Captivity

Episode P.X.1

MAYHEM

Awandea blinked as she stumbled forward, her vision still adjusting to the vibrant colors around her. She was in a different world, one that seemed far too bright, too loud. A neon landscape stretched out before her, the colors so intense that they almost hurt her eyes. She barely had time to take it all in when she suddenly bumped into someone.

"Ouch!" a voice cried out in protest.

Awandea's gaze snapped to the boy she had collided with. His expression was annoyed, a scowl forming on his face as he rubbed his shoulder where they had made contact. He was a tall, lanky boy with tousled light blonde hair.

"Ouch!" he repeated, louder this time, his tone tinged with irritation. His voice cut through the cacophony of sounds in the air, forcing Awandea to pay attention to him. She stared at him for a moment, her mind struggling to process everything that was happening. Finally, she sighed and bowed slightly in apology, her movements stiff and mechanical.

The boy raised an eyebrow at her, but he mimicked the gesture, bowing back in a way that seemed both polite and curious. As she straightened up, Awandea glanced down at herself and realized that she was dressed in the same clothes she was wearing back at home. The sight was almost absurd, like she had stepped into some kind of bizarre dream.

"Who are you?" the boy asked, his tone softer now, though still laced with curiosity. His eyes scanned her up and down, trying to make sense of the person standing before him.

Awandea hesitated, unsure of what to say. The situation was so surreal that it almost felt like a joke, like some elaborate prank. But the boy's expectant gaze forced her to respond. "Awandea," she replied slowly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm Demnin. Demnin Ross," the boy said, introducing himself with a small, hesitant smile. "Nice to meet you."

Awandea simply nodded, her mind too preoccupied with her surroundings to fully engage in the conversation. She looked around, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of confusion and awe as she tried to make sense of the strange world she had found herself in. The structures around them were unlike anything she had ever seen-buildings that seemed to defy the laws of physics, hovering in mid-air or twisting in impossible angles. The neon lights bathed everything in an otherworldly glow, creating an atmosphere that was both mesmerizing and disorienting.

"Weird," Awandea muttered, more to herself than to Demnin.

"What's weird?" Demnin asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Game," she replied, her voice distant as her mind raced to piece together what was happening.

"Hm? Oh, you mean how our characters look like us?" Demnin chuckled, the sound a mix of amusement and disbelief. "This is a hyper realistic VR. Cool, right? I can talk to other players as if they're right next to me. It's like... real life, but not."

"Philadelphia," Awandea murmured, her thoughts still scattered.

"Oh, I'm from Sydney, Australia," Demnin responded, clearly trying to make conversation despite the bizarre circumstances.

Awandea barely acknowledged his words, her focus still on the environment around them. She scanned the area, her eyes tracing the edges of buildings, the flickering lights, and the shifting landscape. It was as if the world was alive, constantly moving, constantly changing. The more she looked, the more surreal it became.

As she continued to survey their surroundings, another figure approached them. The boy's long neon silver hair covered most of his face, his expression hidden in the shadows. He held a steel shaft in his hand, the metal gleaming ominously in the neon light.