Androvid_6316mp4 -

There, taped to the plastic casing, was a second smartphone. Its camera lens was pointed directly at the back of his head. It was still recording.

A notification chirped on his desktop. A new file had just appeared in the folder: AndroVid_6317.mp4. AndroVid_6316mp4

Slowly, his heart hammering against his ribs, Elias gripped the edges of his desk. He began to lean to the side, his eyes locked on the narrow, dusty gap between the back of his monitor and the cold brick wall of his apartment. There, taped to the plastic casing, was a second smartphone

The video opened to a static shot of a darkened hallway. It was his hallway, leading from the kitchen to the bedroom. The timestamp in the corner read 03:14 AM—exactly twenty-four hours ago. A notification chirped on his desktop

In the grainy, low-light footage, a figure emerged from the bedroom. It was Elias. He was sleepwalking, his eyes open but vacant, reflecting the infrared light of whatever device was recording. He walked toward the camera, stopping just inches from the lens. For three minutes, he simply stood there, breathing rhythmically.

Elias didn't open this one. He didn't have to. He could hear the faint sound of footsteps clicking on the hardwood floor directly behind his chair.