He didn't get the monitor. But as he realized he’d have to wipe his entire hard drive by morning, he knew he’d just paid the highest price possible for a "free" code.
A chat box popped up in the corner of the screen. “Thanks for the invitation, Leo. You wanted a gift, right?”
"Wait," Leo muttered, slamming his hand onto the touchpad to fight for control.
Suddenly, his mouse cursor began to move on its own. It didn't flicker or lag; it glided with predatory intent toward his browser’s saved passwords.
A cold sweat broke out on his neck. He reached for the power button, but the screen turned a deep, bruised purple. A progress bar appeared:
Leo knew better. He’d spent years in IT, but the temptation of a new 4K monitor for the price of a few clicks was a siren song he couldn’t ignore today. He typed in a burner email and clicked.
With a desperate yank, Leo pulled the power cable from the wall. The room fell into sudden, heavy silence. In the reflection of the black monitor, Leo saw his own pale face.
The neon glow of the "Best Buy Gift Card Generator" button pulsed on Leo’s screen like a digital heartbeat.