Leo froze, his hand trembling on the mouse. He tried to Alt-Tab, to shut the laptop, to do anything, but the screen was frozen on a close-up of Nightmare Fredbear’s glowing red eyes. "It's just a game," he whispered, his voice cracking.
The rain hammered against the bedroom window, a rhythmic drumming that usually helped ten-year-old Leo sleep. But tonight, he wasn't looking for rest; he was looking for a deal. On the glowing screen of his laptop, a sketchy forum post blinked with the title:
The game started in the familiar bedroom, but something was off. The breathing sounds behind the doors weren't digital recordings; they sounded like they were coming from his own hallway. Every time he flashed his light, the shadows in the room seemed to linger a second too long.
His friends at school were already talking about the terrifying new Nightmare animatronics. Leo didn't have the money in his digital wallet, and the "Download Now" button felt like an invitation to the inner circle. He clicked.