He moved the file into a "sandbox"—an isolated virtual environment designed to trap malware. He clicked run. The interface was minimalist: a single obsidian-black window with a glowing amber button that read: . He clicked it.

It’s not a proxy, Elias. It’s a mirror. Look at your webcam.

Elias typed back, his fingers trembling. Who is this? What is 3.81?

Elias looked. The small white LED was dark, but on his monitor, the sandbox window was now showing a live feed of his room. Only, he wasn't alone. In the digital reflection, a figure made of static and code stood directly behind his chair. He spun around. The room was empty. Cold, but empty.

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