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Short Stories Horror World Wide Web Cam
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World Wide Web Cam |
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| Written by David Neve | |
| Monday, 31 March 2008 | |
Andrew anxiously stared at the monitor, waiting for Carrie to appear. He took his gaze away from the monitor only to momentarily follow the second hand around the face of his watch. They had synchronized their watches earlier on the phone, and she was famous for being right on time. He didn't want to miss her.
Right as the second hand met with the twelve on his watch she walked into the camera's view. She stood in all of her beautiful glory and waved at the wall opposite the camera, phone stuck to her ear. Then his phone rang.
"Hey you!"
"Hey! Turn around you nut! You're facing the wrong direction!"
It took a few Internet moments for her to respond and Andrew smiled as he watched her gracefully spin and face the camera.
"Better?"
"Much better. You're beautiful. I miss you."
"I miss you too. It's beautiful here this time of year!"
"It's beautiful everywhere you are."
"You are SUCH an emotional sap!"
"Yeah, I've come to realize that lately. I think it has something to do with you. I'm hoping to return to my usual jerk-self when you get back. Now hold still and smile, I'm going to zoom in and do a screen capture."
Carrie dropped her phone hand, struck another of her famous transcontinental poses and waited for a ten count before bringing her phone back to her ear.
"How'd it look?"
"Beautiful, as always."
"That leaves, what, two more cities?"
"That's it, two more cities, two more web cam screen captures, and then back home to your lonely neglected boyfriend."
"I'm looking forward to that! This might have started as fun, but somehow, it's turned into work. Lonely work!"
"Honey, you don't have to tell me about the lonely part. But, I keep telling myself - it's for the book."
"Yeah, I know, 'for the book'. Lately that sentence doesn't help a lot. I can't believe this was my bright idea, to travel the web cam circuit and write about it. Am I an idiot or what?"
"Sorry, can't say you were an idiot about that particular thing. I think it's a brilliant idea. It's going to sell. However, now that we're on the subject, any other previous acts you might have performed that you want to discuss to determine their level of idiocy?"
"Okay Andrew that will be enough. I think I like the sentimental sap more."
"Just kidding sweetie! Same time different place tomorrow?"
"You betcha! I can't wait until we're not saying that anymore!"
"Me too, baby, me too."
"Goodbye sweetie."
"Good bye."
Andrew sat back and watched Carrie as she departed the cameras eye. As she turned to walk away one of the locals bumped into her and knocked her off balance. He pointed his video camera towards the monitor just to be safe and was amazed as he watched the man lift her cell phone out of it's case.
He quickly grabbed his cell and dialed her number, hoping the ring tone would get her attention. Deep inside he knew it wouldn't work; he was sure that by the time her phone rang the man would be well out of sight. Unexpectedly, the phone was answered.
"Hello?"
"Who is this?"
"Who is calling?"
"That is none of your business. I saw you steal that phone! You need to return it to its owner. Now."
"I don't think so. I like this phone. I think I like that girl that gave it to me also."
"She didn't give it to you. I saw you take it from her purse."
"Perhaps that is not all I will take?"
"What's that supposed to...? Hello? Hello?"
Andrew hung up the phone in a panic. He immediately called the police department and was told what he already knew. There isn't much the New Jersey Police Department can do to recover a stolen phone in Germany.
Moving as quickly as he could, he did four things. The first was a call to Carrie's hotel, perhaps she hadn't checked out for the day before she went to the camera location. He needed to warn her that she might be in danger. The second was a call to the phone company to make sure that GPS tracking was enabled on the stolen phone. The third was a call to the American Embassy. The fourth was a call to the local Police Department in Stuttgart, Germany.
The call to the phone company, funny enough, was the most irritating. The German and the American officials overseas were more than willing to help. Andrew emailed the recording and the screen captures he had taken, but getting the phone company to cooperate in finding the phone was a nightmare.
It was done though. All Andrew could do is wait for somebody to call. He wasn't due to speak to Carrie until moments before she made her next web cam appearance, tomorrow evening. He sat for quite some time in front of his computer waiting for something, he wasn't sure what, before stumbling to his bed and falling into it.
Morning came too quickly for Andrew, as his phone started crying out for his attention. He snatched up the phone from his desk as he was pulling his pants on.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Denny?"
"Yes, speaking."
"This is Charles Dietrich, with the American Embassy, I've got news."
"Yes?"
"Well sir, it's a good news, bad news thing."
"I'm ready, what is it?"
