Just Don't Stop Replying

Submitted into Contest #34 in response to: Write a story told entirely through text messages or emails.... view prompt

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General


~September 12, 2024, 3:14 PM~

Join me, we have donuts.

 

You of all people should know that that’s not going to work on me.

 

Yeah, I do, but I can hope.

 

Oh please.

 

I’ve tried to kill you on multiple occasions; why are you so adamant about getting me to join you?

 

Because you tried to kill me.

 

How did you even get my number?

 

I’m not giving away all my secrets.

 

~September 24, 2024, 2:28 AM~

You okay?

 

You shot me.

 

~October 1, 2024, 1:18 PM~

Seriously, are you okay? You haven’t been on the radar lately.

 

You’re an idiot if you think I'm going to rob a bank on crutches.

 

I mean, if anyone can….

 

Go fly a kite.

 

~October 30, 2024, 5:31 PM~

Haven’t talked to you in awhile.

 

                                   Let’s keep it that way.

 

~November 12, 2024, 9:05 AM~

We have cookies.

 

I'm deleting your number.

 

~December 1, 2024, 2: 15 PM~

The weather’s nice.

 

Who is this?

 

You actually did delete my number didn’t you?

 

Oh, it’s you.

 

~February 18, 2025, 11:24 PM~

So, I was thinking that maybe after today’s usual butt kicking we could get coffee and you know.... talk.

 

Seriously?

 

Seriously.

 

You’re buying.

 

Deal.

 

~February 21, 2025, 10:56  PM~

Can we forget yesterday happened?

 

Dude, I'm not just going to forget the image of the Bandit, one of Tarano city’s greatest villains, crying.

 

                                   Try.

 

I can’t. Scatter, what’s wrong?

 

Oh, please like you have any sympathy for me.

 

I do, actually.

 

Leave me alone.

 

~April 3, 2025, 3:43 PM~

We have a golden labrador.

 

                                   That’s actually tempting.

 

His name is Buddy.

 

And he’s adorably awesome.

 

And you can meet him.    

 

                                   Now?

 

Now.

 

                                   I’m coming, don’t let them arrest me.

 

~April 28, 2025, 7: 15 PM~

You okay? I saw what happened on the news.

 

Owen?

 

You'd better not be dead.

 

~May 11, 2025, 3:14 PM~

I didn’t think you could afford a TV.

 

Judging from the run down you live in.

 

Got one from a garage sale six years ago. Vikkie kicked it just right and it’s worked ever since.

 

Don't ask

 

.............

 

Yeah I'm okay. Apparently I was unconscious a few days and didn’t get my phone charged till I got home.

 

Were you worried?

 

Never. I just wouldn't know what to do with myself if you weren’t around to stop me.

 

You'd figure it out.

 

Probably.

 

They say you haven’t been causing trouble.

 

Is that a question?

 

Yes.

 

Want to talk about it?

 

Not really.

 

I’m here if you do.

 

So is Buddy.

 

~July 6, 2025, 2:55 AM~

How did you escape?

 

Why would I tell you?

 

Because you want to help.

 

No, I don’t.

 

Please?

 

You’re an idiot.

 

I try.

 

Will you tell?

 

~July 9, 2025, 5: 29 AM~

I used the window, the guards are incompetent.

 

~July 9, 2025, 10:07 AM~

Should I ask how you got out of the cuffs?

 

Nope.

 

~August 29, 2025, 6:23 PM~

                                  I’m not apologizing for dropping the piano on you.

 

~August 31, 2025, 11:30 PM~

Thanks for the dead flowers. They brighten my room so much.

 

                                   You’re welcome.

 

I was being sarcastic.

 

                                   So was I.

 

When are you not?

 

                                   Just get better so I can kick your butt.

 

~October 13, 2025, 1:19 PM~

I can’t believe you did that today.

 

You seem to forget I’m a villain.

 

But I didn’t think even you would try to assassinate one of the council.

 

You also forget the amount of times I’ve tried to kill you or you’ve tried to kill me.

 

This is different, he didn’t do anything to provoke you.

 

He threatened us

 

How?

 

You don’t know?

 

No?

 

He plans to burn the run-down I call home, to the ground, whether or not we were in it.

 

I doubt that’s true.

 

Believe what you want.

 

~October 20, 2025, 4:14 AM~

Are you okay?

 

                                   I don’t want to talk to you.

 

Please…

                                   Fine, what?

 

I just want to know if you’re okay….

