**Chapter 3: The Break-In**

The echoes of silence greeted Maya as she stepped into her apartment, her keys jingling against the metal of the lock. She had just finished a long day at work, and all she wanted was to unwind with a warm bath and a good book. As she closed the door behind her, she noticed something off, a faint feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. At first, she brushed it off as exhaustion, but as she walked further into the apartment, the feeling grew stronger. The air seemed to vibrate with tension, and her instincts screamed at her to be cautious. Maya's eyes scanned the room, taking in the familiar sights of her living space, but something was different. That was when she saw it - a slightly ajar window, the curtains billowing gently in the breeze. Maya was certain she had closed that window before leaving for work. A shiver ran down her spine as she approached the window, her heart rate picking up pace. As she peered out into the night, she noticed a figure standing in the shadows across the street. For a moment, their eyes locked, and Maya felt a jolt of fear. The figure vanished into the darkness before she could process what she had just seen. Maya's instincts kicked in, and she moved swiftly to check the rest of her apartment. She called out, "Hello? Is anyone here?" but there was no response. The silence was oppressive, and her skin crawled with unease. She checked her bedroom, her heart pounding in her chest, and that's when she saw him - Alex, the man who had been watching her. He was sitting on her bed, his eyes fixed on her with an unnerving intensity. Maya tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. Alex's eyes never left hers as he stood up, his movements fluid and deliberate. He took a step closer to her, and Maya's body reacted on its own, her muscles tensing, ready to defend herself. But she was too late. Alex was upon her, his hands closing around her wrists like a vice. He spun her around, pinning her against the wall, and Maya felt a wave of panic wash over her. She struggled against him, but he was too strong, too determined. As she looked up at him, she saw a glint in his eye, a spark of obsession that made her blood run cold. In that moment, Maya knew she was in grave danger, and her body responded accordingly, her fight-or-flight instincts screaming at her to escape. But as she looked into Alex's eyes, she saw a chilling resolve, a determination to make her his, no matter the cost.