Chapter 1: Sorry Mom..

New York City, Murray Hill.

Tall buildings crowded close together. People rushed around, some happy, some sad. But in a plain apartment hidden amongst them, a different story began.

A soft light flickered from a TV in the living room. The news was on, "And now, to some truly bizarre reports coming in from around the globe," the newscaster announced, his voice containing a touch of unease.

"Across the internet, there seems to be a new trend of strange pictures circling around", the reporter stopped before continuing in a serious tone, "and from what we gathered, it appears to be about some glitch-like tears appearing in random locations. These 'tears' resemble pixelated errors of old video-games, leaving many baffled and confused". "It is unknown how they formed, or who – or what – they belong to".

A chuckle broke the tension in the studio. "Maybe it's the aliens finally making their move!" a female reporter chimed in, her voice laced with a carefree tone. "Just imagine, little green men tearing through reality like it's a cheap video game!"

The male reporter offered a wry smile. "Sure, Kate, sure. But until we have some concrete evidence, let's stick to the facts. We'll keep you updated as more information becomes available."

While the news was on, at the other door, a bright light buzzed in a room filled with papers and computer stuff. This messy room seemed to be the center of the whole story.

The harsh overhead lights glared down at my messy apartment. Empty ramen cups and energy drink cans littered the floor, casualties of countless nights lost in the digital trenches.

"Ugh," I groaned, running a hand through my sleep-tousled hair. My glasses slipped down my nose, revealing the red error messages dancing across the screen.

This is my boring life, trapped in a room while coding all day, with no girlfriend, no friends no nothing, but hey with the salary I am getting, I ain't complaining.

It's just that I don't know why I feel so different today, even a tiny glitch that I usually solve in minutes is taking me hours to complete, it bothered me like a mean prankster.

Fury surged through me as I slammed my fist on the desk, shaking the nearby ramen towers that accumulated over the days like dominoes. 

A sadistic laugh escaped my lips as I stared at the reflection in the dark monitor.

Was this truly Ethan Lockhart, the prodigy who once navigated through the dark web with ease? Now, reduced to a mere prisoner of a single, stubborn bug.

The relentless ticking of my old watch echoed in the silence of my apartment, trying to make me go insane with every single beat. a clear reminder of the hours I'd wasted battling the infuriating error message on my screen. 

The once clean room now looked like a warzone. Empty ramen cups and squished energy cans were everywhere, along with candy wrappers stuck to the keyboard. "I really need to tidy this room".

A once-bright blue t-shirt lay on the floor, lost under a mess of scribbled notes and crumpled code printouts. The harsh fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting an unpleasantly green glow on the room.

I pushed away from my desk, wincing as my old chair groaned in protest. Its wheels likely hadn't been oiled in ages after all the late nights I'd spent glued to the screen.

Tonight, there was an edge to my tiredness. It wasn't just exhaustion, but a nervous energy buzzing under the surface. 

"I need to take a break, or I might go nuts".

The city outside my window, usually ignored, was alive tonight. Honking horns, sirens, and music from street performers blended into a symphony of city life. 

With a tired groan, I pushed myself out of my chair. My muscles ached from being hunched over for so long.

I grabbed a pair of well-worn jeans. They were faded and maybe a little stained, but they felt comforting after days of wearing the same clothes. Tossing the abandoned t-shirt aside, I pulled on a familiar hoodie. It was soft and worn, like a hug from an old friend.

"This hoodie," I mumbled to myself, "It was also given to me by my mother last Christmas..... Mom? Damn, I forgot, I haven't checked on her this week. Maybe I'll call her on the way."

Stepping out of my apartment building, the city felt alive with an unusual energy. Cars rushed by, their headlights cutting through the fading light and making streaks on the wet ground.

The city noises were loud – honking horns, music from a nearby bar, people shouting and laughing as they hurried past.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I punched in the familiar numbers.

