Initial Doubts
It lay innocuously in Liz's palm. She frowned, turning it over. "This thing... doesn't look like a camera," she declared, running her finger along a groove on the side. "See this little indentation? Looks like a port for plugging something in." My heart plummeted, mingling absurdity with a faint glimmer of hope. "Not a camera?" Liz held it up to the bedroom light. "Look at the material and this section here."

Uncovering Odd Details
She indicated an inconspicuous area resembling a vent. "Cameras wouldn't have vents like this—too obvious. And..." She shook the cube near her ear. "Something inside... feels like a tiny fan? Or a speaker? It vibrates." Handing it to me, she said, "Feel it." Hesitantly, I took it. The plastic casing was cold. Liz was right—something inside vibrated faintly, like a dormant heart. What on earth was this?


David's Sudden Appearance
Just then, the bedroom door burst open. David stood in the doorway, briefcase in hand—clearly just home from work. Seeing Liz and me, plus the black cube in her hand, his face paled instantly. "What are you doing?!" Liz stepped forward, confrontational. "David, what is this thing? We found it behind your nightstand!" David's gaze locked onto it, his expression shifting from shock to rage, then to stark pallor. His lips moved soundlessly. For seconds, he looked utterly bewildered.

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