I signed the last of the papers, using my new legally changed name, and let the technicians out of my house before closing the door with a sigh of relief. I hope they hadn't recognized me. I watched them the whole time, and everything appeared to be by the book. Only time would tell.

I would not be happy if I had to move and try again. the last three times I tried to have a pod installed it had been sabotaged, and my house had been burned down less than a week later.

Only time will tell.

*************************** Three weeks later ****************************

After almost a month I decided I was safe. no one had tracked me. I was finally out of the public eye.

I never left home, buying everything online, even food. My only exercise was in my basement with dumbbells and a punching bag. All windows were shut all the time.

I had no interaction with people, but this would finally change.

If I hadn’t been found out after three weeks I was probably safe, and could risk entering the pod. You see a person is only allowed one account and if I had to flee again, my account could be tracked, and my last chance at a facsimile of a life would be lost.

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I couldn't live my life in the real world, but my pod would allow me to play as a new person, in a new world.

RENEW

RENEW was just two months old, an apocalyptic world of high fantasy. The creators, Laser inc, would let no information out but this.

-The world is made up of islands. (Our world is 70% water. This one is 90%)

-The games calender was currently 122 AO. (After Outbreak)

-The outbreak was a water-borne virus that had wiped out the world's understood population, and left something new in its’ place.

I just hoped the 90% plus realism (more or less depending on pod quality and personal affinity) was all it was chalked up to be. if my last hope was pixelated crap, I don't think I could handle it.