7a15qqf65236.avi

The media player opened to a black screen. For the first ten minutes, there was only the sound of a rhythmic, mechanical hum—like a server room or a life-support system. Then, the video flickered to life.

Elias didn't go to the door. He watched the video. The figure in the reflection turned around, and though their face remained a blur of pixels, they looked directly into the "lens"—directly at Elias. 7a15qqf65236.avi

The person holding the camera was wearing the exact same sweater Elias was wearing right now—a rare, thrifted wool knit with a snag on the left cuff. Behind the photographer, in the reflection, was the very room Elias was sitting in. But the room in the video was empty of furniture, stripped to the floorboards. The media player opened to a black screen

Heart hammering, Elias looked at the timestamp of the file creation: . Elias didn't go to the door