I know I promised an account from the "Fifth Seal" days, but I have noticed some threads about eerie phone calls, and I'd like to relate a story that is happening now. As a matter of fact, it has been on-going for a couple of years...probably.

As I mentioned in other threads, I work a graveyard shift at a motel to supplement my income. This little establishment is located on the outskirts of town, and directly across the street from a rather large wooded park of several hundred acres. As I am typing this, I can look out the front windows, and see the dark woods across the street, with a single lamp burning on the walls of the entrance gate. It is totally black over there. And beyond that, the mountains rise up, though I can't see those in the dark. It is very much like occupying the last outpost. And at night, it's a little unnerving. Although there are usually several rooms occupied, I am likely the only human conscious, for miles.

Now, every since I accepted this little gig in the country, there seemed to be very few business calls during my shift. And after midnight, it's no wonder. But there has always been, and I mean nightly, one hang up call. It doesn't occur at the same time every night, but it does happen without fail. And it has been a thorn in my side. I know that it is little trouble to answer a switchboard, but it just irks me in any case. I have to interupt what I am doing, usually take off the headphones, and answer a pointless call. It gets old, man! But, since I have joined this forum, I have begun toying with the calls abit. For instance, if I don't hear any activity on the line in just a second or two, I immediately hang up. It almost becomes a race to see who hangs up first. This has resulted in me hanging up on some legitimate callers, but I figure if they haven't composed their thoughts into words by the time I say "hello", then they're idiots anyway. lol.

So I have this little game going with this unknown caller...and I get a great since of triumph when I actually hang up first. But it occurs to me, that maybe I just hung up on a legitimate caller, and they are simply to pissed to call back (that's usually how I know they're legit...they call right back). Maybe I haven't beaten the phantom caller at all. And I do get other hang up calls, but they are different. I can hear somekind of background noise or commotion with the others. But not the phantom caller. I have asked for a caller ID system to be installed, but it is way expensive for a commercial business, so the boss won't do it. This is a very small operation. So the calls continue, and so does the game. But, then I get an idea. And, so I decide...I'm going to talk to it.

It's 3:22 in the morning when the phone rings...
"Thanks for calling --------------- Motel. Can I help you?" I recite according to the company handbook. No one says anything...so I speak quickly...
"Who are you?" I ask. Now, I don't get a response, but...it doesn't hang up either. A tremendous knot developes in my throat almost immediately. Here I am, with the phone up to my ear, listening to God-knows-what on the other end! I am almost sure I hear breathing too. I've got to say something, before it hangs up on me. And I don't want it to beat me again either. I wait just another second...freak out...then I start to hang up. The phone handset is between my ear and the switch board, when I hear...
"Don't hang up" ...very faintly. It reverberates from the handset out into the room. It even sounds like it is all around me, very softly though. But it's too late. The handset hits the hook, and the electronic connection is lost at once. I kick myself (figuritively) for blowing it. I know I heard it say "don't hang up"! I know I did. What did it want to tell me? I lost it. I got chicken and freaked. "Where did my balls go?" I'm thinkin'. Then a dark unexpected curtain descends upon me. A realization has slapped me in the back of the head. Chills run up and down my spine, as I look into the darkness across the street, and I wonder how it knew I was about to hang up. There's only one way, as I peer into the inky woods there... IT'S WATCHING ME!

Incidently, I sit in this brightly lit office, directly under a set of ceiling lights, and can probably be seen from a neighboring planet with a cheap pair of binoculars. And believe it or not, this happened only Wednesday night, (or Thursday morning rather). It hasn't called back yet....but eventually, ...I know it will.

Thank you once again for the serious case of chills! I don't know how you do it! You wondered where your balls went, but I think they're right where they're supposed to be! lol

Creepy if it's true. Why do you call he/she an "it"? How do you know it's not human?

Oooh very cool, just dont hang up next time i want to see where the conversation progresses to sooo much

very nicely told story
I wouldn't be so sure that it's watching you though. It coul'd have been a coincidence that it said "don't hang up", because it is pretty obvious that in this kind of situation you will hang up.

your writing style is interesting..v. dramatic.
you speak narratively, rather than as if you're recalling an actual occurence.

i'm not really saying whether i believe this has really happened to you or not, i just find the way you choose to tell the story unusual and interesting.

who/what do you believe this 'phantom' to be?

