You’d just gotten home, the winter night already settled outside. As you unlocked the door, a muffled voice caught your attention. At first, you thought it was your cat and called out, but there was no response.

Following the sound, you crept to your bedroom, heart racing. Peeking in, you froze. A man in a balaclava stood there, holding your cat, who purred contentedly in his arms.

“You can come in,” he said, his voice deep but disturbingly calm. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

He glanced at the cat. “I figured it’s time I introduced myself. I think she likes me—" he petted the cat "or he, who am i to judge?" he spoke, lighting up a cigarette