After moving into my new apartment, I was added to a strange group chat. Everyone in it pretended to be an animal. Every day, I'd lurk, fascinated by their conversations, but I never said a word. That all changed the day a mouse got into my apartment. I posted in the chat: “Is there a reliable pest control service nearby?” A moment later, a user named ‘AAA Pest Control: Leo’ tagged me. [Two cans. Non-negotiable.] [Cat’s at your door. Open up.] And standing outside my door... was an actual tabby cat. 1 The first thing that happened after I moved into The Haven Apartments wasn’t the unpacking of boxes or the customary awkward nod to a neighbor. It was an invitation to a group chat. The Haven Community Forum. That was the name. The members all had avatars of cute animals. I didn't think much of it. I figured the property manager had added me for building announcements and maintenance updates. Then, one evening, scrolling absently on my phone, I actually opened the chat. [MischiefMakerMilo: Ugh. Got caught stealing treats from the pantry. Mom smacked my butt three times. I'm chewing up her favorite slippers tonight. See how she likes that.] [Caesar: Pathetic. Letting the biped walk all over you. You should be running that house.] [Image: A fluffy white cat looking down its nose with regal disdain.] [Pumpkin: Quick question, does anyone else's water taste... spicy sometimes?] [Caesar: Idiot. The water cooler is probably shorting out. Go knock it over before you get electrocuted.] [CallieTheCalico: Mom's trying to clip my nails! Code Red! I need backup! I need a 911 right MEOW!] I watched the screen for a long time, a slow smile spreading across my face. It had to be kids from the complex, role-playing as their pets. Honestly, it was kind of adorable. Their goofy, earnest conversations were a welcome distraction from the loneliness of a new city. Just then, a new message popped up. [There’s a stranger in my house.] [Image: A dog peering cautiously from behind a sofa cushion.] The avatar was a young husky, all wide blue eyes and chaotic energy. Based on his previous messages, I pictured a kid, maybe five or six years old. My heart seized. A child home alone with an intruder. I was about to ask if he was by himself when the other chat members piled on, questioning his intelligence rather than the danger. [Are you SURE it's a stranger?] [You said there was a stranger last week and it was just your dad wearing a new jacket.] [Code Red! Send a 911! Send a 911!] I hesitated, my finger hovering over the button to message the property manager. But a second later, the husky typed again. [lol nvm it was just my dad in a face mask. as a reward for this scare i'm gonna go pee in his office tonight.] A false alarm. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, half-amused. But deep down, a strange, unsettling feeling began to take root. Something about this chat felt… off. 2 I got home late from an interview that hadn’t gone well. The moment I flipped on the light, a black shadow darted across the living room floor. My breath caught in my throat. I crouched down to look under the coffee table, and a huge rat shot out, heading straight for my feet. A scream tore out of me as I scrambled onto the coffee table, my heart hammering against my ribs. Panicked, I fumbled for my phone and typed a desperate plea into the only local group I was in. [There's a rat in my apartment! Does anyone know a reliable pest control service that can come RIGHT NOW? This is an emergency! Please help!] [A rat? What's a rat?] [It's one of those fast squeaky toys. My dad won't let me play with them.] [Are you new here? I haven't seen you before. Why is your avatar a person? What species is your owner?] My avatar can't be a person? What species is your owner? My mind was reeling, but the frantic squeaking from under the sofa sent a fresh wave of terror through me. I didn't have time to process the weirdness. I immediately opened a browser, searching for 24/7 exterminators. Just then, a notification. Someone had tagged me in the chat. AAA Pest Control: Leo: [Two cans. Non-negotiable. Immediate service.] [I'm at your door. Let me in. Meow.] That fast? I slid off the coffee table, crept to the door, and opened it. The hallway was empty. As I started to close it, a soft meow drew my eyes downward. A handsome tabby cat sat there, paws tucked neatly together, looking up at me expectantly. An insane, impossible thought sparked in my mind. "Are you... AAA Pest Control: Leo?"
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