1 Prologue

Prologue: Begin Level 3

    "Level 3 is ready." Naomi said, her fingers waltzing across computer keys. "Director Xia, do you want me to start the simulation?" Xia nodded, distracted.

    "Is something wrong, sir?" Iilea said, adjusting her glasses, continuing to work on last-minute plans.

    "It's nothing too serious. Just some funding issues." He says, adjusting his crimson tie which jumped out against his smoky gray suit and slacks. Elizabeth stood up.

    "Funding issues?" Elizabeth says

    "Like I said, it's nothing serious." Xia replies.

    "Funding issues are always important. Do we need to stall the stage or not?"

    "We...We ran out of funds." A collective gasps and murmurs arose around the conference room. "I'm contacting Mina and Natalie. They're saying that they will come up with something, but other than that, this could be our Finale."

"That won't happen." Kashmiri says matter-of-factly "The board has already cleared us all the way to Level 4. So, I say we might as well just play this out and see how it goes."

    "I agree." Elizabeth says, relaxed "Do we contact Victoria and Oksana? I mean, we should just start it. The press sniffed us out with BPV and are trying to witch-hunt us. We should just start it, and see where it goes."

"Hmm." Xia says, stroking his gray beard. "Alright. Let's do it. Fire up Level 3. Let's do this right, you guys. This can not fail!" The crowd of workers smiles before entering a single line of code simultaneously:

run L3_Plundos;

    The circular room feels as if it is spinning, everything turns a searing white, the color of pure sunlight, then dark. Vantablack. Nothing. The voices of Oksana and Victoria adjust there mics and begin in unison,

"Hello. Thank you for selecting the third DIAE trial. Sit back, enjoy the show, and remember. Death is an escape...it's in the name." The sound of a barrage of thunder shoots through the room, making the spinning feel like a gyroscope. "Awaken, souls who wish to be judged, it's time for you resurrection. Risk it all for a grand prize of being alive once more."

"This competition is sponsored by the DIAE itself." Oksana says, hiding a laugh.

"We're your hosts. Oksana and Victoria, and we are happy to welcome you to the second public screening of the DIAE trial." Victoria says, clasping Oksana's shaking hand.

"Lights!" Oksana says

"Camera!" Victoria replies

"Action!" They say in unison once more. The thunder reaches a shattering climax, before ceasing immediately. There is no more sound, not even that of singing birds or rustling leaves.

Only anticipation.

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