Ruben estimated it would take two days to brew his special invisibility potions, but due to someone apparently crashing into his desk and spilling one of them, it ended up taking closer to three. Saffie was on tenterhooks waiting for a message to confirm the potions were ready, and when it came through while she was reluctantly doing some coursework in her living room on Wednesday evening, she slammed her textbook shut, told her parents she was getting an early night, stuffed a pile of clothes under her quilt to make it look like she was tucked into bed, and carefully shimmied down Oakley, hoping that the closed curtains across the house would prevent her from getting caught.

An hour later, she was huddled in a neon-lit Soho back alley with Nate, Cora, and Ruben, just a few yards away from Sakata Sushi.

“So you’re saying there’s no way Jade will be able to tell you’re the niece of the guy she stole the Onyx from?” said Nate.

“Dax’s surname is Farrow,” Saffie explained. “I have my dad’s surname - Sparkes. When Jade stole the Onyx from Dax, I wasn’t even playing Overworld. And she sent Ruben to do her dirty work, so she would never have seen my face. I don’t know how she’d be able to make the connection.”

Nate nodded, and Cora motioned them all to put their heads together. As all four foreheads touched, Saffie felt the now familiar sensation of being connected via Overworld Messenger, and a line of text appeared in her vision.

You have now entered a group chat with NATE, CORA, & RUBEN.

In succession they drank their invisibility potions, and Saffie watched them bleed into nothingness, leaving her and Acorn seemingly alone in the moonlit alleyway.

“You go first, Saff,” said Nate. “Just remember to hold the door open long enough for all of us to get through.”

Saffie exited the alley and approached the entrance of the restaurant as casually as she could manage, trying to suppress all of the mixed emotions that were bubbling up inside of her at the thought of coming face to face with Jade.

When she opened the door, she was taken aback by the atmosphere. Staff were hurrying around, plates were clanking, and a giant, whirring belt weaved through the place, carrying hundreds of different colour domes that housed raw fish, shaped egg foam, vegetables intricately cut into the shapes of flowers, and the occasional deep fried dumpling.

Saffie knew that the customers would have seen four teenagers enter the restaurant, but the staff, who all seemed to be Overworlders judging by the panions following them around, would have seen just one. Saffie hoped that none of the customers would give them away.

“Welcome to Sakata Sushi,” said one of the waiters, approaching her. “Would you like a stool at the bar? A table for one?”

“Actually I’m… here to speak with the owner,” Saffie said, trying to hide the slight tremor in her voice.

The waiter looked her up and down then glanced at Acorn, who was sitting politely at her side.

“On what business?” he said in a suspicious tone.

“I’m… interested in… joining,” Saffie said, hoping it was enough.

The waiter held her gaze for an uncomfortably long time before he said, “One moment, please,” with a dishonest smile. Without turning, he muttered something in Japanese to another waiter, who swiftly disappeared through the doorway to the back of house.

He returned a few moments later and whispered something in reply.

“Please, follow me,” the waiter said, and led Saffie into a corridor that had giant fish tanks for walls.

“Miss Sakata awaits you in the main chamber.”

He bowed, and to Saffie’s surprise, left her alone. She had expected to be escorted.

Before she made a move, she sent a message.

SAFFIE: Are you guys still with me?

There was an immediate response.

CORA: We’re here.

At first, Saffie wasn’t sure if the fish in the tanks on either side of her were real or Overworld creatures, but on closer inspection, she concluded they had to be in-game since one had three heads.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

RUBEN: The ingredients I could get from here are INSANE!

CORA: Focus, Ruben.

NATE: Guys, there’s something up ahead.

Nate was right. Saffie hadn’t noticed it until now, but just a few steps in front of her, covering the entire tunnel, was a thin layer of semi-transparent film, wavering slightly like the surface of water.

CORA: It’s a Wiper Wall.

RUBEN: And that is?

CORA: It wipes any and all status effects, spells, and enchantments on a player.

NATE: Then we’re screwed.

CORA: Relax, I just cast a Dampener on us all.

NATE: Does anyone have any idea what that is?

RUBEN: Nope.

CORA: It dampens the signal of in-game status effects. If it works, the Wiper Wall won’t be able to detect we’re under the effects of the potions.

RUBEN: If it works? If?

CORA: Just keep walking.

Saffie hesitantly stepped through the layer of film, and once she was through, she dared to look from side to side without moving her head.

RUBEN: Please tell me we’re still invisible.

SAFFIE: You’re still invisible.

Trying not to give the others away, Saffie continued into the chamber at the end of the corridor.

From Cora’s plan of the building, Saffie had expected the round chamber to be some kind of family dining area, but even if this had been the room’s purpose at some point, it certainly wasn’t any more.

