Phantom Vibration

(A sharp, electronic "BZZ-BZZ" phone vibration sound effect rips through the left audio channel. The music instantly stops. A second of dead silence. Then, a low, metallic snare hits, and a fast, skittering electronic rhythm builds rapidly.)

There it was again.

That little twitch against my leg.

I grabbed the phone, unlocked the screen, lit up my face—Nothing.

Blank. Just a lock screen wallpaper staring back at me.

No banner. No name. No messages.

My skin is literally making up sensations just to trick my brain.

I’m hallucinating a connection that isn’t even there.

How did I let a piece of glass get this deep under my skin?

(The synths begin to distort and rise in pitch. A heavy, rhythmic riser builds up the tension.)

Every time the fabric of my clothes moves, I freeze.

Every time a car passes outside and the shadows shift, I jump.

I’m hardwired to a ghost.

I’m waiting for a ghost.

And it’s driving me crazy.

(The beat drops into a heavy, stuttering hybrid-dubstep rhythm. The bass is glitchy and fragmented, cutting in and out rapidly.)

Phantom vibration, shaking my bones!

Screaming at the silence of an empty phone!

I feel you buzzing when you’re not even there, Chasing a signal that evaporated into the air.

Bzz-bzz—and I reach for the light.

Bzz-bzz—just another ghost in the night.

(Glitched, chopped-up vocal sample:) Phan-phan-phantom... why won't you buzz?

(The heavy dubstep drums drop into a half-time, deep cyber-chill trap beat. The sub-bass rolls underneath.)

This is the low-effort tax. This is the price I pay.

For letting someone in who only wanted to play.

You give me 100% of you for one night,

Then leave me to deal with the withdrawal, fighting the fright.

I bet you’re going about your day completely fine.

While I’m over here losing my mind over a phantom line.

If you’re busy, fine, but don’t leave the current running.

It’s short-circuiting my chest.

(The beat stops completely. Just a raw, dry vocal over a low, haunting synth drone. Another sudden "BZZ-BZZ" sound effect plays, but this time in the right channel.)

Did it buzz? Did it actually buzz that time?

Still nothing.

I’m losing my grip.

I need a human being, not an interface.

Phantom vibration, shaking my bones!

Screaming at the silence of an empty phone!

I feel you buzzing when you’re not even there, Chasing a signal that evaporated into the air.

Bzz-bzz—and I reach for the light.

Bzz-bzz—just another ghost in the night.

(Glitched, chopped-up vocal sample:) Phan-phan-phantom... why won't you buzz?

(The aggressive dubstep elements return but they are heavily bit-crushed and glitched out, sounding like a corrupt computer file. The vocal gets buried in the electronic noise.)

Just a ghost in my pocket.

Just a twitch in my chest.

Turn it off.

Please just turn it off.

(The song ends with a sustained, glitching electronic screech)