Fear swiftly replaced her earlier relaxation, sending an icy chill through her limbs. May bolted upright from her comfortable position on the couch and dashed to the window, her heart thundering in her chest. Peering down, she saw nothing suspicious, yet an unsettling feeling crept over her. Was the intruder here for her? Could this be the person who had tampered with her car?
She paled at the thought, urgently scanning the room. If he managed to get in, she had no way to defend herself.
"Rob, can you check who it is?" she asked, her voice tight with tension.
"Yes, M. I can display live footage from the main entrance security camera on your laptop."
"Do it," she commanded, already hurrying back to her desk.
May's fingers trembled as she opened her laptop. The screen flickered to life, showing the building's entrance. May's brow furrowed as she leaned closer to the screen, squinting to get a better look at the figure standing before the keypad. He appeared to be a man, wearing dark clothing that blended into the shadows. In one hand he held a small device, its wires connecting it to the panel next to him. He stood with his body angled away from the camera, making it hard for May to make out his facial features.
"Rob, zoom in," she instructed.
"Yes, M."
Even with a closer view, May struggled to make out much about the intruder. His silhouette suggested a tall, well-built man with a confident posture. The previously dark clothes revealed themselves to be a crisp suit, hinting at wealth and sophistication. His face remained unmasked, betraying a sense of fearlessness and indifference to being recognized. An air of assuredness radiated from his very presence. May strained to identify any defining features, but apart from his raven-black short hair, nothing else was discernible.
May's breath caught as she watched him work methodically on his device, his movements quick and practiced. Suddenly, a green light flashed on the panel. The door buzzed open.
"He's in," May gasped. "Rob, what do I do?"
"I can alert building security or the police. How would you like me to proceed?"
May weighed her options. The police would take too long. Building security, though perhaps not as well-equipped, was on-site and trained to handle such situations. Surely they could deal with one man?
"Call building security," she decided.
"Understood, M. Contacting building security now," Rob replied, his voice unnervingly calm.
May's heart raced as she waited, eyes glued to the screen. The intruder had vanished from view, likely already inside.
"Rob, where did he go? Can you follow him?"
"Yes, M."
The image flickered, showing a new area. Jumping from one camera to the next, May tracked the intruder's progress toward the elevator.
Watching him advance unimpeded, May felt fear course through her veins. "Rob, where's building security? Why aren't they stopping him?" Given the guard station's location directly in front of the building, their response time should typically be minimal.
"I'll check," Rob said. After a moment, he continued, "I'm sorry, M., but my alert couldn't reach the building's security system. It appears to have been compromised—completely isolated from the network. There is no way to reach them at the moment."
A chill ran down May's spine. Whoever this was, they were good. Too good.
"Shall I call the police?" Rob inquired, his tone as casual as if asking about breakfast preferences. Of course, being a program, he felt no real concern for her safety—merely following protocols and instructions.
"It's too late for that," May murmured, her teeth grazing her lower lip. Her eyes darted frantically around the room, seeking anything—anything at all—that might aid her. With each passing second, she felt the intruder drawing nearer, the security feed flickering from camera to camera as he entered the elevator and ascended.
Any lingering hope that he wasn't targeting her evaporated as a soft 'ding' announced his arrival on her floor.
With no escape route and nowhere to hide, May's only remaining option was to stand her ground and fight, despite the slim odds of survival.
Clutching her laptop, she dashed to the kitchen. She yanked open a drawer and seized a gleaming kitchen knife, its sharp blade reflecting the fear in her eyes. Though she had no idea how to wield it, she was determined not to go down without a fight.
Every nerve in her body was on edge as she positioned herself in the narrow hallway, ready to defend herself against the approaching threat. Looking at the laptop screen, she watched him approach. His footsteps were steady and unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world. His relaxed demeanor only heightened May's terror. She gripped the knife tighter, her palms slick with sweat. Her breath caught in her throat as he stopped right outside her door.