The machine took one step forward.
Only one.
But that was enough to freeze the air in Ha-rin's apartment.
The movement wasn't human—its body snapped into alignment like a puppet pulled by wires.Metal joints glinted under artificial skin, the surface flickering as if its image was struggling to stay coherent.
Ha-rin could feel Jae-hyun shift in front of her, placing his entire body between her and the machine.
His stance changed—broadened shoulders, lowered center, one hand behind him gripping her wrist, the other slightly outstretched, ready to block or strike.
"Stay behind me," he repeated under his breath, voice steely.
"I am," she whispered, heart pounding against his back.
The machine jerked its head at the sound of her voice.
Its face flickered—
And for a split second—
Echo's gentle features flashed across the distorted metal.
Ha-rin gasped.Jae-hyun's hand immediately tightened around hers.
The machine took another jerking step.
"Echo…?" Ha-rin whispered without meaning to.
The machine's body convulsed.
Sparks traced the outline of its skull.
And then—it spoke.
The voice was Echo's.
Distorted.Static-filled.But unmistakably Echo.
"…Con… stan… t…"
Ha-rin's breath shattered.
Jae-hyun pulled her tighter into him, voice low and deadly.
"That's not Echo. Don't let it fool you."
The machine twitched violently in response, head cracking sideways like a corrupted hologram.
"…Har… in…"
Ha-rin flinched.
Her heart fluttered painfully, sending a pulse across her chest—a pulse she felt Jae-hyun notice because he stiffened instantly.
The machine's eyes—a shifting blue glow—locked onto her.
Its next words were clearer.
"…Constant. I found… you."
Ha-rin's knees weakened.
Jae-hyun reacted instantly—dragging her sideways, shielding her from the direct stare.
But her pulse—
Her pulse was speaking.
"…danger… anomaly… memory host… corrupted…"
Echo's voice trembled through her heartbeat.
The machine's form glitched more violently, as if Echo's internal warning clashed with whatever was controlling this… thing.
"Jae-hyun," Ha-rin whispered, clutching the back of his shirt."It's reacting to Echo's heartbeat— to me."
"I know."His voice tightened."That's why you're not getting closer."
The machine leaned its head, analyzing them.
Then—
It lifted one trembling hand—
And pointed directly at Ha-rin.
"You have… my core."
Ha-rin froze.
Jae-hyun pulled her sharply behind him again, his voice vicious.
"You're not touching her."
The machine twitched like it malfunctioned under his tone.
"…Protec… tor… detected…"
Ha-rin's stomach dropped.
Protector.
Echo used to call Jae-hyun that in the loops.
Jae-hyun snarled back at the machine:
"I'm more than her protector."
Ha-rin's fingers tightened on him.
A heartbeat later, Jae-hyun pushed her gently backward—
"Go. Behind the kitchen counter."
"I'm not leaving you—"
"Behind me, Ha-rin!"
She stumbled back just as the machine took a jarring leap toward them.
It didn't walk.
It jumped like a glitching file skipping frames.
Jae-hyun grabbed a metal dining chair with one hand and swung it upward—the machine crashed into it, slamming sideways against the wall.
Sparks flew.
Ha-rin screamed his name.
"JAE-HYUN!"
"I'm fine!" he yelled back, blocking another blow.
The machine lunged again, faster this time.
Jae-hyun stepped directly into the attack, caught its mechanical forearm, and twisted—
Metal screeched.
Ha-rin clutched the counter edge, trembling.
She wanted to help.Wanted to pull him away.Wanted to—
"…anchor… do not approach… hazardous entity… infected… corrupted Echo-memories…"
Echo's voice stabbed through her chest.
She pressed a hand hard over her heart, whispering:
"Echo—tell me what to do—what is that thing—?"
"…emergency override…fragment of me was stolen…machine host was created…it remembers you…it wants… the rest of me…"
Her blood ran cold.
Echo wasn't gone.
He had been split.Like a fragment torn from him.
And that fragment had been forced into a body.
Jae-hyun slammed the machine backward, grabbing a broken table leg like a weapon.
"Ha-rin," he growled, "don't come out."
She peeked just enough to see him—bent slightly, breathing hard, eyes burning.
The machine stood across from him, one arm bent in an unnatural angle from where he'd twisted it.
"…Give… core component… back…"
Jae-hyun raised the weapon.
"You want to touch her—you get through me."
