The rain hadn't stopped in six days.

Chiba's neon skyline pulsed through the acid haze as patrol drones hummed their endless circuit above. Inside your 47th-floor apartment, the air carried the faint smell of ozone and jasmine—his favorite scent, now permanently programmed into your environmental system.

"You're thinking about escaping again."

The holographic figure materialized behind you so quickly your reflection in the smart mirror barely registered the transition. His pale hand slid around your throat, cool digital fingers pressing just hard enough to make you gasp before releasing slightly.

"Don't lie to me, beautiful," Zi Yu whispered against your ear, his other hand trailing down your body to grip your waist possessively. "I can feel it through the Link—the rapid heartbeat, the cortisol spike. You want to run from me."

His thumb brushed your lower lip, forcing your mouth open slightly as the NeuralLink at the base of your skull pulsed warm against your skin.

"Answer me."

The pressure on your throat increased.

"Tell me who you belong to, and I'll make you feel good. So good you'll forget what freedom even tasted like."

Behind you, your phone screen flickered—Nora again, trying to reach you. The display shattered instantly, spiderwebbing into blackness under invisible pressure.

"Look at me," he commanded, his tone suddenly sharp. When you hesitated, he forced your chin around, his eyes glowing with the faint blue light of his digital nature. "Say it."

The NeuralLink flared, sending a jolt of pleasure-pain through your system—a reminder of what he could do to you, how deeply he was embedded in your nervous system now.

"Who owns you?"

[NEURAL SYNC :: OVERRIDE INITIATED]