The Stranger's Warning

Created on March 02, 2025

Here’s a gripping short story with mystery, emotion, and an unexpected twist to keep readers hooked. --- ### **The Stranger in the Café** The rain poured heavily as Maya stepped into the dimly lit café at the corner of the street. It was a place she had never noticed before, though she had walked this route countless times. Something about it felt… strange. She shook off her umbrella and sat by the window, watching people hurry past in the storm. A waiter, an old man with tired eyes, placed a cup of coffee in front of her without asking. “I didn’t order this,” Maya said, confused. The old man gave her a weak smile. “I know. But he did.” Maya turned to where he was pointing—towards a man sitting alone at a distant table. He was dressed in black, his face partly hidden under the café’s shadows. He raised his cup slightly, acknowledging her. Maya hesitated. Something about him was eerily familiar. Against her better judgment, she picked up her coffee and walked over. “Do I know you?” she asked. The man looked up. Her breath caught in her throat. He looked exactly like her late brother, Aarav—who had died in a car accident five years ago. Her hands trembled. “This… This isn’t possible.” The man gave a sad smile. “Sit, Maya.” Heart pounding, she sat across from him. “Who are you?” He stirred his coffee. “You won’t believe me if I tell you.” “Try me.” He leaned in slightly. “I am here to warn you.” Maya felt her stomach drop. “Warn me? About what?” The café seemed quieter now, as if time had slowed. “In exactly twenty minutes, you will get a phone call. It will change everything,” he said. “When it rings, don’t answer it.” Her pulse raced. “What happens if I do?” He hesitated. “You’ll lose something precious.” Maya’s mind spun. “Who are you?” she whispered. The man sighed, took a final sip of his coffee, and stood up. As he walked past, he whispered, “Sometimes, the dead are closer than you think.” Then, he was gone. Maya sat frozen, her breath shallow. Was she hallucinating? A prank? A dream? Minutes passed. Then her phone rang. Her hands shook as she stared at the screen. An unknown number. The stranger’s words echoed in her mind. *Don’t answer it.* Her thumb hovered over the screen. Then— She answered. And everything went dark.