Ring

“Hello?”

“The crow flies at midnight.”

“What? Who is this?”

“I said, the crow flies at midnight.”

“Right now, it’s 3 am. Midnight has passed. Who are you, and why are you calling?”

“The crow flies at midnight?”

“Are you asking me? Look, I don’t know what this is about. As practical jokes go, it’s rather stupid.”

“But… the crow…”

“No. It doesn’t.”

Slam down the receiver

Ring

“This better not be about a stupid crow!”

“What? Of course not. What are you talking about?”

“Oh. Sorry. Hi. What’s going on?”

“What was that about crows?”

“Nothing. Just a weird phone call.”

“Oh okay.”

Buzz

“Hold on. There’s another call.”

“Okay.”

Click

“Hello?”

“The eagle has landed.”

“Seriously?! What is it with you and birds?”

Click

“Okay, I’m back. Another crank phone call.”

“Really? That’s strange. Is it someone you know?”

“I don’t think so. I’m glad I’m up nights, or this would be very annoying, instead of just mildly so.”

“Yeah.”

Knock knock

“Oh for pity’s sake! Now someone’s at the door. Hold on.”

Turn deadbolt, leave chain on

“Yes?”

“The fox is in the henhouse.”

“Are you kidding me?!”

Unhook chain

“Listen, I don’t know who you are, but knock it off!”

Stranger grabs wrist and pulls him out of his apartment

“I said, the fox is in the henhouse!”

Explosion from the floor above rocks them both off of their feet

“Hmm. I apparently had the wrong apartment. Sorry about the confusion.”

Stranger rushes off toward the stairwell