Chapter 3

Early the next morning, McMenaman brought me back home.

We personally watched the workers install four high-definition cameras in every corner of the living room, bedroom, and balcony, covering every angle with no blind spots.

After testing, the workers assured us that this model was waterproof, tamper-proof, with stable signal, and wouldn't easily malfunction.

After the workers left, we returned to the hotel and stared at the camera feeds on our phones.

We watched for an entire day. The camera feeds remained quiet, not even a breeze stirring the curtains.

I felt even more uneasy.

In this anxious state, Officer Brown called in the evening.

"Miss Sean, we reviewed three months of surveillance footage from your building complex today."

"Besides you and your boyfriend, only your friend Dottie visited once last month. No other outsiders have entered or exited."

"All the strangers in the hallway were delivery people or food couriers. We verified all their identities. No suspicious persons."

Finally, his tone took on a tactful persuasive quality:

"Miss Sean, I suggest you go to the hospital for a checkup. Perhaps you've been under too much work stress lately and your memory is off. Don't feel bad about it."

After hanging up, my heart sank even deeper.

McMenaman listened to the call and ran his hands through his hair in frustration, then stood up and grabbed his pajamas, heading to the bathroom:

"Babe, I'm going to take a shower. After that, let's go out for some of that sushi you love. Let's not think about this for now."

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the traffic outside the window, my mind in chaos.

Could it really be my mental state?

But those mysteriously disappearing breakfasts, the stained clothes, the person impersonating me—it was all so real, not a hallucination at all.

I sighed and looked back, instinctively glancing at my phone on the nightstand.

The screen was displaying the live feed from home.

But the next second, I froze completely.

The surveillance feed that had been clear and normal just moments ago was now pitch black.

A big X marked the signal bars, like a closed eye.

My blood ran cold. I jumped up. The cameras were out again!

Before, I could comfort myself that it was poor camera quality or the wifi cutting out.

But today's cameras were brand new, using independent data cards, with new storage cards too.

Even if the network went down, they should still store footage locally. How could they go black without warning?

If before I could fool myself about camera quality, after yesterday's incident, I was one hundred percent certain—there was definitely someone in my house!

I grabbed my bag and phone from the table. Without even putting on my jacket, I yanked open the hotel room door and rushed out.

I ran to the hotel entrance and flagged down a taxi, my voice trembling as I gave my home address.

The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror but didn't dare ask questions. He hit the gas and drove toward my apartment complex.

On the way, McMenaman called. His voice was panicked, with the sound of running water in the background:

"Babe, where did you go? I was halfway through my shower when I heard the door slam. Why didn't you say anything before leaving?"

"The cameras are all out!" I shouted, crying. "That person is in my house right now!"

McMenaman shouted in panic:

"Wait for me, I'm coming right now. Don't do anything rash! Sean, just stay where you are and wait for me!"

"I can't wait!"

I bit my teeth and hung up, then pulled up Officer Brown's WhatsApp. My hands shook so much I had to retype several times:

[Officer Brown, the new cameras in my home went dark. I suspect someone's in my house. I'm heading there now. Please come quickly!]

As soon as I sent the message, the taxi arrived at the complex entrance.

I paid and rushed into the building.

The elevator was occupied and stopped on a high floor. I bit my lip and turned into the stairwell, climbing toward the 12th floor.

Halfway up, I kept feeling footsteps behind me. When I looked back, there was nothing—just the green exit sign glowing.

I didn't dare stop. I bit my teeth and kept climbing, my legs so weak I nearly collapsed on the stairs.

I finally made it to the 12th floor, leaning against the wall and gasping for breath.

When I pulled out my keys, the keychain fell to the ground with a loud clatter that echoed sharply in the quiet hallway.

I picked it up with shaking hands and inserted the key into the lock.

The moment I turned it, I smelled the citrus aromatherapy I usually used wafting from inside.

I took a deep breath and shoved the door open hard.

The living room light was on.

Warm yellow light fell on the sofa, where a woman sat with her legs crossed.

She wore one of those black sheet masks I regularly used. Her hair was styled in the same big waves as mine. She was scrolling through my iPad with her legs crossed.

Hearing the door open, she slowly looked up and peeled the mask off her face.

I froze in place.

The face she revealed was exactly the same as mine!