The progress bar didn’t crawl; it snapped to 100% instantly. But the file didn't appear in his downloads folder. Instead, his cooling fans began to scream, spinning at RPMs that shouldn't have been physically possible.

Curiosity, the career-killer, got the better of him. He bypassed the handshake protocol and hit .

Then, the power in his apartment died. The fans stopped. In the sudden, heavy silence, Leo realized he wasn't alone in the room. He could see in the dark now, his mind processing the infrared spectrum.