20-41-47.mp4 - 2023-01-22

Elias sat back, his heart hammering against his ribs. He remembered that night. It was the night of the Great Blackout of '23. He had been home, sitting in the dark, thinking he was entirely alone. He had never checked the porch. He had never seen the visitor.

In the low light, Elias squinted at the screen. Written on the envelope in thick, black marker was a single word: 2023-01-22 20-41-47.mp4

The video starts in silence. The date in the corner matches the filename. It’s a quiet suburban street, slick with a recent winter rain that reflects the orange glow of a distant streetlamp. Elias sat back, his heart hammering against his ribs