Quinn yawned groggily and rolled over, smacking her face against a wall. She yelped and flailed her arms, tangling sheets around her as she tumbled out of the narrow bed and onto the floor. She blearily stared at the offending wall and tried to remember how it got there.

  The events of yesterday came flooding back along with a fresh wave of anxiety at the thought of Sophie. Nobody could make an army of friends faster than her, though. Quinn knew she’d be ok.

  Today was orientation. She didn’t know what to expect, but assumed it would go over rules for the first round at the very least. Orientation wasn’t held in person, but rather virtually using the VR machine. She was glad for the opportunity to try it out at least once before she was stuck in it for the foreseeable future.

  An invisible flap at the bottom of her door suddenly flicked open and a tray popped inside, laden with breakfast.

  “Wait,” she called hoarsely, but it was too late. The flap had already closed shut, molding seamlessly back into the door as if it wasn’t there. The sound of retreating footsteps echoed down the hall.

  Quinn untangled herself from the sheets and retrieved the tray, settling back against the wall to eat. Steam curled up from a stack of waffles beside glossy strawberries and perfectly scrambled eggs, the scent making her stomach ache with hunger. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had waffles. They were light, buttery, and easily the best breakfast she’d had in a long time.

  After eating, Quinn examined the VR pod in closer detail. It was as different from Silas’s rig as she was from Veyra’s CEO. The casing was sleek, white like the rest of the room and with no visible buttons. Yet, when she hovered her right hand a few inches above it, a green light flashed briefly, and it opened to reveal a smooth cavity with a slim harness attached to the top.

  She laid down inside and was surprised when the bottom rose smoothly up to perfectly mold her contour. It was incredibly comfortable. She supposed it would have to be, since she would be spending most of her time in here.

  The instructions indicated that it was activated by pressing her palm to the top of the capsule, which she promptly did. The lid moved soundlessly back into place. Warm lights instantly blinked on around her while the harness automatically cinched snuggly over her body.

  “So cool…” she whispered out loud, amazed at how form-fitting and pleasant it was. “And it doesn’t come with ripped out hair, how lovely.”

  There was a gentle pressure against her temple. Reaching up, she felt a smooth, circular device attached to her head. It was warm and small, no bigger than a coin and faintly vibrating beneath her fingertips.

  “When you are ready to join, please state ready. You will then be integrated into the simulation,” said a cool female voice, startling Quinn. It was spoken directly into her head with such clarity, it was as if she was right next to her. Training made this less jarring than it otherwise might have been. Although, this voice was crystal clear unlike Silas’s, which always came across a bit distorted.

  Quinn took a deep, calming breath. “I think orientation doesn’t start for another forty minutes,” she said out loud. “I was just checking this out.”

  “Acknowledged,” the voice said. “If you prefer not to wait, you may enter now. You will be synchronized to the beginning of the session. Subjective time will not advance for you.”

  “Uh…ok,” Quinn said uncertainly. “I mean ready.” It wasn’t like she had anything better to do.

  “Confirmation received,” the voice said. “Initialization will begin shortly.”

  The lights faded away, leaving only darkness. All sensation of her body and the capsule around her dissolved, replaced by a weightless disembodiment, as if she were floating inside a sensory deprivation tank.

  “Upload complete,” said the cool, female voice. “Welcome, participant Quinn Wexley, to orientation for season forty of Eterna.”

  A vast auditorium bloomed into view around her. She was seated in a plush chair, surrounded by hundreds of identical seats that curved toward a gleaming stage below. Above, the tiered rows climbed so high they vanished into a ceiling she couldn’t see. For a moment, she marveled at how such a building could exist, then remembered it was a simulation.

  It certainly didn’t feel like one, though. The fabric of the armrests was buttery soft beneath her fingertips, indistinguishable from reality. A faint scent of citrus and worn upholstery hung in the air, like a stuffy government lobby. If Quinn didn’t know better, she might have believed she was really here.

  People began flickering into empty chairs around her until the hall was filled. They twisted in their seats, glancing around with the same mixture of awe and nervousness.

