Dear adventurer, I'm sorry.

Amazing new technology!

Before we get into the story, up here is where all the TWs or CWs (if any) will be! That is all :)

I sat on my couch in my shoebox apartment, papers on top of papers rotting away on the coffee table. Bills. "I've got to pay those soon." I mutter into the silence of the living room. If I don't I'm going to be getting an eviction notice right on my front door. The radio is finishing off its usual news report, until I hear a sudden "Oh! I almost forgot...New technology...Transported into a VR world...low price...but free for first 500 callers." The words drifted in and out of my ears like an ocean. "Free you say?" I chuckle. "As if I'd ever sign up for something that stu-" I was cut off "the first 1000 callers get a prize of 200,000 dollars...Call now at 214-000-5678.." By the time the reporter announced the last number I was stumbling to the landline. "Again that is.." the words were cut out by a cheery female voice on the phone. "Congratulations caller! You are the 434th caller which means you not only win 200,000 dollars but a free trip to the virtual world that the beloved Howard Williams created! Just arrive at this address promptly 43 minutes from now! *** on ******** street!" By the time she said that I was already rushing to my car. I repeated the address over and over in my head while slamming my car door. And before I knew it, I was there. I walked in, picking at the scabs on my arms. "Hello! You must be Y/N! Jerry!" The man at the counter hesitates. "My apologies dear, what are your pronouns?" Surprised that he cared, I told him while he wrote it down. "I see. Jerry! (Pronoun)'s here!" I hear a deep "I'm coming, I'm coming. You're so impatient Mark." A tall blonde man stood behind the receptionist, who I assume is Mark, walked from behind the counter and escorted me through a green door with the words "FANTASY EXPERIENCE" written on a plastic sign. I tripped over air due to the overwhelming stench of sweat. "Ew..." I think. This place smells disgusting. "...and here is where your simulation will begin." I had missed out on the tour because of my own thoughts. Great. Jerry led me to what I think was an avatar editing station. "Here you can create your in game persona! Take as long as you need." He mutters something that I can't hear all the way through, but manage to make out "returning ever". What a weird guy. After I get to creating my character, which was really fun by the way; I've forgotten all about Jerry and Mark and my bills. I'm having a blast until I come up on the question I've been dreading. Name. I don't want anyone to know my real name, these are people all over the world that we're talking about! Everybody and their mama is on this VR experience thing and I don't feel comfortable letting them know my name. Ultimately, I decide to use N/N. After I press "enter" the world around me fades away into a garden of blue circles and white streaks. And suddenly, I feel I don't have to worry anymore. After the blue scene faded away, I was in a field of flowers. "Hello adventurer." an unsettling robotic voice said in an unsettlingly accurate human impression. Before I have time to respond, the same voice states "I take it you're N/N, aged Y/A, going by (pronouns) alias?" It's scary that this thing, this program knows everything about me. I realized I had stayed silent for a couple minutes and responded quickly, "Oh, sorry! Yes that's me." The robot stalled for a moment, as if it had shut down while waiting for me to answer. "Well adventurer, would you like a tour or tutorial? Maybe both?" The robot asked a bit too excited. "Both please." And I was transported to several different places over the course of an hour. The Fearful serpent inn. The romantic Rose inn. (Which sounds more inviting than the first) All 15 flower fields and the types that lie there. Places to avoid. The elf castle, etcetera etcetera. The voice spawned me at the rose flower field with a map. It made sense that the romantic rose inn was on the other side of a rose field. Just as I took my last step over the roses there was a bell sound. Ding, ding, dong dong. "Remain calm, the system has malfunctioned. You are trapped here until further notice. My dearest apologies, travelers."  Those words echoed In my head like a catchy song.

"You are trapped."

Words:799
Time taken:45 minutes
Song stuck in my head right now: I deserve to bleed.
Mood:Feeling pretty good :D