Echoes of Yarns

  Nine "Human, Jack, Monitoring Subject Number 443-172," the robot's voice announced, "All your physiological functions, emotional constructs, and memories have been comprehensively recorded by the system. Please move through the check-in portal and head to the waiting area to take a seat." Still disoriented with fragmented recollections from the scan, I was escorted by a service robot into a grand circular chamber that resembled an airport hall, teeming with a diverse array of "passengers" awaiting their turns. Glancing about, my gaze was arrested by a familiar presence materializing overhead—Shen Sophie, the woman who had first introduced herself as a 'real being' back at the bar! "Is that really you?!" I exclaimed. With a faint smile, Sophie performed an aerial pirouette, morphing into a towering holographic projection that encompassed the entire dome's ceiling. "Welcome, everyone, to Dock XYZ2736GM," Sophie's voi

Seven "Come on, let's take on the ultimate Boss together," the steadiness in Abraham's voice brought me a moment's peace. I nodded my acknowledgment and inhaled deeply. "Alright, I'm prepared. Victory will be mine, and I'll escape this accursed game world!" "The final coordinates indicate that the Boss is beneath the Red Shield Bar," Abraham informed. I followed him into a dimly lit corridor underneath the bar, the walls adorned with faintly burning torches. "Be cautious, we're about to encounter the Boss," Abraham cautioned. I gave a silent nod, fighting to keep my nerves in check. We traversed the corridor and emerged into a capacious underground square. This was an entirely sealed chamber, with no doors or windows to be seen. "Here it comes!" Abraham cried out all of a sudden. I looked up to see the center of the square's ground gently descending, revealing a colossal shadow rising slowly from below. A cre

  Five Sophie cast a fleeting glance at Abraham through the surveillance screen and let out a derisive sneer, "You have merely concocted a plaything to hoodwink the masses with VR technology!" My eyes grew wide, brain utterly frozen. A mere assemblage of code — is that what I am? And who is this woman? She who enters the virtual realm and manipulates all within? Wherefore lies the divide between the tangible and the digital domain? What manner of enigma ensnares us so? With fists clenched tight, I was consumed by a sense of helplessness like never before. Do I authentically exist, or am I but a figment? Abraham retorted, standing his ground, "We forged this shield in contemplation of humanity's posterity!" "A laughable claim. Is this so-called sanctuary not but a sty, where human minds are penned within the confines of play?" "I owe no elucidation to an interloper such as yourself!" All at once, the fissures scarring the ceiling overhead halt

  Intro My name is Jack, and I believed myself to be just an average person. Wait, that isn't quite right. I had always thought I was just an average individual. But one month ago, an extraordinary encounter shattered my entire understanding of the world... One Walking alone through a silver curtain of light rain, I found my way into a secluded lane nestled amongst the towering buildings at the heart of the city, and pushed open a rusted door of rosewood — my entry to an underworld retreat by the name of “Red Shield”. Inside, shadows danced under scattered spotlights that pierced through the gloomy ambiance. Here lay a sanctuary unknown to the outside world, a hidden nook I used to frequent with Linna for stolen moments of intimacy. With a heavy thud, I slumped into my accustomed haunt at the bar. I had been a ghost these past days, numb even to Pierce’s magnetic baritone that broke through the silence without stirring my spirit, “Your regular?” My response was a detached nod, my g