  “Hello,” Quinn said to her neighbor, a scared looking boy with sandy hair. He looked at her quizzically, and she realized that no sound had come out. In fact, Quinn couldn’t hear anyone talking at all, let alone rustling around in their seat. It was disorienting to be in an auditorium full of so many people without a single sound, as if someone had muted the room.

  The silence didn’t last long. Upbeat, corporate music began to swell from nowhere until it was nearly deafening, making her feel like she was trapped at an insurance sales convention. The only time she had ever felt her ears threaten to bleed more was when she had listened to dubstep.

  A large screen materialized in front of her, projecting a crisp, high-definition view of the empty stage below. Quinn reached out to touch it, but her hand passed cleanly through the display. Glancing around, she saw identical holos hovering in front of everyone in the hall.

  Lights flared on stage. The camera zoomed in on a short woman walking briskly toward the podium, her thin heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. She looked like Corporate Barbie straight out of a box. Her curly blonde hair was pulled into an elaborate twist, and she wore a sleek pastel suit dress trimmed in gold that tapered snuggly to her knees.

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  Thankfully, the ear-splitting music began to fade as she reached the podium. The woman smiled broadly and waved energetically to the crowd. Reaching up, she pulled the microphone down toward her and tapped it a couple times, clearing her throat.

  “Welcome, participants! A warm welcome to you all! I’m Cassidy Voss, your Veyra liaison for season forty of Eterna,” she trilled cheerfully in a high-pitched girly voice.

  Applause erupted throughout the stadium. Quinn couldn’t see anyone clapping, then remembered everyone was muted. If they were going for cringy sitcom vibes, they’d nailed it.

  “We want to give a special thank-you to each and every one of you for joining us this season,” Cassidy simpered. “Eterna wouldn’t be what it is today without you, and we’re thrilled you’re here! Some new, truly remarkable things are in store, and we can’t wait to share them with you. Who’s excited?”

  There was more applause, this time louder with cheers and whistles. Quinn doubted whether many of the real attendees were as enthusiastic about their imminent demise as the orientation was making them out to be. Most people were staring at their screens looking utterly perplexed.

  “Every season of Eterna is special,” Cassidy continued. “But season forty is going to be historic. Absolutelyhistoric. It marks four decades of human innovation and triumph. This year, we’re introducing incredible new features designed to make the experience of both you and those watching at home more immersive and rewarding than ever before. New environments, twists, and of course—prizes! Because here at Veyra, we believe every risk deserves a reward.” She smiled indulgently as if her generosity shit diamonds.

  “Now! Let’s talk about tomorrow,” she said briskly, clasping her hands. “Season forty officially kicks off tomorrow at 10 a.m. sharp. Clocks will be synchronized across time zones to ensure the same start time for everyone. We want you all rested, fed, and in peak condition, so breakfast will be delivered to your rooms by seven. Afterwards, please ensure you’re in your VR pod no later than nine o’clock. Anyone running late will get a friendly little visit from one of our attendants. Don’t make us come find you!”

  She smiled broadly and wagged a manicured finger at them in mock warning. “Before the game starts, you’ll be prompted to choose a character archetype—and trust me, you’re going to love this new system! Your archetype shapes the abilities you’ll unlock as the game progresses, so choose wisely! When you’re done, you’ll be loaded directly into a safe zone to await the start of round one. Since Eterna is a global event, not everyone will enter the same zone—your location will be based on your region.”

  Cassidy tapped a polished finger against the podium. “And one last thing for your peace of mind: our VR pods are fully equipped for extended stays. They are climate-regulated, nutrient-monitored, and regularly stimulate muscles. Our trained attendants will check in on you periodically to ensure everything is running smoothly while you focus on winning!”

  She paused for the cued applause and beamed, flashing brilliant white teeth at the audience. Quinn winced as light reflected off them.

  “Next,” she said with peppy enthusiasm, “let’s go over a few rules. As always, violence of any kind inside a safe zone is strictly prohibited. Safe zones will be indicated with signs and outlined in purple on your map. So, no excuses! Anyone who attempts to do harm inside a safe zone will face serious and lasting repercussions for the remainer of the round. And believe me,” she added with a tinkling laugh, “you really won’t like it.”

