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When Elias double-clicked it, the image didn't load normally. Instead of a photo, the screen flickered through a series of rapid-fire colors—static grey, deep violet, and a sickly, neon green. Then, it settled.

Elias zoomed in. In the sliver of darkness where the door cracked open, there was a reflection. Not a reflection of the forest, but a reflection of his own room . He could see the back of his own head, the glow of his monitor, and the exact position of his desk lamp. 23bbf670-30ea-4f29-9be0-e58946e49f1e.jpg

The image was of a door. It was a standard, white-painted wooden door, but it was standing completely alone in the middle of a dense, foggy forest. There was no frame, no wall—just the door, slightly ajar. When Elias double-clicked it, the image didn't load normally