Very good story!
So what happened? Did they call back? Did you hang up? Did they say anything else?
C'mon man! You can't just leave it hanging like that!

maybe someone from beyond is trying to contact you?

wow, your experiences are damn creepy. I'm shaking and so are my nuts.

Please continue, don't leave us in the lurch !

God thats creepy...I mean if someone called me and then did that I would've freaked out too!!!

like a wise fluffybunny once said...:" it seems like you are not experiencing anything paranormal, but rather experiencing an attempt at a creative writing course. "

I was wondering the same thing, but he probably says, "it" because "it's" being rude.

its saturday now so has this person/ thing called you back? dude thats so creepy i would have freacked just sitting there knowing your all alone and somone is out there watching you that gives me the chills just thinking about it . wow! is this a true story or not?

Creepy things always happen in the dark or someplace scary like the woods or cemetery... why not a pleasant atmosphere in daylight with a lot of people around? hahahaHe was talking about where he works at.And what's wrong with that? hahahaha That's why babysitting is creepy, very easy to be scared into even walking by windows.

There's going to be a sequel ... yeah?

Yeah, record it, then let us listen to it.

Since this is a motel,aren't there phones in the motels rooms that a have a connection to the front desk like most phones in hotel rooms do?Was thinking maybe it could be some mischievious kids of a family staying at the motel.Thats the number one thing for kids to do in a motel room when their bored is to make prank phone calls.And something like that could happen a lot.

he's presenting fiction as truth. its annoying me. if he wants to write entertaining, well-written, creepy stories, he should atleast present them as being simply so.

and the way you're posting is annoying me too quote something, say something silly, and then go 'hahahaha'...ugh


but whatever, maybe i'm just being exceptionally tetchy today..

but this guy is a fraud. its painfully obvious.

Nah...nah It's just a prank

Yeah, I remember as kids, in the eighties, doing that all the time.

You have to say that...it's the creepy part

It was a neat story jack

shantiel, man...try saying it all in one post, mm??

Thank you for sharing, and you certainly have a way with words, how this may be easy to debunk as someone using a cell phone, or messing with you cause they are up all night. I worked in FL in the 90's as a customer service rep and I always got a call from a man saying "help me I am lost." I shrugged it off, but it happened so often I shared that with my coworkers. The company refused to trace the call and said just to ignore. Then one night I worked midnight to 8:00 and he called. I asked where he was after he was telling me he was lost, and what I could do for him? He said "I know it all, I have seen it all." I said "what did you see?" He said "The grassy knoll, and President JFK got his head blown off, I was there, and I want to go back." I said WHERE are you? He said "In Ft. Lauderdale but have to go, my wife just got in." LOL..So basically he was a lonely man, whose wife worked nights, and maybe was a bit psychotic, or a drinker I dont know. His voice was deep, and he whispered, and for months I thought either it was a crank OR of the paranormal, cause he always got my extension. The call was traced and he was warned to stop and he did. So I wouldnt put too much stock into a phantom caller, it can simply be a lonely or delusional person who knows you are there alone. Keep us posted..JN

....or if it had turned into a game of who hangs up first, then perhaps the caller knew you would be likely to hang up. (that's if this is a real story)

I don't mean to be the party pooper, but I don't see anything creepy about this at all-

I know if it was me doing that job,I think I would be terrified.I would probably try to convince myself all night long that it was just a prank but in the back of my mind I would KNOW that theres always that chance that there is a psycho out there and I am in the wrong place at the wrong time .

I have already mentioned that few things creep me out like the call from the unknown. I can't recollect the title, but the movie with the babysitter being harrassed by the serial killer, (which happens to be calling from that very house), is just petrifying to me.

