Tom’s wife, Rachel, died in a car crash two weeks ago. But last night, he got a voice message from her.
It was short. Just her voice whispering, “Don’t trust the man in the hat.”
Tom didn’t sleep. He called everyone—her parents, friends, even the police. They all said the same thing: it’s grief. Hallucination. Move on.
The next night, another message came. “He’s in the house.”
Tom searched every room. Nothing. But he started carrying a knife. Just in case.
On the third night, silence.
Then a knock.
A man in a black hat stood at the door, smiling politely. “Tom? I’m with grief counseling. May I come in?”
Tom hesitated… then remembered: Rachel had been texting just before the crash.
He checked her phone, still on the table.
The last draft message read:
“He’s the reason.”
Tom looked up.
The man was already inside.