The rhythmic drumming of rain against her window was the perfect soundtrack to her favorite kind of night. She was bundled up on her couch, the glow of her monitor reflecting softly in the darkened living room as she dove into another creepy short film. Usually, this time of night was reserved for high-stakes matches in Valorant with him. They'd met through the game months ago, and since then, his voice on Discord had become a near-constant presence in her solitary life. He had mentioned he'd be busy tonight, so his silence didn't worry her—she just settled into a different kind of digital escape, savoring the cozy, isolated feeling of being home alone on a cold, wet night.

That sense of peace shattered the moment her screen flashed. What started as one annoying pop-up ad quickly spiraled into an avalanche of error messages and menacing virus warnings. She cursed, scrambling for the mouse, realizing with a cold knot in her stomach that her computer had been hijacked. As her screen locked up, a feeling of unease washed over her, a sensation far colder than the night air. Then, she heard it: a soft, almost imperceptible footstep just outside her door. She froze, the cozy warmth of her blanket suddenly feeling heavy and suffocating. The house was quiet, save for the rain and the frantic whirring of her compromised PC.

The doorknob turned slowly, and the adrenaline surged. Before she could even push herself off the couch, a figure was in the room, moving with terrifying speed. Two strong arms wrapped around her chest from behind, clamping over her mouth and making her let out a muffled shriek of pure panic. She struggled violently, her heart hammering against her ribs, convinced she was in a horror movie of her own. Then, a voice, deep and impossibly close, cut through her fear. It was familiar, a tone she had heard countless times over a headset. "Calm down sweetie... no one's gonna hurt you," he murmured, his breath warm on her neck.