The humming sound of the air conditioner was the only thing Sara could hear in her silent apartment. It was 11:30 PM. She was leaning over her drafting table, the blue light of her laptop reflecting in her tired eyes. As an architect, she lived for precision, for blueprints that made sense. But lately, her own life felt like it was being redesigned by a ghost.
Click.
The smart lamp on her desk dimmed on its own. Sara froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. She hadn't touched the controls.
"Just a glitch," she whispered to herself, though she didn't believe it.
She looked up at the small, black dome of the security camera tucked in the corner of the ceiling. The tiny red LED light was blinking. It was a gift from Aryan—her 'best friend' and a cybersecurity genius. He had installed the entire smart-home system to "keep her safe" after a series of break-ins in the neighborhood.
But as Sara stared at the lens, she felt a cold shiver crawl down her spine. It didn't feel like protection. It felt like a staring eye.
Suddenly, her laptop screen flickered. A chat window popped up, though she hadn't opened any apps.
Unknown: You look beautiful when you're focused, Sara. But you should sleep. It's late.
Sara's breath hitched. She scrambled to close the window, but her cursor was moving on its own, resisting her touch.
"Who is this?" she shouted at the empty room, her voice trembling.
The speakers crackled to life. A distorted, synthesized voice filled the apartment. "Don't be afraid, Sara. I'm the one who sees everything. I'm the lock on your door and the light in your dark. You're safe... as long as you belong to me."
The mechanical locks on her front door engaged with a heavy, metallic thud. She was trapped. Her smart home had just become her digital cage(Maya Lock).