A Ring in the Dark

I noticed a faint, pulsing glow wedged between the sofa cushion and the wooden armrest. After checking the quiet room, I slipped into the narrow seam. It was a handheld cordless handset, forgotten face down. I pressed my weight against the small green button. A piercing, rhythmic dial tone hummed through the tiny speaker grill, vibrating right through my boots. I held my breath, resting one hand against the lit keypad, waiting in the warm shadows for someone to pick up on the other end.