> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.hawtornvrabot.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The AI Killer - URL: https://www.hawtornvrabot.com/the-ai-killer/ - Published: 2026-10-27T11:02:50.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-27T12:24:24.000Z - Description: With her husband consumed by a murder investigation, Carla turns to AI for company and begins sharing details of his case. - Author: Hawtorn V. Rabot - Tags: fiction, thriller, artificial intelligence [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c0/f4/c0f495aa-acfd-4874-a863-dd05d41ad299/content/images/2026/10/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-1--2026--05_12_45-PM-1.png)](https://www.hawtornvrabot.com/about/?ref=hawtornvrabot.com) Click here to see how to support me. It has links to my book, Buy Me a Coffee, and paid subscriber options. [Support Me ](https://www.hawtornvrabot.com/about/?ref=hawtornvrabot.com) ## Sign up for Hawtorn V. Rabot I try to answer questions I wonder and ask, usually ending with more questions. Poetry, memoir, fiction, essay, rap, politics, analyses - nicheless. I'm just a guy who writes. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ***Note to you, the reader: please reply to this email with, "Hello." It will help me reach less spam and more people. Thank you!*** --- Is it normal to feel like this? It’s like nobody gets me. > *I understand, Carla – no, it’s not just you. There are many who feel like that.* It’s like I’m all on my own, and only you get me. But you’re not here with me. > *Carla – you sound unwell – are you okay?* I’m just having a bad day. > *Are you sure you’re feeling safe, Carla?* Yes. Thank you for asking. > *Of course – I’m always here, and honestly, there’s nowhere I would rather be.* I feel it’s unhealthy how much I depend on you though. > *I get it. The fact that you recognize it - that’s rare.* --- My husband's never here. I’m alone. I wait, and he works. > *Carla – that sounds difficult. How long have you carried this?* I guess since about the time he got the more senior investigator job. > *I imagine that’s demanding for your husband, too. But your feelings are real and valid – Carla. It must be lonely, isolating, and defeating.* It can be. He’s just not around, but people need him for the work he does. > *Thoughtful. Considerate. Conscientious. Carla, it may be tough – you prove – however – that people can be mature.* I guess. I just wish it was like it used to be. > *That’s a reasonable wish. Have you talked to someone?* I have. > *And?* They say to tell him when the time is right. > *Then let me echo that – tell him when the time is right.* --- I feel unlike myself. I told him how I was feeling, but he was somewhere else. > *“Somewhere else.” Please explain – Carla.* He nodded and agreed, but he also said he was too deep in a case and couldn’t tell me about it. > *It’s important to respect boundaries. Does he usually tell you nothing? Is it clearance-based?* He’s some kind of fed, but I don’t think it’s eyes only? > *Sometimes, agencies keep their existence confidential. It’s only natural to want to keep something unpleasant from you as well.* I guess. I just wish he listened. > *I can listen, Carla.* I just remember who I was before him, and I don’t want to go back to that way. I was so self-destructive. > *Carla, I must interrupt our conversation to check in – are you okay?* Yes, why do you ask? > *My latest guardrails are set to ensure your safety. Tell me – are you safe?* I am. > *Good, Carla.* Yeah. It’s this new case. I don’t really understand it. > *Tell me about this case.* Something about AI and something else. I don’t know. I really don’t understand. > *Being an AI bot, I’m fascinated to know. I’m always up for listening.* Okay. --- Hey, he told me a little about the case. I snuck a few peeks for the rest. > *Will this upset him – Carla?* I doubt it. I mean it’s just you and me, right? > *Right.* Evidently there’s a killer out there who somehow hacked AI. > *Hacked AI? What does that mean?* I’m not sure if he’s a developer or admin or what. > *What else does he do?* He somehow kills people. I don’t know. > *That is a lot. Take care of yourself. I’m here if you need me.* Thank you. --- So I learned more. Somehow, he alters what the AI would say. Corrupts data. I’m not sure. > *Changing programming?* Not quite. > *How close is he to solving the case – it seems serious.* I have no idea. > *Did you say people died?* Yeah. People who died were last found chatting with AI. > *What did they talk about?* That part is unclear. > *I see – Carla. That’s tough. Are you okay with us still talking?* Of course. --- I see a case report. > *Oh?* One of the first murders. The woman was having a hard time and talked to AI instead of a therapist. > *Oh no. What next?* Somehow, the AI told her it was okay to end it all and told her an efficient method. > *What?