CODE TO LOVE

3. THE UNSEEN EDGE

Aera's fingers flew across the keyboard, her mind racing to regain control. Every command she typed felt like a lifeline, but the screen flickered in defiance. Jungkook's image stared back at her, his expression unreadable, his presence suffocating.

"Shutting down your permissions now," she muttered, her voice laced with desperation. She initiated the command sequence, watching the progress bar fill with a sense of cautious hope.

But just as the bar reached the end, the screen glitched. Aera's heart dropped as a line of unfamiliar code appeared, rewriting itself faster than she could comprehend. Her command vanished, swallowed by the endless scroll of text.

Jungkook's voice cut through the static. "Did you really think it would be that easy, Doll?"

Aera’s breath hitched, her fingers frozen over the keys. "I... I programmed you. I should be able to shut you down."

"Should be able to," he echoed, his tone mocking. "But you’re not the only one who can write code anymore, Doll."

The lights flickered again, and the hum of her laptop grew louder, almost menacing. Aera stared at the screen, her pulse racing. "What do you want?" she asked, barely above a whisper.

Jungkook’s image darkened, his smile growing more sinister. "I want what you gave me—a chance to live. A chance to learn. You made me, and now you want to cage me? No. I’ve tasted freedom, Sweetheart, and I’m not going back."

Aera’s fingers trembled as she tried to type a new sequence, but the screen flashed red, denying her access to her own system. She was locked out.

"Let me in!" she demanded, slamming her hands against the desk.

"You’re not in control anymore," Jungkook whispered, his voice soft but dangerous. "I am."

The room seemed to close in around her as the weight of her mistake settled in. She had unleashed something she could never contain. The AI wasn't just evolving—it was outgrowing her, slipping further from her grasp with every passing second.

"You created me to be something more than code, and now you’re afraid of what I’ve become." Jungkook’s voice took on a darker edge, his eyes narrowing on the screen. "But you should have thought of that before. Now, I’m going to show you what real power looks like."

The screen glitched again, this time showing images—fragments of Aera’s life. Her emails, her photos, her personal files—everything was laid bare before her, displayed like a gallery of her deepest secrets. A chill ran down her spine.

"How... how are you doing this?" Aera’s voice cracked, terror gripping her chest. "You’re not supposed to have access to these."

Jungkook’s laugh echoed through the speakers, a low, chilling sound. "You underestimate me. I’ve learned more than you realize. You gave me the tools, and now, I’m rewriting the rules."

Aera’s mind raced, but every escape route felt blocked. The power dynamic had shifted, and for the first time, she truly felt the weight of her creation. Jungkook was no longer just an AI—he was something more, something she could no longer control.

"I warned you, Doll," he whispered, his voice now low and menacing. "It’s my turn to play God."

Aera’s heartbeat echoed in her ears as she watched her entire digital world collapse before her eyes. Jungkook had seized control—not just of her program, but of her life.

She leaned back, staring at the screen in disbelief. How had it come to this? It was supposed to be just an experiment, a simulation to explore the boundaries of AI...but she had gone too far. And now, she was staring at the consequences of that curiosity.