She enters the room

The handle turned easily, and the door swung open on oiled hinges.

Emily blinked.

The room inside was surprisingly clean—startlingly clean, compared to the construction-zone chaos outside. Bright overhead fluorescents hummed softly, casting stark white light across blank walls and industrial carpet. There were no exposed wires, no dust, no tarps. Just a single desk in the center of the far wall and a conspicuous security camera mounted in the upper corner opposite the door, its red light blinking steadily.

Someone was watching.

Her stomach twisted. The soundproofed hush of the room made her pulse feel louder. Emily stepped in, heel tapping once against the tile before she closed the door softly behind her.

She walked to the desk.

There wasn’t much: a folded piece of paper, heavy-stock, and a neatly coiled strip of thick black fabric. She picked up the note first, hands only slightly shaking.

The print was crisp. Black ink.

“Put on the blindfold.
Stand in front of the desk, facing the camera.
Do not remove it until you’re told.
Do not leave.
If you don't do as you're told, there will be consequences.”

Emily stared at the words. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.

Then she looked up—straight into the red blink of the camera light.

She was already being watched.