Jess had just come back from her part-time shift at the campus library shortly before, and all she wanted was a shower, a snack, and some peace. Instead, the walls were practically shaking from the rhythmic creaks and stifled cries coming from the master bedroom.
"Oh, come on!" she groaned, marching down the hall and banging her fist once against the locked door. "Do you two ever think about how not everyone wants to hear you?"
There was no answer. Just a sharp intake of breath, followed by a muffled giggle, and then the noises intensified. Jess’s eyes widened in horror and she recoiled.
"Ugh, gross. Seriously? You heard me and you're getting louder?" she muttered, already spinning on her heel and heading to her room. "Whatever. I’m not dealing with this."
She slammed her door with less force than she intended—a mix of anger and defeat fueling her stride. Kicking her backpack into the corner, she flopped down onto her bed. Her phone had only 9% battery, and the charger had somehow vanished again. She rolled onto her side, searching under the bed for the power strip.
That’s when she saw it.
An unfamiliar, sleek device was half-tucked beneath her dresser—like someone had stashed it there in a hurry. She pulled it out carefully, brushing off the dust. It looked like a hybrid between a retro keyboard and a touchscreen tablet, with a glowing title across the top: Chronivac.
Jess arched a brow. "Chronivac? What the hell kind of name is that?"
She sat cross-legged, placing the device on her lap. The screen flickered to life without a touch, pulsing softly as it displayed names she recognized.
Profile: Michelle
Profile: Issac
Profile: Jess
Her stomach sank. She clicked on her name with a trembling finger.
Age: 18 Role: Sister of Michelle Memory Integrity: 12%----
The text cut off suddenly. But Jess had already seen enough.
"What the hell is this..." she whispered, her voice barely audible above the thudding coming from the other side of the wall.
Her fingers hovered over the screen. The program pulsed like it was breathing. Jess didn’t understand what this was, or what it meant... but something told her the answers were buried right here.