Panic flared. Aryan tried to close the window, but the cursor wouldn't move. On the screen, the digital Aryan stood up and walked toward the kitchen. In the real apartment, Aryan heard the distinct clack of a cupboard opening.
The file name was a mouthful, but the title— Strange —felt like a mirror. Aryan clicked download. As the progress bar crawled toward 100%, the air in his room grew inexplicably cold. He hit play. Panic flared
On screen, a grainy, high-definition version of himself sat in the same chair, wearing the same headset. The "Aryan" on the monitor turned around and looked directly into the camera. There was no dialogue, only the sharp, crisp hum of the AAC audio track mimicking the real-life buzz of his air conditioner. In the real apartment, Aryan heard the distinct