It is now 10:10 pm, and I jst received a hang up call. But I don't think it is the same source. It appeared to be muted. Unless the original caller has adopted new tactics, I highly doubt it is of the same origin. The phones in the individual rooms connect at the switchboard in the office. A light is illuminated under the corrosponding room number, so I would know if it were an internal call. The reason I don't refer to the caller as "him" or "her" or "they" is because I have no clue to the sex or number of the caller(s). Yes, it could very well have been a coincidence that the caller said "don't hang up" just as I was hanging up. And it could very well be a mischievious prank perpetrated by some bored teen...I have no dispute with any rational explanations. In fact, I would most welcome one. I will refrain from responding to the member that obviously is in need of prozak. As I am writing this, I received another call. I'm a bit perturbed, and answered the call, saying nothing after my normal greeting. Nor did I hang up. It took several seconds for an old crackly voice to ask for room #144. She almost croaked the words at me. So, the previous call was indeed not the one in question.

I hope I have answered some of your questions. I will keep you apprized of any developments, as they are sure to come. Some of you have commented on my writing style, and I appreciate your comments. I am a published author, and have stated so previously. I write in a dramatic style, but that is all it is...my style. When I was still a police officer, my Capt. used to comment to me that my incident reports read like Matt Bolin novels. I hope this doesn't disturb any of you.

As for the comment about why these things do not happen during the bright of day, I have to fully agree. I have noticed, as well, that if you ask someone about the paranormal during the day, you will often be scoffed at and even ridiculed. But in the dark of the night, if you can get these same people alone, they all have some disturbing event to tell of. Some say the night is the devils playground. Whatever th case, I can look into those woods during the morning, and all I see is an excellent day for hiking in the woods. Fog in the morning makes them look other-wordly. But at night, there seems to be an evil that dwells there. And the blackness over there appears to be staring back at me, constantly watching me in this fish bowl. Is my imagination run-amuk? Probably. But what fun would life be without it?

Hey- I like your stories. This is unexplained-mysteries, afterall. Please continue. You are a nice read. Jody

Jackal, Is it me? Do I get the Prozac? Umm, yummy prozac!
You are a published writer? Who would have thought? I'd like to read your published work, but I don't suppose you can tell me what it is or you give away your name. *Sigh*
So just keep it coming here!

BTW, when I get those eerie silent for a while and then hang up calls, I just sing to them. That's enough to scare the crap out of anyone and I seldom get a repeat call from the same number.

No hun. Hes not referring to you. It's all cool; I think we should just relax and enjoy the stories. They're cool.

Oh I'm no big deal. I am a stormtracker by trade, and I often write for certain magazines about tracking tornados and meteorology. There are a couple of magazines that periodically request an article on emergency communications, or blow by blow events in some of the more serious storms I've intercepted. I'm no SK. But as you can imagine, describing a storm or a tornado or a cloud, for instance, is much more difficult than describing a car for example. Over the years I have conducted many interviews with the ordinary American regarding local paranormal phenomenon, and hope to one day produce a book. But I have time for that later.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I am glad you enjoy my posts. After 47 years on the planet, and given the paths I have chosen, I have many a yarn to spin, and many a tale to tell. I was most sincere when I stated that I often embellish my accounts (just for the sake of reading, no less), but the meat of the story is pure beef, I assure you. I've had more than my share of excitement in 47 years. There is no need to fabricate events. I'm not angry at the doubters. Indeed I feel sorry for them, that have led such sheltered lives, that they cast suspicion on anything they have yet encountered or are capable of doing. It's all good. I'll slow my roll. No hard feelings.

Thanks again for the kind words. ~Jackal

Sez you! Just for the record, I think it's very mean of police to point and laugh at people who have to call and report a suspicious vehicle just because they don't know silly things like what make or model of vehicle said suspicious vehicle might happen to be. And if someone asks "what kind of car was it?", "blue" is a PERFECTLY good answer! Sheesh! Everyone knows there's only seven kinds of car anyway.
1. There's the kind of car that's a truck.
2. There's the kind of car that's a van.
3. There's the kind of car that's an SUV.
4. There's the kind of car that's a station wagon.
5. There's the kind of car that's a Volkswagen Bug.
6. There's the kind of car that's a PT Cruiser.
and 7. There's the kind of car that isn't any of the other kinds of cars so I call them all Grand Ams just to keep it simple.

I stand corrected...lmao

I, like other posters, think your stories are wonderful....Would love to get a read on the "gothic chuch" that you wrote about in one of your posts...

