“I'm coming, mom!”

My footsteps thump on the floor as I jog over to my mom.

I don't regret anything.

I arrive at the door, and mom waves me over.

“Hey there, Eliot.” She says.

Really?

“Hi.” Is all I can think of answering.

Maybe I’m overreacting.

Even so, “Stranger danger.” So I'm not 100% sure they're gonna kill me, just 85% sure.

Mom looks at the man.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“You wanted to talk with her?” Mom asks, though I'm sure she knows the answer.

“Yep.” The man says.

And then my mom just walks away.

Walks. Away.

What the fuck?

I just stare at mom as she walks away.

What.

The.

Fuck?

I don't understand.

I glance at the man

“What do you want to talk about?”

“A program.”

Is that it?

“For what?”

"We're testing a new digital world. VirtNET. We need testers to make sure it's stable.”

Digital world?

“So, like virtual reality?”

“Exactly, but no chunky headset. You go inside a pod.”

How does someone get a pod?

“Oh. Do I get paid?”

Pay or no pay, I'll do it.

“Yep.”

“Perfect. Do I need to sign anything?”

He pulls out a clipboard.

“Right here, if you don't mind.”

I don't.