Inside the device’s virtual environment, Jaeden and Xander find themselves in a vast, infinite white space with no discernible walls, floor, or ceiling. Jaeden concentrates and creates an avatar for himself, an idealized version based on how he sees himself rather than his real appearance. Xander materializes nearby, taller and fully upright—something he can’t achieve outside of virtual reality. After fixing a glitchy, light-filled version of his own face, Jaeden takes a moment to admire his brother’s self-image and the confidence it reflects.

The white void is unsettling, unlike any XR “room” they’ve experienced before, as it lacks any defining shape or structure. They attempt to will a floor into existence, but nothing changes. Frustrated, they decide to exit the simulation. Just as Jaeden begins to disconnect, he catches a fleeting glimpse of something—a faint blemish in the whiteness—but disconnects before he can investigate further.

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Back in the real world, they express their disappointment. Whatever secrets the old device holds seem beyond their reach, for now. Glancing at the time, Xander realizes it’s late and that he has to be up early for school, especially since he has advanced placement testing the next day. Jaeden agrees to drive him in the morning, hoping the early start will help him get to work on time, too.

Before heading to bed, Xander teases Jaeden about his habit of staying up late gaming, while Jaeden jokes back about his seemingly invisible role at work. The brothers share a moment of warmth and humor, ending with a mutual “Love you, bro.”

As Xander retires to his room, Jaeden can’t shake a lingering curiosity about the device. He brings it with him to his room, feeling that there’s something important hidden within it—something he’s determined to uncover.