Looking back it’s strange to think that it happened that day. It’s strange to think it happened at all, but still you expect some clues along the way, or some foreshadowing. That day was ridiculously normal. Even more on the bad normal side since I stepped into to dog shit. Maybe that was the clue?

I went to the supermarket. I scrolled through my phone. I read the news. Nothing unusual of the sort. All the same except the call at 23:23 pm.

They called through the home phone. That ancient thing still sitting near the TV because nobody bothered to throw it away. I needed a few minutes to figure out where the sound was coming from and you can imagine my bewilderment when I did.

I really wish I hadn’t picked it up.

The other side answered with a pleasant male voice.

“A pleasant evening , who do I have the pleasure speaking with?”

A slight annoyance was added to my bewilderment. They called me. They shouldn’t have to ask who I am, should they?

“ Mark Deliss, who is this?”

“ Ah, so I have the right house that’s great.”

There was some dribbling on the other side.

The answer didn’t come.

“ Hello? “

“ Yes yes. Give me a second.”

I looked down at my socks. There was a hole developing.

“ Alright, thank you for your confirmation please be ready in 13 minutes.”

“ Ready for wha-“

The line went dead.

I stood like that, holding the phone in my hand and feeling unsure.

Should I pack? If yes then what should I pack? Where would I be going?

But then my senses came to me and I felt even more ridiculous. I shuttled my head and plopped back down on the couch. Those were probably some scammers.

I switched on the TV and turned the news channel. I wasn’t really interested but I kept my eyes on the screen. Still every once in a while I’d glance to the clock on the other wall.

2 minutes

3 minutes

7 minutes

10

12

12:30

A hard knock sounded came from my window.

I felt myself still. I lived on the 5th floor. Centimetre by centimetre I turned it around.

The city lights were gone. I couldn’t see anything except a dark grey figure. A dark grey figure staring at me through my own window.

It opened the window.

It came inside. On two feet even though it looked anything but human.

“ Your delivery is here.”

I couldn’t even hum. The air felt thick and cold at the same time.

The figure pulled a small box from its back and put it on my lap.

It had black talons. And scales instead of skin.

I watched it leave through the window.

The box in my lap felt warm.