485137i -

Elias didn't turn around. He just watched the screen as the numbers began to count down.

He pulled the ethernet cable. The screen stayed live. He killed the main power. The monitors glowed a haunting, pale blue, still displaying that singular string: . 485137i

The screen didn't just show the code anymore; it reflected a version of the room that was perfectly dark, except for a figure standing directly behind his chair. Elias didn't turn around