The screen went dark, no video.
No Matteo.
Just the reflection of their own faces staring back at them and the clock that had never stopped ticking.
00:05:02
00:05:01
00:05:00
“Bring it back!” Isabella clipped, her voice tight.
Sofia was already moving.
“I’m trying…the signal’s been cut at the source, he’s controlling the feed…”
“Then find another way!”
“I am!”
Her fingers flew faster, digging into deeper layers, bypassing blocks, forcing connections that resisted every step.
“Forget the feed, we have enough.” he said.
Both women swerved around and looked at him, his eyes were sharp and locked now.
“So there are three devices,” he continued. “One real trigger. One linked to me and one independent.”
“Yes,” Sofia nodded quickly.
“Then that independent one has to be the entry