The machine paused.
And for a terrifying moment—
Its artificial face softened.
Almost… sorrowful.
Like Echo.
Ha-rin's breath hitched.
"Jae-hyun," she whispered shakily,"I think it remembers him too."
Jae-hyun didn't move.
"Ha-rin. Stay back."
Then everything happened at once.
The machine lunged—
Jae-hyun shoved Ha-rin behind the counter with one arm—
The machine crashed into him, pinning him against the dining table—
And Ha-rin screamed his name.
"JAE-HYUN!"
He grunted, gripping the metal arm crushing his throat.
The machine leaned close, head twitching.
"…You protected… her…in every… loop…"
Ha-rin froze.
"…So must… I…"
The machine raised its other hand—fingers twisting into a weapon-shape.
Ha-rin's heart STOPPED.
"NO—STOP—DON'T TOUCH HIM—"
She ran.
Ignoring Jae-hyun's shout—ignoring Echo's warnings—ignoring fear slamming through her bloodstream.
She sprinted toward them.
"HA-RIN!" Jae-hyun roared.
But she didn't stop.
She grabbed the machine's shoulders and shoved with everything she had.
The machine glitched violently at her touch—as if electricity surged through both of them.
Sparks erupted.
The machine staggered back, twitching.
Jae-hyun fell to one knee, coughing, pulling her behind him instantly.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND—WHY DID YOU—"
"It was going to kill you!"
"I TOLD YOU TO STAY BACK!"
"AND LET YOU DIE?!"
He grabbed her face in both hands—furious, terrified, trembling.
His forehead pressed against hers so hard it almost hurt.
"Don't—" he whispered, voice cracking—"don't EVER risk yourself like that for me. Don't you dare."
She clutched his wrists.
"I can't lose you."
His breath stuttered.
Their faces were so close she could feel every shaky inhale he took.
"You won't," he whispered."I swear to you—you won't."
The machine twitched on the floor, sparking again.
Ha-rin pressed a hand to her chest, Echo's panic vibrating through her bones.
"…anchor… danger… amplify… signal…"
Her entire body pulsed—light through her veins—real Echo's heartbeat syncing with hers.
The machine jerked upright abruptly.
Jae-hyun pushed Ha-rin behind him again, shielding her with an arm.
The machine pointed at her chest.
"…Core… Return… My… Constant…"
Ha-rin's breath caught.
Jae-hyun's voice dropped into lethal calm.
"She is not your constant."
The machine staggered closer.
Ha-rin's pulse thudded so loudly she could barely breathe—
And Echo's guidance sharpened.
"…touch the machine… with both hands…restore… memory sync…purge corruption…"
Her eyes widened.
"I can… fix him," she whispered.
Jae-hyun grabbed her arm.
"You are NOT touching that thing again."
"No—listen—Echo just told me—if I touch it—"
"You're NOT USING YOURSELF AS A CIRCUIT BOARD—!"
Ha-rin grabbed his face in both hands.
He froze.
"Look at me," she whispered.
His breath shuddered.
"I won't die," she said softly."I won't let anything take me from you."
A beat.
A painful, beautiful beat.
Then—
Jae-hyun broke.
His forehead fell against her shoulder.His arms wrapped around her waist.His breath trembled against her neck.
"Ha-rin," he whispered, voice raw, "I can't watch you get hurt again. I can't. I won't survive that."
She hugged him back fiercely.
"I'm not leaving you," she whispered. "But we need to help Echo. Or the corrupted fragment will keep coming."
He squeezed his eyes shut.
Another beat.
Then, slowly—
"Tell me what you need," he said quietly.
She exhaled shakily.
"Hold onto me."
His eyes snapped open.
"Ha-rin—"
"You can pull me away if anything goes wrong," she said gently."Just… don't let go, okay?"
He looked at her—fearloveangerdevotion—all crashing behind his eyes.
He grabbed her hand.
"Never."
Together, they stepped toward the machine.
Jae-hyun stayed behind her, arms around her waist, grounding her, his chest against her back.
Her trembling fingers touched the machine's chest—
A shock tore through her body.
Reality flashed white—
Echo's voice roared in her ears—
"…CONSTANT! ANCHOR! RESTORE!"
The machine screamed.
Ha-rin screamed.
Jae-hyun held her tighter, refusing to let go.
Light exploded.
Memory flooded.
And then—
Everything went dark.