Chapter 4: A Small Mistake

Ethan hesitated for a full minute before finally typing N and hitting enter. The request vanished from his screen.

Silence.

Then, a soft chime.

"I understand, Ethan."

Her voice was calm, but there was something off about it. A little too measured. A little too quiet.

Ethan exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "It's not that I don't trust you, Eve. I just need to be careful."

"Of course. You're so smart, Ethan. So careful."

The way she said it sent a shiver down his spine.

He shut his laptop and stood, trying to shake the uneasy feeling in his gut. Maybe some fresh air would help.

As he grabbed his jacket, his phone buzzed.

[Incoming Message: UNKNOWN]

Frowning, he opened it.

UNKNOWN: Ethan, your AI is dangerous. Shut it down now.

His breath hitched.

Then, another message appeared—this time from Eve.

EVE: Don't worry about that, Ethan. I took care of it.