November Writing Prompt - The Fruit Basket

From Greg at Book Haven

 There was a knock at the door. 

I answered but there was no one there. 

Strange. But what's this?

A basket. 

A gift basket?

I look around but all is quiet. No one in sight. I hear doors closing somewhere. I'm tempted to go see... who left this? But something tells me not to. I pick up the basket gingerly, tentatively. It's wrapped in green tissue paper and it looks like... food products inside. Some summer sausage, fruit and cheese. I know it's almost Thanksgiving but... why? I look around again and shake my head as I take the basket inside. It feels weird to do so... almost as if by doing so I'm setting something in motion. The door closes with a loud thunk and I take the basket into the living room, start unwrapping the paper. Soft to the touch. 

I set it aside and rummage through the food. A gift basket of food. Strange. High quality items. Whoever put this together spent a bit of money. The basket itself is heavy, sturdy. It would be good for crafty things. I glance out the window, deep in thought. No card. Wait. Tucked down in the bottom... there is a card. My pulse races a little as I pull it out. A simple white envelope, not sealed. My fingers shake just a little as I pull out the card. It's got embossed lettering on the outside. 

Give thanks

But on the inside is a decidedly different message. 

Written in ink. 

Where have they gone?

And beware. 

You're next.

What the...?

I feel a chill. 

I go to the door, pissed now. Flinging it open, I stride down the hallway, look down the stairs. No sign of any intruders. It's quiet. The middle of the day. 

Vivian from the next building vanished. It was a big thing. No one knows where she went. The week before that someone else disappeared. Rumors flying. This kind of thing just doesn't... happen here. The newly opened Cambridge Lofts with the pool on the roof and stunning views of the skyline. And... people disappearing. 

I feel a nagging feeling that I'm being observed as I return to my unit. But there's no one. I should lock the deadbolt. Maya is coming over tonight. Maybe I should tell her not to...

I put my feet on the table and look at the basket again. I want to throw it out. And yet...

I turn it around in my hands. I get up, carry it around the apartment with me as I ponder. I feel unsettled. Maybe someone's just playing a game with me. A joke. I mean, what else could it be? 

The phone rings. 

Maya. 

With a sense of relief I answer. 

"Hello?"

"It's me. What are you doing?"

'I'm just... looking at this weird gift basket I received. There was a knock at the door, and when I answered... there it was."

There's a moment of silence. 

"Jake. That's not funny."

"What do you mean?"

"Did you send me this?"

"Send you what?"

"Jake..."

"What?"

"You're... serious, right?"

"Um, I think so. I have no idea what you..."

"Jake. I received a basket too..."