Face Detected in the Dark

You’re lying in bed, scrolling your phone. The room is dark except for the screen

glow. A notification pops up: “Your phone camera detected a face.”

You freeze. You’re alone. You check the camera roll. There’s a new photo.

It’s you… asleep. Taken from inches away. Another notification: “Face detected again.”

This time, the message doesn’t come from your phone. It comes from the old tablet in your

closet — the one that’s been dead for years. You hear a soft click.

A camera shutter. Not from your devices. From the darkness behind you. A silhouette stands

there, holding something up to its face. Your phone buzzes one last time: