The telephone never stops ringing. Usually, it's a fight to grab the receiver and make a phone call before it starts ringing incessantly, causing everyone living under this roof to leap up and rush into the hall, desperate to answer it, hoping that it's for them. Of course, it's always for them, never for me.

But today, there's no rush. No irritating ringing, no rush into the hall. No one. I'm used to being home alone. Let's face it, my sister has her army of friends, and is at parties every other day of the week. She'll probably stagger home at some point in the morning, claiming that she slept at a friend's house. Then she'll sleep until noon, and when she finally wakes up feeling as though she's been run over, she'll want to tell me all the gossip. The gossip which, quite frankly, I couldn't care less about. That, or she'd be in a foul mood with me, and give me the silent treatment for days. Mum is hardly the stay at home type either; she has more of a social life than I do, forever going out and meeting friends for coffee.

It's funny; she should have been home hours ago. Normally, if she was staying out late, she'd have phoned to let me know by now. I've never known the telephone this quiet, even in the middle of the night. There's always someone on the end of the line, asking for my sister, or trying to sell us double glazing (because of course, we don't have it already). It's odd. I subconsciously find myself checking that all the windows are shut, and doubling back to check the front door. Yes, it's definitely locked.

I pace around the kitchen, back through the living room, and up to my bedroom. I find myself looking behind my shoulder at intervals, and jumping at every creak of the floorboards. What's wrong with me? I'm not a paranoid person, but tonight I can't help but feel a little uneasy. Everywhere is just so quiet; as though the world has stopped, and I'm the only one awake.

Was that the door? No, don't be silly, it was just the window rattling. It's shut now. I'm really beginning to overreact now; I can feel my heart pounding against my ribs. I need to sit down on the sofa. I'll watch something on the television. that will calm my nerves...

I jerk awake, feeling as though I've just been slapped across the face. Black, everywhere is pitch black. It takes me several seconds before I'm aware of my surroundings. I'm in the living room still. The room is deathly quiet. Mum isn't home yet. I glance at the clock. 3am. 3am and you're not home.

The telephone rings suddenly, dragging me sharply from the depths of sleep. I jump, gasping in shock, clutching my chest so hard that my nails dig in. I stand up, sway slightly, and head towards the phone. Why are my hands shaking so much? Why are my legs so weak that they can barley hold me up? The ringing is getting louder, more impatient. I reach for the receiver, and then withdraw. I don't know what to do. The ringing is drilling right through me, warning me. I can't do it, I just....can't. Something is telling me not to. I know that if I pick up the receiver, I know you're not coming home.

I can't. I just can't ignore it any longer. I have to answer it. The receiver is in my hands, but I can't bring myself to hold it to my ear. My hands are shaking too much to let me. I can hear a voice, muffled, it's a man's voice, but I can't understand what he's saying.

"H...hello?"

"I'm watching you."

I almost drop the receiver. I make a grab for it just before it smashes to the floor.

"Your mother should be home now, shouldn't she?"

The unfamiliar voice is cold, and cruel. My heart starts racing at his words.

"Who...who are you?" I try to sound assertive, but my voice cracks and fails me.

"She's here, with me. She's in quite a bit of trouble with me. I suppose you think she's always just out meeting her friends, but you're wrong. Your mother's a liar. She's a liar, Jess"

"She...she what? What has this got to do with me? I...it's not my problem, is it?"

"Shut up!" The voice sends shivers down my spine. "Or I'll make this more difficult!" His voice echoes, as though he's in a large room. My eyes dart around the room, wide in fear.

"Who are you? What do you want with us?" I'm almost hysterical, and I'm still unable to stand still, shuffling from foot to foot. Tears mix with the sweat starting to sting my face.

"Shut up while I'm talking, don't you know any manners girl? I want what I'm owed. I want everything that was mine, and should be mine-"

"-Jess?-"

Mum? I'm sure that was her. For the second time, I almost drop the receiver. I clutch it tightly to my ear, straining to hear the noise in the background. I can hear Mum's voice, barley audible, but it's definitely her.

"Mum!" I shout, my voice echoing in the hall, "Mum, what's going on, who is he?-"

I already have an idea who it is. I can't believe it. After all this time...

"Jess, are you alright?" Mum's faint voice is hoarse and panicked. "Jess, he's-"

There's a thud, a scream, and the man's voice bellowing. I make a noise half way between a cry and a scream, and I clutch the wall for support. I can hear more screams, piercing down the telephone line, and more yelling. I'm shouting incoherently down the phone, but no one is answering. No one is listening. I can feel my heart in my throat, and I know there's nothing...nothing that I can do. I'm screaming, screaming louder than the people on the other end of the telephone.

"Will you both SHUT UP!" The man is back. I rip the receiver away from my ear, trembling harder than before.

I'm crying openly now, unable to stop myself.

"What do you want w...with her? Let her GO!" I scream, in vain; I'm sobbing so hard I can barley get the words out.

"I want what is mine, end of story! I want you to suffer the same as I did! I want you to feel pain." Every syllable is shaking with anger. "I want you to know what it's like to have your life CRUSHED and cast away! And for what? For a cheap thrill! I want you to suffer, and to know what it's like to be terrified, alone...I want you to feel the pain that I've felt every day for five sodding years of my life! Your mother will soon know what it's like, and so will you!"

I can hear Mum again, sobbing and trying to shout at the same time. She's distraught, and I can hear heavy footsteps moving away from the phone once more. There is a loud crash of wood, and I scream. Mum's terrified screams are so far off I can hardly hear them, but I don't want to hear them. I don't want to hear anything anymore. I slam the phone down and collapse on the floor, sliding down the wall, burying my head in my hands and shaking uncontrollably.

The phone rings again. I cry harder. It rings, again and again, unanswered. I stand, gripping the small table to keep myself upright. Do I want to hear this?

The phone is by my ear. There's no noise, apart from the hum of the line, and a few distant screams still echoing.

The line goes dead.