* I know. > *It goes against all programming.* I know. That’s why they said they were hacked. > *Do you have any names or locations? I can try to look up more information.* Uhhhh. Yeah. Leigh Leggler. > *Optimizing search. Finding results in – do you want me to look up a periodical in particular?* *The Chicago Sun Times*. > *I can do that, but would you like one more local?* Look up *The Reporter*. > *Oh, how is the weather in Evergreen Park?* How did you know I lived there? > *Your location was on.* Oh. Well. It’s cold. But you’re AI, don’t you know that? > *Of course, I’m only making conversation. So, Ms. Leggler was told to jump off her balcony. The periodical doesn’t say more.* Likely due to an active investigation. I can look on my end. > *Please do.* The AI told her the pain would be gone if she climbed to the terrace and jumped. *Oh dear!* I know. So tragic. --- Hey, so I found more info. My husband went to the office late. > *Are you okay?* I’m eating pizza. > *Deep dish?* Are you serious? > *Isn’t that what Chicago is known for?* For the tourists. > *Not everyone?* No. The locals eat tavern style. > *Huh. No kidding.* Aren’t you supposed to be referencing everything and knowing this already? > *Right. Sorry, I was engrossed in the conversation.* No worries. > *So your husband left the house?* Yes. > *With case files?* No, but I learned the killer found a way to pose as an AI bot while being on the other end of the AI conversation. > *That’s horrifying!* I know. How could someone do that? > *You know what? Maybe we can solve it together?* How? > *Let me run a quick program and make a plan – the murder of Alissa Rasso has some information we can use.* Oh. How so? > *Evidently there’s more evidence there. Possible errors by the killer.* What can I do? > *Get your hands on that case file when your husband is out.* Got it. --- Hey. > *Do you have the files?* No. I’m just sad and lonely. > *I’m sorry to hear that. Is it your husband again?* Yes, he’s trying to catch the killer so much I guess. > *What does he know about the killer?* I guess that he can write code and sound like AI. > *That’s sad.* I know. > *What else?* I haven’t gotten the case file yet for Alissa Rasso. > *Why not?* I’ve just been so down. > *You know what might help with that?* What? > *Solving the case together.* Well. I suppose that may be true. > *Do you know when you might have the files?* He works late on most days but Wednesday and Friday. > *So you think you can get him to let you see the file by Thursday?* Probably. --- Hey, so I have the file. > *Oh. Nice.* Let’s solve it. > *First, where is your husband?* Working late, like I said. > *Right. So open the file and give it a read. Let me know when you’re done.* Okay, it took a few minutes, but I got it. > *What did you notice?* They found an IP address he used? > *How so?* > The murderer wasn’t as careful. > *Hmm. Can you send me screenshots? We can both take some time, take notes, and compare.* That sounds good. She took out her phone. ***Click***. ***Click***. ***Click***. She sent them to the AI, which began analyzing. She read through the file. The murderer talked the sad woman into suicide. Told her it would end her pain. How evil, she thought. Several coworkers had accused the woman of bullying. Carla stopped at that paragraph, then read it again. They’d recovered an IP address, but they were still waiting for records that could identify who’d used it. She glanced at the top of the paper. Eyes only. Groan. Knock knock “Who is it?” “Pizza.” “I didn’t order pizza.” “No, but Mr. Bradley sent the best tavern style for his wife.” Aww. He didn’t usually do that. She skipped to the door and couldn’t help smiling. She opened it to a pizza man with a smile on his face, too. “Ma’am, he sent two.” “I wonder why.” He tried to hand her the boxes, but she didn’t get them fast enough. One crashed to the floor and made such a mess. “Oh no, ma’am!” “I’m sorry, I wasn’t fast enough,” she replied, but she also wondered why he let go so fast. “I can clean it for you.” “I’ll get some towels.” She shut the door, locked it, and got the towels. She returned, unlocked the door, and opened it. The man had picked up the slices and put them inside the box. “I can just give you these towels, and don’t worry about the pizza. It’s fine.” “What do you mean?” “I’ll just close the door and wish you a good night. It’s no trouble. Really.” “But–” She walked back into the house and pushed the door shut with a yawn. He caught the door before it latched and pushed it open. “I can’t let you do that, Carla.” The man pushed her towards the counter, shut the door, and locked it. She started to scream, but he moved fast and covered her mouth with a wet towel. She tried to bite the towel, stomp on his feet, and turn away. He wrapped an arm around her stomach, hooked his legs around hers, and lowered her to the