The aftermath of their encounter with the concealed woman lingered heavily over the group. Adrian, Ace, Michael, and Ember had logged out shortly after the battle, each retreating into their respective realities to process what had happened. For most of them, dying in-game meant losing a level—a frustrating setback but not catastrophic. However, for Adrian, it felt like more than just a numerical penalty; it was a stark reminder of how far they were from truly understanding the game's depths.
Invisible Adrian watched as the group slowly reassembled in the real world, tension crackling between them like static electricity. Ace paced angrily around the cramped living room, his frustration palpable. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, knuckles white with barely contained rage.
"That bitch," Ace growled under his breath, the words venomous. "She thinks she can humiliate us like that? We'll get her back. Mark my words."
Michael sat slumped on the couch, guilt etched across his face. He'd been apologizing nonstop since yesterday, blaming himself for the team's failure. "I'm sorry again, man," he muttered, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "If I hadn't died so quickly with my summon's lightning attack, maybe things would've gone differently."
"Stop beating yourself up," Past Adrian interjected, though his tone lacked conviction. "It's fine. You've said it enough times already."
Ember remained unusually quiet, scrolling absently through her phone. She seemed detached, her thoughts elsewhere. Invisible Adrian noticed her tapping on an app, likely ordering something online.
When Ace glanced over her shoulder, his expression softened slightly, her crimson eyes glued to her phone screen. She scrolled absentmindedly until finally speaking up, her tone tinged with frustration. "I'm starving," she announced suddenly, tossing her phone onto the table. "But I don't have cash on me right now. All this grinding has left me broke."
Ace glanced at her briefly, raising an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? Didn't you just buy another skin or whatever online?"
She rolled her eyes, holding up her phone to show him a notification. "Yeah, junk food cravings don't care about your budget. Can someone grab snacks later?"
"I'll go," Ace replied curtly, and went to sit at the computer. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he pulled up the game map, muttering to himself about finding another secret boss location. "After I figure out where the next big score is, I'll pick stuff up."
Michael stood abruptly, stretching his arms above his head. "Nah, I'll do it. Need some fresh air anyway." He grabbed his wallet from the counter and headed toward the door, pausing when Past Adrian called after him.
"Wait, dude. I'll come with you," Adrian said, standing quickly. "There's… something I need to talk to you about."
Invisible Adrian frowned deeply, watching Ace's reaction—lack thereof—from the corner of the room. The berserker didn't even glance up from the screen, completely absorbed in plotting revenge. Something about his demeanor unsettled Invisible Adrian further; there was a coldness to Ace's focus, a ruthlessness that hinted at darker motives beneath the surface.
"So, what's up?" Michael asked casually, glancing at Adrian as they navigated through the crowded streets. "You sounded pretty serious back there."
Past Adrian hesitated, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Look, man… I need a break. Just for a day or two. There's somewhere I wanna check out—it's personal."
Michael raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Where are you going? Home?"
"In a way…" Adrian trailed off, shrugging awkwardly. "Yeah, I guess you could call it home. But I just… I need to step away from all this grinding for a bit, y'know? Clear my head."
Michael nodded slowly, understanding dawning on his face. "Ah, gotcha. You miss Sarah and Alice, huh?"
Adrian flinched slightly at the mention of their names. "Maybe. It's been a while since I talked to them. Too long, honestly."
Michael chuckled softly. "Well, I don't think Ace will mind. It's not like we're being forced to stay here, right? Do what you gotta do."
Before Past Adrian could respond, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"FREEZE!"
Both men froze mid-step, exchanging bewildered glances. Ahead of them stood several police officers, their expressions stern and authoritative. One officer stepped forward, pointing directly at the bags in their hands.
"Put those bags down NOW," the officer commanded, his voice ringing with authority.
Adrian raised his hands instinctively, panic rising in his chest. "What's going on?" he stammered. "Why are you stopping us?"
Beside him, Michael visibly paled, his hands trembling as he set the grocery bag on the ground. Within moments, the officers moved swiftly, cuffing Michael first. The young man struggled weakly, his fear evident as he pleaded, "Please, I didn't do anything wrong!"
Past Adrian watched in horror as the officers approached him next. "Wait, hold on!" he protested, his voice rising in desperation. "Why am I being arrested? What's going on?"
"You're under arrest for stealing VR pods and accessing classified information," one officer stated coldly, snapping cuffs onto Adrian's wrists.
Invisible Adrian seethed with anger, clenching his fists as he witnessed the scene unfold. How could this happen to him? None of it made sense back then. And yet, Past Adrian's reaction mirrored his outrage.
"This is insane!" Past Adrian shouted, struggling against the cuffs. "I bought those pods! They're mine! I have proof—I swear!"
The officers ignored his protests, leading both men back toward the house. As they entered, Past Adrian froze in shock. Everything inside looked… different. The furniture had changed, belongings rearranged or replaced entirely. Most alarmingly, only two VR pods remained in the corner of the room.
"Where are Ace and Ember?" Past Adrian demanded, his voice cracking. "What did you do with them?"
The officers exchanged puzzled looks, clearly confused by his question. "Who are you talking about?" one asked sharply.
