System Alert

It was 2:47 a.m. when my phone buzzed. One new notification. The screen glowed in the dark,

lighting up my room with a cold, white light. “You left the front door open.”

I frowned. I didn’t have any home apps. No cameras. No sensors.

And I lived completely alone. My pulse quickened as I stared at the message.

The sender’s name just said: System Alert. I slowly turned toward the hallway.

The air felt heavier… like the house itself was holding its breath. The door at the

end of the hallway was slightly open — swaying back and forth, making a faint creak

with every move. I picked up my phone flashlight and stepped closer. There were muddy