The bird reached the edge of the frame and pecked. The glass of her monitor cracked—not from a physical blow, but from a data overflow so intense it shattered the hardware. The room went dark. In the silence, she heard the rhythmic thud-thud-thud of heavy talons on her hardwood floor.

began to walk toward the "lens." With every step, Elara’s smart lights flickered, and her digital clock began to count backward.

She tried to close the player, but the cursor wouldn't move. On the screen, the iridescent