Past Adrian's mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening. He frantically searched his backpack, rummaging through its contents for the receipt that proved the pods were his. But as seconds turned into minutes, his growing desperation became evident.
"No, no, NO!" he exclaimed, panic overtaking him. "It was here! I'm sure of it! Along with my extra headphones… I swear I'm telling the truth! I'd never steal anything like that—and besides, these aren't even mine! Look, there's Ace's X sign on it…"
His voice trailed off as realization dawned. His eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait… No. He wouldn't… Would he?"
The officers grew impatient, their patience wearing thin. "Enough stalling!" one barked. "Show us the proof or come quietly."
"I'm being framed!" Past Adrian yelled, his voice breaking. "This isn't mine! Someone set me up!"
But his pleas fell on deaf ears. With no other options left, the officers dragged him and Michael toward the police car. Michael remained eerily silent, his earlier fear replaced by resignation. As the car doors slammed shut, sealing them inside, Past Adrian slumped against the seat, overwhelmed by despair.
Invisible Adrian stood frozen outside the vehicle, his fists clenched tightly. Anger burned within him—not just at the injustice unfolding before him, but at the lingering questions swirling in his mind. Ace had orchestrated this? And why involve him?
The police car rumbled through the streets, its tires humming against wet asphalt. Past Adrian sat rigidly in the backseat, his hands cuffed and his mind racing. Beside him, Michael remained eerily silent, staring blankly at the floor as if resigned to his fate. Invisible Adrian hovered just behind them, watching helplessly as events unfolded.
Past Adrian's thoughts were a storm—flashes of Ace watching and analyzing the map on his computer, Ember scrolling through her phone with an unsettling calmness before their departure, and now this. How had it all spiraled so far out of control? He clenched his fists despite the cuffs digging into his wrists. None of it made sense until one glaring realization pierced through the chaos: Ace had planned this from the start.
Invisible Adrian confirmed it internally. "That bastard set us up," he muttered under his breath, though no one could hear him. Memories flooded back vividly now—he remembered everything. Ace and Ember must have tampered with something while they were distracted by mundane conversations about gameplay and grinding, and when Past Adrian left with Michael, they must have slipped away, leaving behind only fabricated evidence tying him to the stolen VR pods.
At the Police Station
When they arrived at the station, officers escorted both men inside without ceremony. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting harsh shadows across sterile walls lined with bulletin boards and filing cabinets. A desk sergeant glanced up briefly before motioning for them to follow another officer down a narrow hallway.
They entered a small interrogation room where Past Adrian was instructed to sit at a metal table bolted to the floor. An officer placed a recorder in front of him and began reciting standard procedure.
"You're being charged with theft of high-value property and unauthorized access to classified systems," the officer stated flatly. "Do you understand these charges?"
"Yes, but I didn't do it!" Past Adrian snapped, leaning forward despite his restraints. "This is a setup! Someone framed me!"
The officer raised an eyebrow skeptically. "We'll need proof of that."
"I don't have it right now," Past Adrian admitted, frustration bubbling over. "But my backpack—it had receipts proving those pods are mine. They've been taken from me!"
"Investigations take time," the officer replied curtly. "Until then, you'll stay here."
After hours of questioning, Past Adrian found himself locked in a holding cell alongside Michael. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant and stale coffee. For a while, neither spoke. Then, unable to contain his anger any longer, Past Angelo exploded.
"How could you not know what was happening?" he demanded, turning sharply toward Michael. "You trusted Ace blindly, didn't you?"
Michael flinched visibly. "I-I thought it was harmless," he stammered. "I saw some weird map-looking thing on his computer. Said it wasn't anything crazy…"
"Not anything crazy?" Past Adrian shouted, lunging forward despite the bars separating them. "That must have been some 'cheat code' that he had, and it got us arrested! Do you realize what this means? My life—it's ruined because of your stupidity!"
Tears welled up in Michael's eyes. "I'm sorry, man. I didn't think…"
"No, you never think!" Past Adrian spat, pacing the length of the cell. Each step fueled his rage further. "If it weren't for you, I'd be back home playing games with Sarah and Alice. Not rotting in here!"
His voice cracked slightly at the mention of their names. Guilt and regret crashed over him like waves. All he wanted was to rewind time—to undo every decision that led him here.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, an officer returned to inform them they were allowed one phone call each. Past, Adrian seized the opportunity immediately.
"I need to call Sarah," he said firmly, gripping the receiver tightly once handed the phone. His fingers trembled as he dialed her number, praying she would pick up.
When Sarah's voice answered on the other end, relief washed over him momentarily. "Sarah, listen—I messed up big time. I need your help. Please, I'll explain everything later, but right now, I swear I didn't steal anything. You have to believe me."
There was a pause on the line, heavy with uncertainty. Finally, Sarah responded softly, "Adrian… I don't understand what's going on. But okay. Tell me what to do."
Her willingness to trust him, even after everything, ignited a spark of hope within him. As he clung to the phone, determination replaced despair. Whatever it took, he would clear his name and return to the life he once cherished.