Only five minutes remained until two o’clock.
Was I really going to die, just as the AI predicted, devoured by a bear?
My face turned pale. Stumbling toward the window, I braced myself to follow the app’s advice and climb out.
Even if I slipped and fell, at least it would be quick and clean.
Just then, my phone vibrated again.
It was a notification from the couple's app linked to my boyfriend, Isaiah. It showed that the distance between us was rapidly shrinking, now less than 500 meters.
Wasn’t he supposed to be away on a business trip? Why was he nearby?
A second later, my phone rang.
Realizing Isaiah might already be downstairs, I quickly answered.
Before he could say a word, I shouted, panic-stricken, “Isaiah! Don’t come upstairs! There’s a bear in the hallway!”
“It’s terrifyingly smart, it can even mimic human speech! If you come up, you’ll be killed!”
Isaiah went quiet for a moment, then suddenly sounded irritated. “Zariah, are you sleep-talking? How could there be a bear in the middle of the city?”
“I came back early from my trip. Thought you’d still be awake, so I brought your favorite late-night snack to surprise you. I’m already at the elevator, and now you’re feeding me this nonsense?”
“Tell me the truth. Is someone with you? Is that why you won’t let me come up?”
Panic surged through me, tears spilling from my eyes. “I don’t!”
“Isaiah, you have to believe me! Everything I said is real! Tatiana can vouch for it; the bear escaped from her zoo! It’s right outside my door, it was just slamming against it!”
“Tatiana’s brother is already…”
Grief surged up from my chest like a wave, choking the rest of my words before I could finish.
But Isaiah only sneered, his tone dripping with disbelief.
“Tatiana? She tried to set her brother up with you before. Why would I trust anything that comes out of her mouth?”
“Zariah, we’re about to get engaged! And you’re here spinning ghost stories in the middle of the night like I’m some kind of fool.”
“Is there some guy in your apartment? Is that what this is? I’m coming up to see for myself what kind of bastard you’re hiding!”
I cried out, voice breaking in desperation, “No! If you don’t believe me, I can send you proof!”
“The news about the bear escaping is already trending! I’ll send you screenshots and the link right now!”
With trembling hands, I sent him everything as fast as I could.
Isaiah fell silent for a few seconds, then finally spoke, his voice softer now.
“I saw the news. But Zariah, I’m your boyfriend, how could I let you face danger alone?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got a stun baton in the car. I want to see what kind of bear this really is.”
My heart nearly stopped.
“Isaiah, are you insane?! That bear is terrifyingly smart, far stronger than you can imagine! If you come up here, you’ll be walking straight to your death!”
But he refused to listen.
“No. I’m not leaving you alone. Just wait for me.”
I heard the elevator doors open, then close.
Frustration surged in my chest so violently I nearly passed out. “Isaiah! Please—listen to me—”
The call cut off.
I collapsed to the floor, my mind going completely blank.
The chewing outside the door had stopped. Silence returned.
Minute by minute dragged on. I clutched my phone with frozen fingers, dialing Isaiah’s number again and again.
None of the calls connected.
Just as despair was about to consume me, his number finally rang back.
I answered instantly, wiping at my tears as I sobbed, “Isaiah, you scared me to death! I thought the bear got you!”
There was a beat of silence on the other end.
Then came Isaiah’s all-too-familiar teasing voice. “I told you, how could there be a bear in the city? A talking bear? Only you would believe something that ridiculous!”
“It was Tatiana playing a prank on you; there’s nothing outside the door!”
“Zariah, hurry and open up. I brought your favorite crayfish…”
I froze. The tears in my eyes stopped instantly.
A prank? There was no bear outside?
Was it all just fake? Had Tatiana lied to me?
But if there really had been a bear, how could Isaiah sound so relaxed?
The crushing weight in my chest finally lifted. I exhaled a shaky breath, reaching for the lock on the security door.
Just then, a call came in from an unknown number.
I answered in confusion, and Tatiana’s urgent voice shot through the receiver, “Zariah, don’t open the door! The rescue team and I are hiding in the stairwell, the one outside isn’t Isaiah at all!”