 

                                   A burning building collapsed on me, how do you think I am?

 

Horrible?

 

I have no home, I’m freezing, everything hurts and woopdy-do no painkillers.

 

I’m sorry.

 

                                   Keep it to yourself.

 

~October 28, 2025, 12:00 PM~

Have you found somewhere to live?

 

                                   I’m not saying, otherwise you might try to burn it, too.

 

You know I had nothing to do with that.

 

                                   Don’t care.

 

Can I help?

 

                                   Don’t bother.

 

We still have those cookies.

 

~November 1, 2025, 9:12 AM~

                                   Can I have some of those cookies?

 

I’ll meet you at the County Library in an hour.

 

~January 4, 2026, 4:19 PM~

If you ever show up to fight me in that uniform, I’m hanging you by your feet on a lamppost and leaving.

 

Don’t you like it?

 

Too fancy. The frills will get in the way of everything and I’m not sure you can even walk in those tights.

 

Well, I think it’s rather dashing.

 

But you’re right, I can’t.

 

It’s for public occasions only.

 

                                   I’ll burn it for you.

 

If I ever have to wear it again, I might take you up on that offer.

 

I think that redhead reporter was about to swoon while she interviewed you.

 

Really? I thought it was because of my uncle.

 

                                   Oh, no, it was you.

 

Huh, maybe I should call the station and get her number ;-)

 

Do you really want a girlfriend who will faint on you all

the time?

 

I don’t know, it might make me feel more heroic.

 

Are you suggesting I should date you?

 

                                   You’re an idiot.

 

I know.

 

~January 17, 2026, 4:58 AM~

You heroes are so stupid. I was just trying to buy candy, CANDY Owen, nothing sinister, nothing wrong and what do they go and do? Arrest me. FOR NOTHING. I was held for eight hours then released with no explanation, in the middle of the night, in the freezing cold with no jacket. So I had to walk all the way across the city to the train station in nothing but my sweater and jeans. And my phone died while they held it so I couldn’t text Vikkie. She was fuming when I got back. Ugh, next time I’m going to stab someone, at least then they’d have a reason to arrest me.

 

~January 17, 2026, 9:09 PM~

                                   The chocolate melted in the sun, moron.

 

~January 17, 2026, 11:32 PM~

                                   Thank you.

 

~February 15, 2026 , 8:39 PM~

How’s Vikkie?

 

                                   Ready to burn the city. Your Uncle?

 

Alright. He’ll be in a cast for awhile, though.

 

Don’t get any ideas.

 

                                   Me? Never.

 

What am I ever going to do with you?

 

                                   Join me.

 

I’m not sure how to respond to that.

 

                                   I’m serious.

 

                                   Join me.

 

My uncle would kill me.

 

                                   Bring him to.

 

You are serious.

 

~March 3, 2026, 11:13 AM~

I’ve been thinking about what you said. I can’t join you and you can’t join me, but maybe we can still work together.

 

~March 9, 2026 , 2:16  PM~

Scatter?

 

~March 16, 2026, 12:12 AM~

Are you okay?

 

~March 29, 2026, 3:40 PM~

Scatter, what’s going on? Your team has vanished and you’re not answering me.

 

~April 12, 2026, 2:52 PM~

We found Leo in the river. I’m so sorry.

 

~April 23, 2026, 3:14 AM~

I just found out what happened.

 

~April 27, 2026, 4:02 PM~

Vikkie has vanished, no one’s sure if she’s dead or in hiding.

 

~May 22, 2026, 3:00 PM~

Someone left you flowers, black and red roses, I think it was Vikkie.

 

~June 4, 2026, 12:37  PM~

It’s been quiet lately. Peaceful. I’m not sure what to do with myself. It was nice at first, I have time to read and work on programming and stuff, but now I’m just… board.

 

~June 21, 2026, 7:49 PM~

It was Vikkie. I saw her at the market this morning. She’s changed, not that it surprises me after everything that has happened. She told me you like sunflowers, I’ll bring you some next time.

 

~July 2, 2026, 8:12 AM~

I wish you would respond.

 

~July 10, 2026, 4:22  PM~

I left you sunflowers.

 

~August 17, 2026 , 7:08 AM~

We still have some cookies left.

 

~September 14, 2026 3:50 AM~

This wasn’t how this was suppose to end.

 

Error 23: SMS Not Delivered, the number you are trying to reach is no longer available.

March 25, 2020 01:16

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