  “Additionally, just a friendly reminder that Eterna is a reality show, which means you’ll be filmed at all times. Aside from being camera ready,” she said, pretending to flip her hair back dramatically, “we ask that you refrain from praising any competing brands during the competition or interviews. And of course, bad-mouthing Veyra or Eterna in any way will result in immediate removal from sponsorship consideration. You’re all part of the Veyra family now, and we want you showing that off with pride!”

  “Finally, last season, we had a problem with participants teabagging NPCs,” she said with an exaggerated sigh. “If you don’t know what that is, it’s where you stand over someone and…well, here I’ll just show you.” She stepped around the podium and made several awkward, stiff squats over the empty air, the movement impeded due to her tight dress. Quinn burst into silent laughter and hid behind her hands, glad nobody could hear her. Looking around, she saw most people were also bent over chortling. One girl a few rows down was positively crying with mirth and slapping her knees wildly.

  Cassidy straightened unsteadily and went back to the microphone as if she had done nothing of interest. Clearly mistaking the crowd’s unrest for horrified outrage, she said, “Disturbing, I know. Anyway, don’t do it. It’s crass and…unpalatable.”

  “Moving right along!” she said brightly, adjusting the hem of her dress. “Previous seasons allowed participants to customize their appearance before entering the game. Unfortunately, we’ve decided to forgo that this year after some rather…creative choices.” She gave a rueful smile. “Let’s just say audiences weren’t thrilled by certain depictions of political and religious figures in, ah…intimate barnyard partnerships. So! You’ll all be entering as your beautiful, natural selves.” Quinn now deeply regretted not watching more of the previous seasons.

  “And now for the fun part—advancement from round one! You have six weeks to finish the first round. There are only two rules, the first of which is rather obvious. Don’t die!” Cassidy giggled like that would be the funniest thing in the world. “The second is that you must complete three unique dungeons. That’s it! Simple, right?” She glanced around the auditorium as if expecting to see relived faces.

  “As you explore, you’ll encounter different biomes, each with its own dungeon. You’ll need to find them and successfully complete three to advance. You may work individually or as a party of no more than twelve people. Overachievers, don’t get too excited. Completing more than three dungeons doesn’t give you an advantage going into the next round. Anyone who survives to the end of round one without completing three dungeons will be automatically disqualified…and let’s just say you won’t be continuing in any capacity.”

  She smiled sweetly, her teeth glistening. “That brings us to a very important update. In previous seasons, participants were allowed to leave the competition after successful advancement of any round. Unfortunately, we found our audience gets so disappointed when their favorites vanished early, and we want to keep the excitement going all season long! That’s why this year, everyone will remain in the game for all six rounds. That’s right! No early exits this time.”

  Quinn saw Cassidy’s lips moving, but the words no longer reached her. They sounded muffled and distant, like she was speaking from the end of a long, narrow tunnel.

  No exit after round one?

  That was what Quinn had been counting on. She’d promised Sophie again and again that it would only be a few weeks. They would go home after round one along with their new guardian bot. Risking anything beyond that hadn’t been worth it, and Silas would never have agreed to it anyway. She’d barely wrapped her head around surviving round one, and now she had to survive the entire season?

  Glancing around, Quinn was suddenly aware of just how many people there were. The auditorium was so large it disappeared into the sky, expanding outward as it climbed. Her shock was mirrored in their faces. They stared blankly at their screens with expressions of horror, their mouths slightly ajar. One boy in a cowboy hat, however, seemed perfectly at ease. He lounged back in his chair with a wicked, delighted grin, like this was the best news he’d heard all day.

  Cassidy was still talking. “And remember, Eterna prides itself on authenticity. So, mind your manners, play nice, and don’t forget—” she winked, “—the world is watching.”

  The applause track thundered again, louder than ever. It was an oppressive, feverish, unrelenting torrent of sound that pressed in around Quinn like a cage.