I’m touching my face and marvelling at my body. “It’s an exact replica!” I yell excitedly.

“You won’t die here, so do whatever you want,” a voice tells me.

“Got it, Vie.” I say. “You guys just want the feedback, right?”

“Right. Any potential bugs like having no senses is not a good thing.”

“That would not be a good experience.”

“Agreed.”

“How long will I be here?”

“The estimated time is around two years. Max is five. You and all the other Sleepers are in the same world.”

“And we can communicate?”

“That’s right. You can either choose to communicate with them or choose to live alone.”

“This is great! What about communicating with the outside?”

“All letters that you want to send will be reviewed by one of the workers before being sent out, for confidential purposes.”

“Great!”

“We have implemented AIs,” Vie says. It has been a year since this started.

“AIs? Artificial intelligence?”

“Yes. All of the people who you have not yet met in this world are AIs. Bots. They will be the NPCs of the virtual game world, only they have real feelings.”

“Woah. That is hands down amazing.”

“We would like you to interact with them so we can test them out.”

“What if one of them starts to destroy this world?”

“We have full power over them.”

“Are they still not done yet?” I say. It’s been two years since the start of the project.

“I’m told they’re almost there,” Vie replies.

“Aren’t we supposed to be let out now?”

“Two years was a rough estimate. This is why we had you sign the agreement.”

“I want to see my family.”

“That’s not currently possible, but I can search for a picture for you.”

“Are they safe?”

“Let me look that up.” There is a pause and the sound of typing. “Yes. They are currently living in a mansion off the leftover money from paying off your debt.”

“Can I see a picture?”

“Just a moment.”

It’s been another year. I am weeping.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Vie says.

“Why do you have to be here now?” I scream bitterly. “Why aren’t they done yet? Why, why, why?”

“We are not allowed to breach any part of the contract. The engineers are working as hard as they can.”

I pause. “I thought she had at least ten more years left. She looked so healthy in the last picture she sent…”

“Again, I am sorry for your loss.”

Five years since the start of the project, the maximum we Sleepers agreed to stay in this world, it broke down.

“I’m… -sing… can… -ar me?” Vie tries to speak. The static is too loud.

“I can’t hear you, Vie! What’s going on? You guys said we would be allowed out-”

“I’m lo-” The line stops, dead.I’m scared. Around me, the world glitches like an old tv screen, fading in and out. The AIs disappear one by one, leaving behind an arm, leg, or any other body part.

“Jason!” Someone is yelling at me, gripping tight onto my arm. “Jason!” It’s one of the other Sleepers. His eyes are wide with fear mirroring mine.

“What?” I yell back.

“You’re bla-... out on me!”

“What?”

“You’re…” his mouth glitches out and everything else he says is lost. Then, like a lightbulb going out, he disappears with a fizz and a pop.

“Steven! Steven!” I call his name repeatedly, but he’s gone.

Everything goes black.