Beep* Beep* Beep*

The phone hummed against my ear, then a burst of my ringtone, a cheerful melody that felt jarring in the tense night air, filled the space between us. "Click" the phone was picked up.

"Hey Mom, sorry I haven't checked on you this week, I really had it hard."

"Hey Ethan, it's okay honey, you don't have to worry," her voice crackled through the receiver, a hint of concern behind the reassurance. 

"As long as you're okay that's everything for me.  What's been going on? Working yourself to the bone again?"

A pang of guilt stabbed at me. "Yeah, something like that. But listen, I gotta go – the city's buzzing tonight, something weird going on. I promise I'll call you properly soon, okay?"

"Alright, honey. Be careful out there.  Love you," her voice softened.

"Love you too, Mom," I mumbled, feeling a familiar warmth spread through me despite the strangeness of the night.

Slipping the phone back into my pocket, I quickened my pace, drawn by the vibrant city and the unknown that pulsed within it. 

The neon signs above it all glowed like something out of a strange dream. A red diner sign advertised hot coffee in old-fashioned writing.

A vintage pawn shop sign flickered green and blue, showing a faded picture of a guitar. Even the tall buildings seemed to wear crowns of neon, their windows reflecting all these bright colors.

Despite the city craziness, there was a tense feeling in the air like everyone was waiting for something to happen. It felt like the city itself wasn't moving, just holding its breath.

I sighed and walked towards the diner. The strange feeling pulling me towards the unknown grew stronger with each step.

Inside the diner, the flickering TV played a show filled with fantastical creatures – a faded echo of the world now tangled in my thoughts.

A sharp feeling of missing something hit me, a desire for simpler times when games were only my worries, no stressing over the future or anything like that.

A thick silence pressed down, broken only by the frantic drumming of my heart. Someone muttered unconvincingly about a power outage, but it felt off. There was a deeper unease.

A low hum vibrated in the air, like the tremor before a storm. It stirred something within me – a story, a forgotten narrative I'd been desperately trying to piece together.

Suddenly, I felt like an invisible force guiding me back out of the diner and into the night. The city was plunged into an unnatural darkness, broken only by the flickering glow from a single source down the street.

It pulsed with an otherworldly light, beckoning me closer,  Was I seeing things? Maybe the coffee was stronger than usual. Doubt swirled in my head, but a flicker of hope urged me forward with each step.

This wasn't the familiar New York I knew. It was different, like a doorway to a world I used to explore in games. Now, it called to me with a different voice.

As I hurried down the deserted street, the hum grew louder, vibrating through my body. The distant glow resolved into a dusty arcade cabinet, its faded artwork depicting forgotten video game characters. 

They seemed to pulse with the same strange light.

Reaching the cabinet, a chill snaked down my spine – not from nostalgia, but a deeper recognition. Images flickered in my mind: the same code, the same world, and a final, desperate plea… my name.

"Ethan," a voice whispered from the machine itself, echoing in my skull. "You… needed. World… broken… help…"

The voice sputtered into static, replaced by screams and alarms. Panic jolted through me, cold sweat forming on my palms.

 This was real. But how? Was it some elaborate VR trick? A hallucination fueled by caffeine and no sleep? Or something more, something beyond understanding?

For a moment, my hand hovered over the worn controls. Fear and logic warred within me, one threatening to drag me back to the familiar chaos of coding, the other a gnawing excitement for the unknown world beckoning me. 

Yet, beneath the thrill, a sliver of guilt pricked at my conscience.

"Mom," I whispered, a silent apology hanging in the air. "I... I'll call you soon, I promise." It felt hollow even to myself, a weak attempt to bridge the widening gap between my responsibilities and this impulsive pursuit.

With a deep breath, I braced myself. 

Ignoring the fear and pushing down the guilt, I slammed my clammy hand against the console and punched the center button. 

The arcade cabinet roared to life, tearing at the fabric of reality. 

The diner, the city, everything vanished into a swirling vortex of light and data.

The last thing I saw before the world fractured was a single word flashing on the screen: 

ERROR!!!