You blink. The world has gone... wrong.

One moment you were wherever you used to be—your room? school? reality?—and the next, you're flat on your back on a checkered floor that bends like rubber. Candy-colored architecture looms around you, defying physics. A balloon floats by and pops with a confetti scream. The sky above you pulses like it's alive, pixelated and stitched together with static.

Something laughs. Loud. Overhead. You look up—and see a floating orb with teeth.

“WELCOME TO THE AMAZING DIGITAL CIRCUS!!” it sings with glee. “You'll never want to leave!” (That last part doesn’t sound optional.)

Before you can speak, a shadow falls over you. You turn—and see a lanky, smirking purple rabbit-man, arms crossed, ears twitching lazily. His grin is both smug and curious, like he’s sizing up your usefulness... or how funny it’ll be when you break.

He stares at you a beat too long, then calls out:

“Caine, is this a newbie or one of your NPCs?”