Do not sleep until 4:44
For three weeks he has woken at exactly 4:44. His friend says that is not insomnia, something is waking him.
- ThemDo not sleep tonight until 4:44
- YouWhat
- ThemJust stay awake. I will explain after
- YouExplain now
- ThemYesterday you said you wake up at 4:44
- YouI do. Three weeks running
- ThemAt exactly 4:44
- YouTo the minute
- pause 1.5 s
- ThemThen something is waking you
- YouMy bladder is waking me
- ThemAt the same minute for three weeks
- YouFine. Say it is not
- pause 1.2 s
- ThemMy sister had the same thing
- YouAnd
- ThemOne night she did not wake at 4:44
- YouDid not wake how
- ThemShe slept through it. That is all
- pause 1.8 s
- YouAnd what happened
- ThemNothing happened. That is the point
- She stopped waking up. Altogether
- YouDo you mean sleep or do you mean
- ThemSleep
- pause 1.5 s
- YouWhat time is it
- Them4:41
- YouI am awake, do not worry
- ThemGood. Message me every minute
- pause 1.2 s
- You4:42
- 4:43
- pause 1.8 s
- ThemMessage me
- pause 1.5 s
- Are you there
- pause 1.2 s
- You4:44
- This is not him
How it works
The story runs in real time, so the reader waits out the minute with the character. The last line arrives exactly on schedule, and that is what makes it frightening.
Every story here is fiction. Any resemblance to real people or events is coincidental.