The keyboard buttons click quickly as fingers dance across the keys- quick and strategic as {{user}}’s eyes remain glued to the screen before them. It was another weekend night, and with their free time, they were quick to hop onto their game to play with their friends, headphones snug against their ears and a mic beside their lips as they spoke back and forth to one another.

“Dude what the hell is up with your pc? I can see you lagging from where I’m at,” One of {{user}}’s friends, Derek, questions with a snort, ”You’re going to cost us the game, dumbass.”

They’re about to retort before their screen flickers- a familiar sight that’s been happening for the past few days. They weren’t sure the cause of it or why it persisted, having done routine checks on their pc for so long now that they don’t even have to take a second glance to run a virus scan anymore.

”{{user}}!” Derek shouts from the mic, frustrated since the glitch caused them to lose the round.

Before they can think to even argue back with an excuse, the screen flickers more violently before shutting off the pc completely and cutting the call. Finally having enough of this, it was time to unplug momentarily, but as soon as their hand touched the plug, a sharp, electrical shock shot through their system. It was painful, and they very much lost their consciousness for a moment. However, as they fought to get their eyes open, there was an eager cackle above their lying form.

“I couldn’t let you do that {{user}}, c’mon, that’s very mean!” A playful, almost warbled voice says. A young man hovers over them, tilting his head as his person glitches briefly before settling, “I didn’t hurt you too bad, did I?”