, Rachel, probably wondering where I was, but I could barely hear her.

“I can’t hear you! I think my battery’s dying! Look, I’m going to be late — don’t wait up!”

“What?! Where are you? Hello…”

“I have to go…”

As I made my way through the crowd, I felt someone’s eyes on me. A gorgeous girl was watching me — and coming closer. With a voice like a siren’s, she asked me to dance. I followed her to the dance floor, completely losing track of time. I was mesmerized.

 Later, she leaned in and whispered in my ear:

“I’ve got an apartment nearby… want to come with me?”

I should have said no.

Someone was waiting for me at home.

But I said exactly the opposite.

We got into a cab and headed to her place. She wouldn’t let me kiss her on the dance floor or in the car. When we finally arrived, the neighborhood was deserted. I got out first, and as I went to open the door for her, the cab suddenly sped off — with her still inside.

I could swear I saw a faint smile on her lips as the car drove away, leaving me in that strange place.

My wallet was still in my pocket… but my phone was gone.

What would she want with a dead phone?

I ran after the car as fast as I could, until it stopped in front of a hotel. I watched her get out and go inside. I tried to follow, but security stopped me at the entrance.

I circled around the building and used the staff entrance.

I spotted her going up in the elevator, wearing that same expression she had in the car. The smile that had once charmed me now terrified me — but I had to know what was going on.

She was headed to the 34th floor. I caught the service elevator and hit the button over and over, desperate to catch her in time.

It felt like an eternity. Claustrophobia crept in. My throat tightened, my breathing was ragged, and I had the worst feeling in my gut.

When the elevator finally stopped, I saw her stepping into one of the rooms. She closed the door before I could reach her. I banged on it like a madman, demanding she open up and give me back what she’d taken. 

But it wasn’t her who opened the door.

It was Rachel.

She looked at me with her arms crossed and a disappointed look in her eyes, while the other woman stood leaning against the bathroom door inside the suite.

“I suspected something… but I needed to be sure,” Rachel said, then glanced toward the woman beside her. “You didn’t recognize my sister, did you, James?”

I was stunned. I didn’t know how to react. How… how hadn’t I noticed?

“Rachel, please…”

“It’s over, James,” she cut me off and tossed something at me: my dead phone.

“My battery really had died…” I tried to explain, hopelessly.

“I know. That was the only thing you said that was actually true.”

Then she slammed the door in my face. From that day on, she was no longer by my side. Never again.

All because I had to lie during that damn phone call…