When he extracted it, there was only one file inside: view_me.exe .

Against every rule of digital hygiene, Elias ran it in a sandboxed environment. The screen didn't flicker. No malware alerts tripped. Instead, his speakers emitted a low, rhythmic hum—like a beehive heard through a thick wall. A window opened, displaying a live feed of a room.

He watched the screen as "Past Elias" leaned forward to click a file. On the monitor within the monitor, he saw himself opening the RAR.

He looked around his own office. It was identical. The mug was his. The chair was his. But the "feed" was delayed by exactly 56,421 milliseconds—nearly a minute.