"We've located the phone. It was found in a trashcan at a local park. We haven't located Miss. Clark, however. We followed her itinerary but she hasn't checked into the hotel she was due to arrive at. This in itself may not be a reason to worry; the routes there can be tricky and are sometimes closed to remove material from the roads. That area is prone to minor landslides. I just wanted you to be assured that we are on top of things, and we are keeping an eye out for her."
"Thank you Mr. Dietrich, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this call. I feel totally helpless over here. I don't know what to do with myself."
"Her next scheduled appearance is at ten this evening, your time?"
"Yes, exactly ten. She is never late."
"I suggest you try to relax, and do whatever you were planning to do before this happened. I'm sure she'll pop up just fine."
"You're right, I shouldn't worry. Thank you sir."
"You have a good day sir."
"Thank you. You too."
Andrew sighed and set down his phone. Resolving to do exactly what the man on the phone suggested, he started going through all of his hundreds of screen captures to separate the shots that he wanted to use for the book.
Time flew by as he assembled the pictures together in a separate folder and started printing them. By the time he looked at the clock, there was just forty-five minutes before Carrie's next appearance. As the computer printed, he started pulling the pictures off and examining them.
It printed last picture first, so the first prints were of Carrie and the stranger that took her phone. He was so intent on the two people in the prints that it wasn't until the third set of pictures that he noticed that the scenery had changed. The guy that took the phone was at the two web cam locations prior to the last. He was stalking Carrie!
He looked at the clock. Nine forty nine. Eleven minutes. He went to the monitor, followed the web cam link and stared at the screen, his heart racing in his chest. "Please show up. Please show up."
He nearly had a heart attack as his phone rang next to him.
"Mr. Denny?"
"Yes. Mr. Dietrich?"
"Yes, I just wanted you to know that we have men on location. If you are set up you will see them just to the right of your screen."
"I don't see them. Oh God! Just a minute."
Andrew immediately opened a new window and positioned it side by side with the window he expected to see Carrie in. When he pulled up the web cam in the new window his heart sank.
"Mr. Dietrich your men are at the wrong location."
"Pardon?"
"Your men. They are at the wrong..."
Andrew fell silent as he saw the stalker standing at the edge of the first web cam window. The stalker looked right at the camera and waved.
"Mr. Denny?"
Andrew knew that the stalker was waving at him. He watched helplessly as lovely Carrie walked into the camera's perimeter, faced the wrong direction, this time intentionally, and waved at the wall.
"Mr. Denny?"
"Your men. You positioned them at the wrong web cam."
"I don't understand, I thou..."
Andrew wasn't listening anymore. He couldn't listen, he couldn't speak, he couldn't move. He could only stare at the monitor as the tears ran down his face; while watching the love of his life being dragged away into the darkness...
Comments (8) |
 03-31-2008 10:56, I remember this story from before. Still scares the crap out of me....most unlike other things you have written...great story » Reply to this comment...  03-31-2008 11:06, This one is a new one by me.At first I thought it was a lovey dovey but holy cow it got my attention.It could make a good thriller,a longer story, maybe a novel..But really bloody good. » Reply to this comment...  03-31-2008 11:18, that i wrote with the intent of giving somebody the chills. it appears that i gave a few people the willies when i wrote "careful what you wish for" - but my intent was irony - so the horror perception was a bonus. glad you folks like it. smile! » Reply to this comment...  03-31-2008 19:31, Chills yer gave me, fer sure, not to mention a feeling of hopelessness and anxiety, thanks Tarnoggin'. The Sinister Spinster, yer've juss been labeled fer the day. Take care, 'Anna » Reply to this comment...  04-01-2008 10:38, Great story, builds up the tension levels very well. Shows the hopelessness of being so far away when a loved one is being hurt. » Reply to this comment...  04-01-2008 12:09, wait a sec im kinda confused. what do u mean she faced the wrong direction intentionally and waved at the wall? nonetheless it was a good story. :D » Reply to this comment... » See all 1 replie(s)  04-02-2008 14:51, Woah... Wasn't expecting this one, I'd totally freak out and shoot myself being in Andrew's shoes and watching my girl getting raped/killed/abducted in front of my very eyes and being unable to help her. By the Man known as Jesus... You have wicked thoughts mister Neve! » Reply to this comment... » See all 1 replie(s) 04-03-2008 17:08, I didn't understand this one of yours. Its probally because I can't grasp technology very well. Was this all done by cell phones or actual video camera's. A little confused also with the ending. To sum it up...why are you confusing me Tarman...not like you. :o » Reply to this comment... |
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