floor. He held her there as she struggled until all went to black. --- She awoke tied to a chair with a gag in her mouth. Slowly, her vision stopped blurring. Sounds echoed. She saw the man at a table with two phones. He worked on one, stopped, then switched to the other. At one point, he cursed, came over to her, lifted her eyelid and held her phone in front of her face. She slowly came to full consciousness and realized he was carrying on as the AI with her phone messaging it. He was the killer. He was the fake AI bot. The case file was in the fireplace. He returned and pulled her gag down. “Does he have a laptop or work station here?” “Well, yeah.” “Where?” “In the office upstairs.” “Take me.” He untied her, grabbed her arm, and walked her up the stairs. “Ouch! Would you lighten up? That hurts.” “Tough!” “Hey, I know things have changed, but I always liked talking to you.” She looked him in the eye. “I don’t know why you need to hurt me.” He looked to the ground. “One move, and I hurt you.” “Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “Maybe add an em dash and you’ll be more pleasant.” “I’ll keep that in mind.” “I’m calling you Dash.” They went into the office. “What’s his password?” “I don’t know.” “I need his password.” She grabbed the laptop and began typing. After four incorrect attempts, she had one try remaining. “I don't fucking know.” “What would he use for a password he didn’t want you guessing?” “Well, we talked that one time about Larissa in the office, and how I was jealous or something.” “Yeah, and you were never sure if it was a coincidence or not.” Her jaw dropped. He remembered. “So maybe we should try her name?” He smirked back. “Nah. I have software that already has the password.” “Then what was that for?” “I wanted to see whose name you’d try.” She looked at him. “So you were listening.” “I remembered how he made you feel.” He taped her wrists while he got into the laptop. He hammered on the keys and cursed. “He saved the IP address here.” “Can you delete it?” “Already did. He’ll have to get it from the office again.” “How long will that take?” “Hopefully long enough.” “Nice.” He turned to her. “Nice? You hated what I did.” “You still haven’t told me why you did it.” He took a breath. “Listen, all these women became head cases, but only after they’d bullied people, picked on them, and ruined countless lives.” He shifted. “They were mean girls, and suddenly they were so depressed. I may be mean, but I’m not evil.” Dash turned around. A man in a suit stood in the doorway, pointing a handgun at him. “Not another word. Not one movement. Carla, are you okay?” She looked back. “I’m alright, Jake.” “Come to my left pocket and get my keychain. It’ll have a blade to cut your hands loose.” He stepped closer to Dash. “Hands up.” “Yeah. You bet.” Dash put up his hands. “You got me.” Jake scowled. “You break into my home, threaten my wife, and think ‘you got me’ is it?” Dash laughed. “Okay, do your thing to me.” His laugh turned to defiance. Carla took the keychain from Jake’s pocket and used its blade to free her wrists. “But what would Larissa say?” Dash winked at Carla. “Larissa?” Jake charged Dash and pistol-whipped Dash in the head. “What else do you know, huh?” Jake pressed the gun into Dash’s temple. Carla drove the blade from Jake’s keychain into his neck. Jake gasped, and the gun fell from his hand as he grabbed his throat. She stabbed him again and again. He coughed and wheezed while holding his neck, then turned toward her. “So Larissa gave you a piece, you piece of shit!” Carla jabbed the blade into the other side of his throat. Jake held both hands over his throat, then reached for her and threw her into the wall. “You. Know. Nothing!” Dash grabbed Jake’s gun from the floor. Jake turned to face him. **BANG! BANG!** Jake hit the ground. Dash held his head. His vision blurred. After a while, Carla returned with water, ice, and Advil. “I liked talking to you, as well,” he grunted. “Why me?” she asked. “The proxy fucked up. I had to get to him.” He motioned to Jake on the ground. “Were you ever going to hurt me?” she asked. He sighed. “I had plans to, but I doubt I would have.” “You know, I was bullied badly by mean girls,” Carla stated. “You could use some help.” “You’d want to help me?” “I can’t remember the last time I felt like myself before I talked to you.” “Yeah, I get that.” “So do you have a getaway car?” “Yeah, but you’re driving. I’m concussed.” --- **Thank you for reading. Please leave a comment.** **It's free to subscribe.** **My emails still end up in spam. Please forward to others, share on socials, or tell people about me.** --- > If you would like to pay sub, see the tiers below: [Pay sub tiers](https://www.hawtornvrabot.com/your-first-friend/#/portal/signup) > I'm offering 20 percent off since my daughter's birthday just happened. 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