Curiosity overriding caution, she clicked.
“Netflix doesn’t block proxies to protect licensing deals,” the doppelgänger said, leaning forward. “That’s what they tell the lawyers. The real reason? They’re trying to keep the timelines separate. Every time you use a VPN, you’re just moving between countries. But every time you almost watch something—then get distracted, then come back—you slip between selves . And the unblocker warning? It’s not for you. It’s for the other you’s. The ones trying to cross over.” The banner reappeared on Maya’s real screen, overlapping the live feed: “You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any such services and try again.”
Maya’s hand trembled over the remote. She didn’t turn it off.