At exactly 11:59 p.m., Riya’s phone buzzed.
She groaned, turning in her bed. “Who texts this late…” she muttered, unlocking her phone.
Unknown Number.
She frowned and opened the message.
“Don’t go to school tomorrow.”
Riya rolled her eyes. “Very funny,” she whispered, assuming it was one of her friends playing a prank.
She typed back:
Who is this?
The reply came instantly.
“You won’t believe me anyway.”
Something about that message felt… off.
Riya hesitated, then texted:
Try me.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
“At 10:17 a.m., something bad will happen near the staircase. You’ll be there.”
Riya sat up.
Her heart started beating faster, but she shook her head. “This is stupid,” she said out loud.
Still… she couldn’t sleep easily that night.
The next morning, everything felt normal.
Too normal.
Her best friend Aditi waved at her. “You look tired. Didn’t sleep?”
“Yeah… just random messages,” Riya said, forcing a smile.
“Creepy,” Aditi laughed. “Block them.”
Riya nodded—but she didn’t.
Time passed.
9:45 a.m.
10:02 a.m.
Her phone felt heavier in her pocket.
She kept checking the time.
10:17 a.m.
Without realizing, her feet slowed near the staircase.
Exactly where the message had warned.
“Why am I even here…” she whispered nervously.
Then—
A loud crash echoed.
A student slipped from the stairs above.
Books scattered.
Screams filled the hallway.
Riya froze.
It happened.
Exactly.
At 10:17 a.m.
Her hands trembled as she slowly took out her phone.
A new message.
“Now do you believe me?”
Her breath caught.
Who are you? she typed, her fingers shaking.
The reply took longer this time.
Much longer.
Then finally—
“I’m you.”
Riya’s mind went blank.
What?
“From tomorrow.”
Her heart dropped.
“I made a mistake today. I couldn’t save someone. I’m trying to fix things… one message at a time.”
Riya looked back at the staircase.
Students were helping the injured girl.
“She’s breathing… she’ll be okay!” someone shouted.
Relief spread through the crowd.
But Riya’s chest felt tight.
What mistake? she typed.
No response.
Seconds passed.
Then—
“At 2:30 p.m., don’t let Aditi go to the terrace.”
Riya’s eyes widened.
She immediately looked around for Aditi.
There she was—laughing, completely unaware.
“Aditi!” Riya called, running to her.
“What happened?” Aditi asked, confused.
“Promise me you won’t go to the terrace today,” Riya said quickly.
“What? Why?” Aditi laughed.
“Just promise me!”
Aditi raised an eyebrow. “Okay… fine. I promise. You’re acting weird though.”
Riya forced a smile, but inside, fear was building.
2:15 p.m.
Riya didn’t leave Aditi’s side.
2:28 p.m.
“Wait, I forgot my notebook on the terrace,” Aditi suddenly said. “I’ll just—”
Riya grabbed her wrist.
“No. I’ll get it,” she said firmly.
Before Aditi could argue, Riya ran.
Her heart pounded as she climbed the stairs to the terrace.
The door creaked open.
The terrace was empty.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
She stepped forward slowly.
“Hello?” she called.
No answer.
Then—
A loud click.
The door behind her slammed shut.
Riya spun around, panic rising.
Her phone vibrated again.
“This is the mistake.”
Her breath stopped.
“I came here instead of her.”
Riya’s hands shook as she read the next message—
“And I didn’t realize… it was never about saving her.”
A shadow moved behind her.
“It was about stopping me.”
Riya slowly turned.
A figure stood at the edge of the terrace.
Same height.
Same face.
Same eyes.
It was her.
But not quite.
This version looked… broken.
Tired.
Eyes filled with something dark.
“You shouldn’t have listened,” the other Riya said softly.
Riya stepped back, terrified. “What is this…?”
“I tried to change everything,” Future Riya whispered. “But every choice just… brings me here again.”
“Why?” Riya asked, her voice shaking.
Future Riya smiled sadly.
“Because some things…” she said, stepping closer, “…are meant to happen.”
Riya’s heart raced.
“Then why warn me?”
Future Riya looked at her—really looked at her.
And for a moment, her expression softened.
“Because I hoped… this time, you’d be stronger than me.”
Silence filled the air.
The wind picked up.
Riya clenched her fists.
“I’m not you,” she said, her voice trembling but firm.
Future Riya’s smile faded.
“Then prove it.”
For a second, everything stood still.
Then suddenly—
Riya turned and ran straight toward the door.
She pulled it open with all her strength—
And this time…
It opened.
She didn’t look back.
That night, at exactly 11:59 p.m., her phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number.
Riya stared at it for a long moment.
Then slowly…
She turned off her phone.
Because some messages… are better left unread. ✨
