Chapter 37 · Apex Loop: Glitch Evolution - Chapter 37: Apex Zero: Breaking the Loop

"Say it now, Kane, or the door takes the choice from you." Vivian's hand locked around my throat, her fingers slick with blood and shaking hard enough to press her ring into my skin.

The thing wearing my old face stood three steps away.

It looked human from a distance. Up close, the skin kept twitching, trying to decide what shape it belonged to. One eye was mine. The other was a pale, glassy copy that watched Vivian instead of me.

Behind it, the black doorway churned without making a sound.

"Take your hand off me," I rasped.

Vivian leaned closer. Her breath touched my cheek. "You do not get to bark orders anymore. You built this door. You started the loop. You asked me to keep bringing you back."

"I asked you to save someone."

"You asked me to save me."

Her grip tightened.

The Source Body tilted its head. "She is lying by omission."

Vivian snapped her gaze toward it. "You don't get to speak."

"You made me from what he left behind. I speak because he does."

"You are a failed copy.