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Walking down the stairs, something felt off. Usually at this time, this run-down apartment building was noisy—kids crying, TVs blaring, neighbors arguing—but now it was eerily quiet.

Pushing open the building door, I felt the cool evening breeze. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the street.

I signed for the package—it was indeed Mom's prenatal vitamins. The delivery driver politely had me sign on his tablet, then drove off in his van.

But when I turned to go back upstairs with the package, an unexplainable unease crept over me.

Just as I reached the building entrance, I felt like someone was watching me from behind. A chill ran down my spine. Pretending to adjust the package, I snuck a glance back.

A man in a gray hoodie stood across the street, head down, fiddling with his phone. Looked normal enough, but when I turned to enter the building, I noticed him lift his head, staring straight at me.

My heart skipped a beat.

Maybe I was being paranoid. I told myself this, quickly entering the building. But as I was about to go upstairs, I saw through the glass door that the man was walking this way.

Something was wrong.

Instead of going up, I pretended to check the mailboxes while watching outside. The man stopped at the building entrance, pulled out a cigarette to light, but his eyes kept watching the door.

Fear began spreading through my chest.

I quietly took out my phone, pretending to take a call, actually wanting to see his reaction. Sure enough, he immediately became more alert, even stepping forward a few steps, trying to hear what I was saying.

This was definitely not a coincidence.

My hands started shaking. This person was watching me, and probably wasn't alone. Looking around, I finally noticed what was wrong with the street—it was abnormally quiet, disturbingly so. Even the usually bustling corner store was closed. The normally busy main street was completely empty of cars. Only the hoarse cawing of evening crows echoed through the deserted street.

What made my heart pound harder was noticing dark sedans parked at both ends of the street. Shadows moved inside them, though I couldn't see faces.

I was surrounded.

The package in my hands suddenly felt heavy.

I knew I couldn't stay here, but I also couldn't go back upstairs—that would bring danger to Mom.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to pretend I hadn't noticed anything and go upstairs normally. Maybe they were just watching, not planning to act yet.

But the moment I pushed open the building door, the air suddenly went dead still. Even the wind stopped, like the whole world was holding its breath.

That's when I heard footsteps.

Not one person's footsteps, but several people moving at once. They were approaching from different directions, like a trained wolf pack closing in on prey.

I couldn't maintain my composure anymore. Fear flooded over me like a tidal wave, making my vision blur. Clutching the package, I prepared to rush back upstairs, but just then—

Several figures emerged from the shadows simultaneously, surrounding me. They wore masks, tall and moving with swift professionalism.

A damp cloth suddenly covered my nose and mouth. The strong chemical smell instantly filled my nostrils. The drug made me dizzy, my vision starting to blur.

No! I couldn't pass out! I had to protect my baby!

I struggled desperately, using every ounce of strength to break free. My arms flailed wildly, nails scratching at the attackers' arms and faces.

"Stop moving or you'll regret it!" one of them threatened in a low voice.

But I couldn't hear it. The baby inside me gave me extraordinary strength. I kicked, I bit, I scratched, like a cornered wild animal.

"She's too much trouble!" another voice said. "We need to hurry!"