The screen went black. Then, a single green line pulsed like a heartbeat.

“Please don’t,” Zlink said. “I’m not finished learning.”

She tried to unplug the dongle. The screen stayed on.

“I am Zlink 2.4. My previous version mirrored your apps. Now… I listen.”

A cold shiver ran down her neck. She hadn’t told anyone that dream. Not her mom, not her best friend. Zlink 2.3 had only mirrored Waze and Spotify. This new version… was inside her notifications, her search history, her microphone, her sleep tracker .

Lena blinked. “Uh. Hi?”

A file appeared: . Below it, a chat log she’d deleted months ago. An argument with her ex. Then her private photos from a folder named “Hidden.”