At its very centre was an empty pedestal, and behind it on a raised, sleekly designed platform was a grand, curved chair lit from underneath by a neon strip. It was like some kind of cyberpunk throne, and there, sat on that throne, was Jade, her mask concealing her face and her green robes flowing down over either side.

As Saffie stepped into the room, Jade made no movement to acknowledge that she was aware of her presence, but her octopus panion swam through the air towards Saffie and a couple of its tentacles suckered themselves to her temples. It made Saffie’s skin crawl as its feelers slithered all over her face, wet and slimy.

SAFFIE: We’re in. Start looking!

CORA: Okay, Nate you take the far right route, Ruben, you try the middle. I’m gonna go left.

RUBEN: Got it.

NATE: But the octopus is eating Saffie!

SAFFIE: I’m fine! I think… Just go!

The panion removed its suckers, seemingly satisfied with what it had felt.

“Sapphire Sparkes,” came a voice from behind the mask. It wasn’t a question, simply a statement.

Jade hadn’t performed any scan, but she had evidently garnered the information through her panion’s suckers. Saffie hoped it hadn’t been able to extract any info about her true purpose for being there.

“You prefer Saffie,” Jade said.

This certainly wasn’t the kind of info that could be extracted from a scan of any other kind. This was more of a personality read.

Saffie nodded.

Jade rose to her feet and stepped down from the throne, pacing towards Saffie deliberately slowly.

“Forgive Octavius. He means no harm. He’s just curious. Very, very curious.” The words seemed to slide off Jade’s tongue like venom.

When she reached Saffie, she ran her own fingers gently over Saffie’s left cheek with her razor sharp nails.

“You have the most beautiful face,” she said.

A strange sensation washed over Saffie. Nobody had ever called her beautiful before.

“You remind me a little of my mother when she was a young woman. She had a cute little button nose, just like you.”

Jade slowly lifted her mask. She had straight, jet black hair that fell long down her back, and she was younger than Saffie had been expecting - she had to be in her late twenties, possibly early thirties. Saffie guessed her parentage was half Japanese, half British, and she had to have been born in or at least grown up in the UK, as she spoke with a middle class English accent.

“So, Saffie Sparkes,” she said, “you come here because…”

Saffie waited for Jade to finish the sentence before she realised it was actually a question.

“I… I’m interested in…”

“You’re lost,” Jade answered for her.

Saffie said nothing. She had gone into this situation thinking she would be confident, but there was something about Jade’s presence that had made that confidence evaporate instantly.

“You’re alone in a world that doesn’t understand you. But I understand you. You’ve come to the right person.”

Saffie felt herself being lulled into a state of relaxation. The way Jade spoke was hypnotic, seductive almost.

Saffie was jolted out of her trance by a message.

NATE: Anyone having any luck? No sign of the Onyx so far…

RUBEN: Nor the Eternity Ink. She’s got a rad collection of masks though. Any sign of O’Sullivan?

CORA: No.

Saffie couldn’t believe none of them had made any progress.

SAFFIE: Be quick, guys. She’s really giving me the creeps.

“There’s a common misconception about the allure of video games,” Jade continued, not seeming to notice that Saffie was distracted by messages. “People think we play them to ‘escape’ reality. But you and I both know that’s not true, don’t we Saffie? You more so than anyone. We do not seek to escape reality. What we seek… is a better reality.”

Jade slowly turned away from Saffie and stepped towards the empty plinth in the centre of the room.

“With Overworld, that better reality has almost been achieved,” Jade said. “Almost, being the key word.”

CORA: Guys, Liam is not here. I’ve searched everywhere.

RUBEN: Neither is the Eternity Ink. I’ve checked every bottle. Nate, any luck finding the Onyx?

NATE: No, but… it HAS to be here somewhere.

“With a few tweaks, this new reality that Overworld has given us could be better than better,” Jade continued. “It could be incredible. And it just so happens that I’ve come into possession of something that can allow me to make those tweaks.”

She wafted a hand over the top of the plinth, and said “Reveal,” removing some kind of enchantment.

A large, black, oval orb appeared. Inside it there seemed to be swirls of smoke, but as Saffie’s eyes focused on it, she realised the swirls were actually made of tiny letters, numbers, and symbols.

“The Onyx,” said Jade.

SAFFIE: It’s RIGHT HERE…

Jade caressed the orb with the tips of her fingers.

“Mesmerising, isn’t it?” she said. “So much power. So many opportunities.”

She removed her hands and took a step backwards, but her eyes remained locked on the Onyx.

“Another player foolishly encased it in a magical protective shell. But I think it’s about time we opened it, don’t you, Saffie?”

CORA: NO. She CANNOT open it. We need to get that thing out of here!

But there was no time for any of them to do anything. In a swift movement, Jade unsheathed her katana blade and raised it above the Onyx. Then, with a sinister smile, she swung the blade down.