Caller Unknown

“Is this Lauren Stevens?” a female voice that Lauren couldn’t recognize said over the phone.

“Who wants to know?” Lauren asked.

“I know your secrets.” The voice said ominously.

Lauren paled as she felt her blood run cold. Surely whoever this was was bluffing. She had made sure to keep her secrets well hidden and unrecognizable. No one could have figured them out. Still, she had to make sure.

“Yeah, I doubt that.” Lauren said in an effort to call the woman’s bluff, even though her voice gave away how nervous she was.

“You wear a matching set of padded underwear, a girdle, and special made shoes that add a little over two feet to your height.” The voice said, sounding rather sure of herself. “Am I correct?”

Lauren’s stomach dropped as her eyes went wide; she almost dropped the phone right then and there. She did know! Somehow, someway, this woman knew about her secret enhancements!

She knew about her padded underwear that made her look full and curvy!

She knew about her girdle that helped her hide her rather pudgy tummy!

She knew about her special shoes that brought her from a diminutive 3’6” to a generous 5’10”!

“I’ll take your silence as a yes.” The woman said, her voice laced with a giggle.

“I – that’s – but – how did - ?” Lauren babbled.

“I have my ways.” The voice said. “I also have pictures, if you don’t believe me.”

“P-p-p-pictures…?” Lauren gulped. “Pictures of w-?”

Suddenly, Lauren’s smartphone vibrated on the counter.

“You may want to check that.” The voice suggested.

Nervously, Lauren picked up her smartphone and noticed that she got a text from an unlisted number. Opening it, she gasped in horror at what the text was: two pictures; one of her enhancements and one of her just before she stepped into the tub…and right after she had taken off her robe.

“And that’s just two of the pictures I have, cupcake.” The woman said. “If you even think about calling the cops, I’ll send those two to every media outlet in the country; as well as the other two hundred and fifty-six in my possession.”

“Two hundred and…” Lauren said, paling. How had this woman got all of those pictures exposing her secrets? How long had she had them? Why did she need over two hundred? As these questions ran through her head, she began to sweat profoundly; her heart felt like it was trying to escape her chest. If those pictures got out, she’d be ruined!

“W-what do you want?” Lauren asked. “Do you want money? I can try to get you the exact amount that you want! I can’t promise millions, but I –“

“I don’t want your money!” the voice shouted. Then calmly, she continued. “What I want is something even better!”

“W-what’s that?” Lauren gulped.

“See, it’s like this, Lauren.” The voice explained, “You don’t know me, but I know you; the REAL you. I know that in reality you’re nothing but a spoiled, self-centered, rude, and manipulative liar! You’re nothing but a bratty child who has been playing dress up! You have ruined the reputations and lives of many individuals with your horrific attitude; including someone near to my heart. So now, I’ve come to reap vengeance.”

“What are you going to do?” Lauren asked, starting to shiver in fear.

“Me? Oh, I’m not going to do anything.” The woman said, before quickly adding, “If…”

“If…?”

“If you do exactly as I say to the letter.” The woman said. “If you don’t, I will post every last picture that I have of you on every social media and image sharing site online. All two hundred sixty-eight of them.”

Lauren was starting to break out into a cold sweat. “What kind of sick joke is this?” she asked.

“Oh, it’s no joke; but it can be considered a game.” The woman said, her voice so smug that Lauren could practically see her smiling. “A game that has quite the consequences if you don’t play along or follow the rules. See, I said earlier that what I wanted wasn’t money, and that’s true. What I want is vengeance and justice for what you’ve done to others! I want to watch you squirm as you turn shades of red you never thought were possible for a human to turn! I want to make you wish you were never born! Those pictures are just a security measure. What’s your answer?”

Lauren didn’t know what to do. Surely she couldn’t just play this sick freak's game. Who knew what this woman would make her do?!

Still, if she didn’t follow this mad woman’s directions, her biggest secret was going to be everywhere on the internet. She could just see all the mocking and jeering that everyone who knew her would be doing if they found out the truth about her body. If her sister found out, the constant teasing Vanessa gave her would only grow more rapidly. If her mother found out…she shuddered to think about that! Lauren hung her head and sighed; she was trapped.

“Okay.” Lauren finally said, “I’ll do what you say.”

“Excellent!” the woman cried out in joy. “Oh, and by the way: you can call me Ms. Karma.”