Chapter 10: Chain Letter by Stephen Simpson
Thinking her mom would always be there, never considering
she should do everything while she is alive. Now doubts and regrets will follow
her forever. Things she should have done, could have done, but never did.
Lisa almost chokes as she inhales deeply and unexpectedly, when Adèle’s sudden, deafening scream echoes through the quiet house.
She is on her feet so fast; her head spins and she must
steady herself against the couch. Running through the study doorway, Lisa's
worst fears evaporate. Adèle is still sitting upright in front of her computer,
but her face is insipidly white, her eyes staring fixedly at the computer
screen in front of her. Lisa moves closer and leaning forward over Adèle’s
shoulder, she gasps as Adèle says, “Look,” while pointing towards the screen.
Lisa notices a message in Adèle’s inbox, one of those silly
emails that go around the world faster than you can say cheese. She reads:
Subject: FWD FWD FWD FWD
DO NOT DELETE THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE ENTIRE MAIL...
The young man in this photo visited a historic site with
his friends and he asked them to take his photo while hiking.
While his friend took the photo, he screamed and fainted.
Then 2 days later, he died.
In the hospital, the doctors said he died from a heart
attack.
When the photos were developed, in the last photo there was
a woman standing next to the young man, even though his friends said there was
no one with him when the photo was taken.
Many people know of this rumour and the last photo is the
result of the blessings of technology.
Still, the photo is very mysterious and surely, when you
see it you will feel the same.
An Army Officer was promoted after sending it to 13 people.
A labourer received this, forwarded it and within days was
promoted and all his problems resolved.
Be warned: If you do decide to delete this, great heartache
will rise above you within 24 hours.
---
Marlene deleted this, John deleted this, Carl deleted this,
Sean deleted this, Alex deleted this, Debbie deleted this, Francis deleted
this, George deleted this, E’lisa deleted this, Heinrich deleted this, Edward
deleted this, Jennifer deleted this, Kenneth deleted this, Barbara deleted
this, Isaac deleted this, Lionel deleted this, …
*
In addition, the list went on for another two pages,
different names, same meaning, and hundreds upon hundreds of people having
deleted the mail instead of forwarding it on.
Lisa reads the first name again. Could it be her Marlene,
and shockingly could it be her E’lisa, halfway down the list?
“Adèle, to whom did you forward this mail the first time?”
“I think it was to ten people, mostly people I work with,” Adèle
says nervously.
She clicks with her mouse on her sent folder and she opens
the mail. Lisa recognizes five names that were also in the list of names of
those who had deleted the mail. She also notices Adèle had forwarded the email
to her.
“Did you forward this to E’lisa, Adèle?”
Defensively she says, “No, I didn't. You can see from the
list who I forwarded it to and E’lisa's name is not one of them. You know how
these emails spread, faster than fire in a rain-deprived field of waist high
grass.”
“Are any other people that you forwarded the mail to,
excluding my mom, dead? You said four people you know died in the last
twenty-four hours?”
Adèle starts crying. “I just spoke to Carl, so he is still
okay, but four of the people I sent it to are dead!”
A shiver scampers down Lisa's spine.
As soon as the words leave her lips, she knows it sounds
silly, but what other explanation could there be. “You should phone Carl and
warn him.”
Adèle picks up her phone immediately. She scrolls down her
contact list and then selects his name.
Adèle puts the phone on speaker. Lisa can hear the phone
ringing and ringing.
It goes to voicemail and Adèle looks up at Lisa, alarmed.
“Try again,” Lisa insists.
Adèle presses the phone button again.
He says, “Hello,” on the second ring.
“Hi Carl, its Adèle, are you okay?” She sighs a breath of
relief.
“Yes, why?”
“You know that mail I forwarded on the weekend, the one with
that weird ghostly photograph.”
“Yes?”
“Did you delete it?”
“I did. Don't tell me you are phoning to say it actually
worked. Did you win the lotto or something?”
“No, but there is something strange going on.”
“Like what?”
“Do you feel funny? Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes, I feel fine. Although just before you phoned, I had
the weirdest feeling there was someone here with me.”
“What do you mean someone with you?”
“I can't explain it. I heard a funny noise and then I could
have sworn I saw something from the corner of my eye. It must have been a
shadow, because when I looked there was nothing.”
“Carl, I think people who have deleted this mail are dying.”
“Nonsense - that is impossible.” He laughs.
“I am not joking Carl, I am serious! I am coming over.”
“Please Adèle, you are always so melodramatic. You are
over-reacting and your imagination is running away with you. Many people die
from heart attacks every day, and it is just now that the news is emphasizing
it more people are taking note. It must be a slow day for murderers and
child-abusers.”
“I am coming,” Adèle says obstinately and then ends the
conversation. She looks at Lisa questioningly. “Are you coming with me?”
Lisa hesitates for the briefest moment and then affirms,
“Yes.”
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