Previously: “The Mechanical Cassandra.”

This week, an older, somewhat mysterious story, in that we don’t know who its original author is or where it was originally published. It’s called, quite simply, “7:05.” A creepypasta about strange text messages received over the course of a 24-hour period and what happens when the person who receives them can’t leave well enough alone, it’s neither complex, nor long — but I like it all the same. It’s got a nice shape to it, and I do like a story with simple yet satisfying form, well-executed.

Outside of a few random Facebook posts and a Wattpad collection or two, the Creepypasta Wiki seems one of the only places at which “7:05” has been preserved, as well. It arrived there in March of 2012, and there it has remained ever since.

[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]

The lesson here: Be wary of text messages coming from sources you don’t know. The “report junk” button — which, to be fair, probably didn’t exist at the time this story was written and therefore wouldn’t have been an option to its protagonist (who, by the way, is… you) — is your friend.

Read an excerpt below, and check out the full story at the Creepypasta Wiki.

***

7:05 AM

You’re stirred from your Saturday morning slumber by a light buzzing coming from the other side of the room. Almost instinctively, you dash across the room to turn off your vibrating phone. It shows one unread text message, from a number you don’t recognize.

Received: 7:05

I’m not really sure what’s going on. I’m scared — alone. I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve decided to document what happens with these text messages in the unfortunate event that I am unable to tell the story myself.

You’re struck with an unnerving feeling, but your mind isn’t clear enough to fully comprehend what you’ve just read. It’s too early for this. You decide to head back to bed and deal with all this later.

Keep reading…

***

Follow The Ghost In My Machine on Bluesky @GhostMachine13.bsky.social, Twitter @GhostMachine13, and Facebook @TheGhostInMyMachine. And for more games, don’t forget to check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available now from Chronicle Books!

[Photo via Paranoideas/Pixabay]