Denise stepped back from the monitor so fast her heel caught on the edge of the floor.
She steadied herself against the metal console, breathing sharply.
“No… no, that’s not—”
The screen still showed it.
Still looking.
Even though it had no reason to know she was watching.
Its head tilted slightly, like it was listening to something beyond sound.
Then it moved again.
Fast.
Too fast.
One moment it was in frame.
The next—
nothing.
Denise’s throat tightened.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to slow her breathing.
“This is insane,” she whispered. “This is actually insane.”
A distant sound echoed through the mansion.
Not an alarm this time.
A crash.
Followed by silence.
Then another.
Closer.
Denise turned toward the door instantly.
Locked.
She checked it again any
