POV: Ethan

For over three hours, we meticulously scrutinized the security footage, breaking it down into segments and closely analyzing it day by day. We started from a week before we first spotted the stranger lurking in the estate. As we combed through the images and videos, my heart sank when we couldn’t find anyone that matched the figure we needed to identify. The feeling of frustration was palpable in the room, but I was determined to press on.

As we prepared to launch the next phase of our investigation, I felt a renewed sense of purpose coursing through my veins. No matter the darkness that loomed ahead, I was...