His older brother, Kael, had disappeared inside the simulation eighteen months ago. They called it "Neural Disassociation"—the body stays, the mind locks inside the server. The corporation, Vitech, said it was a glitch. Elias knew it was a trap. To find Kael, he had to get back into the specific sector where the signal died. To do that, he needed a Level 5 clearance key.
Elias sat hunched over his terminal, the hum of the cooling fans the only sound in his cramped apartment. On the screen, a cursor blinked rhythmically, mocking him. Behind it lay the gateway to Battlefield: 7554 —the most immersive, most restrictive virtual combat simulation ever coded. It was also the most locked down.
VERIFYING SERVER HANDSHAKE...
Elias took a breath, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. He typed the command.
"Come on," Elias whispered, his fingers dancing over the holographic keyboard.
