Bear virus

A Fractured Sanctuary

### Chapter Title: A Fractured Sanctuary

By the time I got home, it was past eleven. I shook the snow from my coat, my mind heavy with thoughts, and trudged upstairs.

Moments later, I arrived at my front door. After the facial recognition system verified my identity, the door slowly swung open. A rush of warm air greeted me, feeling as comforting as Yang Xiaomeng’s touch. A few years ago, the organization had invested in installing heating systems in every home to ensure people could endure the hibernation period, providing 24/7 warmth across the nation until the end of the hibernation.

I shut the door and headed towards the bedroom to check on Yang Xiaomeng. The scent in the house seemed different, mixed with an unfamiliar odor. My instincts, honed by years on the job, sensed something was off, and my heart began to race.

With mounting apprehension, I rushed to Yang Xiaomeng's bedroom.

My worst fears were confirmed. The bed was empty, the covers thrown aside. Yang Xiaomeng was gone.

What was going on?

Had she woken up?

Impossible. There were still fifteen days left in the hibernation period. How could she have woken up early?

The situation felt increasingly bizarre, with countless questions exploding in my mind like fireworks. I hurried to check the smart surveillance cameras in the house, only to find they had all been irreparably damaged, with even the hidden backups missing.

I searched the entire house, but there was no sign of Yang Xiaomeng. Instead, I found a note on her bed, with a brief message: "We have your girlfriend. Meet us at the Eastside Boss Hotel at 3 PM tomorrow."

Reading the note repeatedly, anger surged from the depths of my heart. There was only one thought in my mind: Yang Xiaomeng had been kidnapped!

Who could have done this?

Was tonight all a setup?

Had those rats at the mall been a diversion to lure me away so they could kidnap Yang Xiaomeng?

The more I thought about it, the more panicked I became. What could their motive be? Money? But the note didn't mention any ransom.

As I calmed down, another crucial thought struck me: all hunters’ home addresses were strictly confidential to prevent retaliation. Outsiders couldn't possibly know where I lived. So how did these kidnappers find out my address?