Leo, a freelance data-archivist, had heard the rumors. Most apps gave you a window into the web, but Build 161 was said to give you the house. It wasn't a map or a camera—it was a sensory bridge.

In the center of his room, standing perfectly still, was a silhouette made of pure static. It wasn't a person, but a glitch in reality that only could detect. The silhouette turned its head toward him.

A notification popped up: "New Device Detected. Syncing Reality..."

Leo realized too late that he hadn't just downloaded an app. He had given something on the other side a way to download him.