“Dyl…” a voice murmured. My eyes creaked open to the peircing sunlight again. Another long night drinking catching up to me.

That voice was there again. I always thought it was a part of my dreams. Although, this nightmare seems to hang on past the dreams. I extended my arm beneath my bed to reach for a my shirt. Last night’s shirt. As I became vertical, I noticed a rogue pizza slice was laying face down inches from where my shirt had been.

“Lucky me. Or maybe unlucky? I haven’t seen my mop in a long time.” I mumbled to myself.

Suddenly, the landline across the room began to ring. Peering at the clock, it was nearly nine in the morning. I rolled my eyes and turned on the tv and game console. I had quite the bender in ‘Marsbound’ and had a great feeling I could easily finish it with another day of gaming before my work shift began.

“Dylan” a voiced said again. I stopped in my tracks.

“Wha-?” I mumbled. I live alone and I know my neighbors on the other side of my walls never sounded that close. “Must’ve been the voicemail from that call.” I chuckled to myself, turning my gaze towards my answering machine. My face sank again, this time growing with fear. The voicemail had no new messages.

Was that voice from my dreams…louder?