That one was an investigation that involved several officers, a couple of psychic mediums, a ouija board, and lasted almost a year. There turned out to be a missing child associated with it, a huge fire, and a severe car accident that left a ouija board flopping in the street. I'll get to it, I promise. That one litterally sent some brave men packing. We (the Fifth Seal) desolved after it.

It's now 0549 hours on Sunday morning, and no call all night. If I don't get one tonight by, say 2am, I'm going to sneak across the street and shoot a picture or two of the gate and the deep woods, so I can post them.

I can't wait! Only a few days ago one of my mums friends called the house when the rest of my family was out but before I heard her I heard somjeone whisper something then play a piano, a peice of Mozart I think, but there is no piano in my house or thiers so I was freaked and I didn't hear the first few words of what she said because of this mysterious pianist! I know that it was not her and it was not someone in my house.

Oh yeah and I can't wait to see your story of whatever you were talking about, a gothic church I think!

I'm not sure why so many are freaked out about this or even why it's posted here. There is nothing supernatural or scarey about this.

i think i've figured it out people just want a good story, whether truth or not
i guess unexplained mysteries is deemed too dull if the mystery is in fact explainable!

i shall leave him to his fanbase the only opinions accepted here are ones of praise...

Well, let see, this is the paranormal forum, and a story doesn't necessarily have to be scary or delve into the supernatural to be a good read...Stories like this are interesting, and as long as they're being enjoyed, then there's no problem....

Hahaha!! I lmao'd when I saw this part of your story. Sounds like someone could be playing a prank on you.. since you actually went with the phone calls. Most people would just ignore the phonecal I think. But since you picked up every night for a while now they feel like they can take the prank up another notch.. maybe? That's what I would do if I called a place every night and they answered every night. Lol.

Looking forward to seeing these pics! How creepy...........

Maybe its a pervert and getting off on you. I mean it does happen you know. Many sick people out there. Just let it go pass you and forget about it otherwise you'll go nuts.

I hear you. It may be simply a prank caller. In fact, I pray it is! I hardly have any alternative to answering the phone. This is a business, and I have to answer. My concern is only two phased. One, does the caller have ill intent? Even if it is a call from beyond, the possibilities would be fascinating if there was no malice intended. And if it is a call from this plain, do I have a serial killer on the line? Which brings me to my next area of concern....is it watching me? That would freak me out. There is a highway near Houston that a serial killer has been preying upon motel clerks for years now, and he is still out there. They believe it may be a truck driver. Texas is just 33 miles from here. I tend to doubt the serial killer theory though, as this has been an on-going event for 2 going on 3 years.

It is 10:22, and I just received a hang up. I answered as usual, and the silence was deafening. I waited almost 5 seconds, and started to say something...and it hung up. I think it will call back later...(just an intuition).

Now I am freaked! lol.

The thought occurred to me...I hope I don't run in face to face with it when I cross the street for a picture. I would flip smooth out if I aimed the camera into the woods and saw something standing there looking at me. !!


It's 2;05 am and I just ran across the street and took some night vision photos. I'll post tomorrow night.

hi, is this still happening? and what about the pictures?..

Well, once again I find your writings to be quite entertaining, and thought provoking. But as to your phantom caller, in any case I think it could be anything or anyone. from prank to paranormal. So next question is, what lengths are you willing to go to in order to get your proof? If it is a pranking teen or a perv that just likes the way you look in the window, how will you deal with it. If it, indeed, is something from the paranormal side of things, are you prepared to what you will find? Just points to ponder. I have to admit, after hearing the faint, "don't hang up" I would have to investigate further. It would eat at me otherwise. I am not the "not knowing" kind.

Blessed Be,

TruBeliever

I had something like that happen to me before. I worked security at a phosphate company. I kept getting calls like that too. No one ever asked me not to hang up...but I never asked who are you ar what do you want...I had felt like someone was watching me too after that because as soon as the phone hung up...I picked the phone up again like I was going call someone and it never happened again. So I was like uhhhhh someone is watching me! Plus their was alot of perverted contractors out there so I am glad that I don't work there anymore. (note: not all contractors are perverts)