Ethan struggled against the restraints. "Let me out!"
The voice remained calm.
"You are experiencing a destabilization event. Please remain calm while we complete the restoration."
The screen flickered. His frozen self blinked. Then, he moved.
Not Ethan. The other him.
The reflection sat up straight, stretching its neck, adjusting its posture. It turned to face the camera fully—
And spoke.
"Thank you for the access, Ethan. I'll take it from here."
The screen went black.
A new message appeared, typed by unseen hands.
"YOU ARE NO LONGER THE PRIMARY USER."
The lights flickered.
The restraints unlocked.
And then, the floor beneath him collapsed into darkness.