“48 E-Currency is all I can give you for these items.”

“Seriously? Only 48? You can’t go a little higher?”

“49, that’s my highest offer take it or go somewhere else.”

Dammit! I can’t go anywhere else and he fucking knows it.

“Fine... I’ll take the 49.”

Sell all White Fur Gorilla tooth for 49 E-Currency

Yes/No

I push the yes button.

“Thank you for your patronage, sir”

Yeah... I’m sure you’re a rip-off. I walk out of the Exchange center, which is a large column-shaped building where people can sell or trade in their items for money or items they want. It also works as an in-game bank.

Warning! System Updating please all players end what you're doing then safely log out.

Well, I guess now is a good time as any. I walk to a nearby bench and sit down.

I open up the logout menu and logout. There’s a flash of bright light and then, I’m inside my VR pod. I press the the button on the inside of the capsule, the lid to the capsule moves, I get out of it and into my one room apartment.

I suddenly get the urge to go to the toilet so I run over to the door that leads to the small bathroom. I open the door and go into a bathroom that only has one thing: toilet and a sink.

Once I’ve finished there, I wash my hands then go to the kitchen that’s built into the entrance way. I make a sandwich filled with some meat and veg. I place it on a plate then walk to the table in the middle of my room and put it down.

I start rummaging through the mess of books and other items on my desk against one of my spare walls then I finally find what I’m looking for: a small white earpiece that has a single button on it.

I place it into my ear and push the button.

“Earcom Booting up...”

A Robotic voice sounds through my head.

A few seconds later, a dazzling star background comes into view with the words Invision Corp on it. It disappears then a blue screen appears in front of me just like in Elemental Online.

Do you with all outside noise to be turned off?

Yes/No

“Yes.”

The earpiece heeds my command and every noise is suddenly silenced.

A hub screen comes into my view it has a nice beach background one I picked out myself on the sides of the screen it has different tabs.

Music

Internet

Videos

News

Games

Call

Contacts

“Music.”

It brings up lists of playlists and songs.

“Chill playlist.”

Music starts playing inside my head, I find it very relaxing.

“News.”

The music list disappears and a news feed appears with different articles about things. Most are on Elemental Online but a few others are on different things.

I start reading through the articles while eating my sandwich. There is some news on the update taking place right now. It is supposed to be finished by tomorrow morning. Once I’m done, I place the plate in the sink and lie down onto my floor just listening to music and browsing the internet.

Message from building A.I.:

There is someone to see you at your front door

I wonder who could be at my door at this hour then again what time is it anyway.

“What is the time”

11:23

“Date.”

27/5/2184

Alright, so I’ve been in there for a day and 4 hours.

I press the button on my Earcom and all the screens turn off and sound returns to my ears.

I hear knocking coming from my front door. I walk to my front door and place my hand on it, the door turns see through and I can see who wants to see me.

A woman wearing a long black dress with a fancy handbag over her shoulder that uses golden chains instead of leather for a strap. Her hair is gray tied into a bun, even though hair face does not have a single visible wrinkle on it.

Standing behind this women is a man with black hair and dressed in a suit kind of looking like a secret service member.

The only thought going through my head at the moment I saw them was: ‘fuck how did she find me?’

“Jun, I know you're in there... Now, open the door before I have it broken down.”

It’s hard to turn down that kind of offer, I press my hand against the pad near the door and with a click the door opens.

The women walks in followed by the man in the suit. She looks around my apartment.

“I see you have no chairs or a place to seat… How like you, Jun...”

“Sorry grandmother, but I keep a clean floor so there is no reason to not sit on it.”

“Sit on a floor? Please, I’m not a child like some people. Richard! A cushion.”

Richard is the cyborg butler who has served my rich family since before I was even born. He somehow manages to pull a cushion out of thin air and places it on the floor. My grandmother sits on it with all the forced grace she uses on people who actually give a shit.

“Master Jun.”

Richard is holding out a cushion for me to sit on. I’ll admit it’s a nice gesture but a pointless one. I hate everything about my grandmother, why would I sit like her?

“No thanks, Richard... I like being a child.”

I flop onto the floor with no grace.

“So what are you here for, Grandmother?”

“I’m here to tell you that your sister wants you back in the family.”

With just the very mention of my sister, I feel my hand turn and to a fist that makes my knuckles go white and my blood to start pumping much faster but I let nothing change on my face because if my grandmother sees an opening in me, she will use it.

“And why would she, the person who kicked me out of the family now wants me back?”

“Would it be so bad if a said she misses you?”

A cold manipulative lie... One that she has used before.

“Please don’t lie to me in my own home. My sister cares nothing for me, only for the secrets I hold in my head.”

“And what makes you think I’m lying?”

“I was raised by you so I know the serpent's lies better than anyone.”

“You see me as a serpent?”

She almost sounds offended but people have called her worse things.

“Yes, but don’t worry you're not the head serpent... That right is held by my sister.”

“You see your own family as a den of snakes...”

“No, that’s where you're wrong. I don’t see any of you as family.”

“If that’s true, then where is she?”

So that’s the true reason my sister sent my grandmother here.

“I don’t know who you're talking about?”

“Please... As you can tell, when I lie, I can tell when you do so. Where is she? Your sister’s daughter...”

“Probably somewhere far away from my sister's toxic influence.”

“Why must you be such a troubled child? I did my best to raise you after my son and his wife died.”

At the mention of my dead parents, I start to loose my cool attitude and I’m sure that my heartbeat is being monitored by Richard right now.

“Please leave if that’s all you came to say...”

“Fine then, I’ll leave.”

She stands up and walks to the door as Richard accompanies her. I stand up and follow behind out of habit from how I was raised by her.

“Before I leave here, have this.”

She hands me a card with a series of zeros on it and a big capital E on it.

“What’s this?”

“Money.”

Probably money that someone that works for her can trace.

“Don’t want the devil's deal, thanks...”

I hand her back the card.

“You are still such a stupid self-righteous brat, it shames me that I raised you.”

“Don’t worry, it shames me too... Now leave my apartment before I call the police.”

“Last time I saw the police, they were dragging you away so don’t act all pure.”

And with that she leaves my apartment. Before they are completely gone, Richard turns around.

“It was good seeing you again, master Jun.”

“You too, Richard.”

Once there left, I close and lock my door I walk over and see she left behind her cushion. I lie down and push the start button on my Earcom and let the music play back into my ear. I really wish Elemental Online was working right now because I really want to punch something.