George’s eyes darted back and forth between the pacing dog and his wife, Zoe. Silent worry filled his gaze. They had agreed to dog-sit Rex, their friend Corey’s well-behaved pooch, expecting it to be an easy task. The first few days were indeed calm. But that peace didn’t last…
The house was quiet except for Rex’s restless movement. The dog behaved strangely, pacing erratically, eyes darting as if tracking something invisible. The hair along his back bristled, a low growl vibrating in his throat. A chill of dread crept over George—Rex’s behavior meant something was very wrong.
But what? Why was Rex so fixated on Zoe? From the moment he entered their home, he had stuck close to her, displaying an unusual intensity. George’s unease grew; something didn’t add up. Then there was the message. George felt Zoe’s gaze on him. Was she hiding something? Her smile seemed forced, failing to reach her eyes. This wasn’t right, and he was determined to find out.
During Rex’s first days, everything had seemed ordinary. The dog behaved well, Zoe played with him in the small garden, and George remained absorbed in work and routine. Normal, at least, that’s what George had believed…
But slowly, the atmosphere shifted. Rex’s attachment to Zoe became obsessive; he watched her every move, his gaze unsettlingly intense. George felt a creeping, inexplicable anxiety.
One morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains, gently illuminating the room. George was still asleep when a soft ping from Zoe’s phone stirred him. Groggy, he opened his eyes and glanced at the glowing screen.
A new message had appeared. George knew he should respect Zoe’s privacy—it was an unspoken rule. Yet an uneasy curiosity seized him. His gut compelled him to read it.
Zoe remained asleep, unaware of the thoughts racing through his mind. Torn between respect and a nagging suspicion, his heart pounded in the quiet room. Finally, he could resist no longer and began unlocking her phone.
The message came from an unknown number, not saved in her contacts. His heart rate quickened. A bad feeling gnawed at him—this could change everything. Should he read on, or ignore it to preserve the fragile peace? He hesitated, suspended between doubt and dread.