He looked toward the corner of the room. In the darkness, he heard the faint, rhythmic sound of a hard drive spinning up.
4%. Deposit received: $127,000.00. The text on the screen changed: Download DATA File v1.27
3%.The monitor didn't show a download anymore. It showed a live feed of a room. It took Elias five seconds to realize it was a bird's-eye view of his own study. He saw himself, hunched over the glowing screen, looking small and terrified. He looked toward the corner of the room
"Stop," Elias muttered, his fingers flying across the keys, trying to force a hard shutdown. The power button felt like cold stone. Deposit received: $127,000
He looked back at the screen. The silhouette in the video was leaning forward now, reaching a hand toward the Elias on the screen.
Suddenly, Elias’s phone buzzed. A notification from his banking app: Deposit received: $1,270.00. Then, a text from an unknown number: Do you remember the blue bike?