The Midnight Test

Cal grinned. “Too late. I already left my courage on the football field.” “Shut up and let Tobin work,” Jessa said, not looking up. Mara was about to laugh when a thin wash of static leaked into her headphones. At first she assumed it was a bad contact. Then Tobin looked up, frowning. “I didn’t open that frequency.” Nia was already turning the knob on her receiver. The static didn’t fade. It tightened, like something far away was pulling itself along the copper lines toward them. A voice threaded through the noise. Then Mara heard herself. “Bluestone Bay Radio Club, do not play the full recording. Repeat, do not play the full recording. If anybody hears this, only four of you make it to thirty years from now.” No one moved.