Meanwhile, back at his dorm, Victor arrived and noticed that Kairo wasn't in yet. Perfect. He shut the door, jumped into his bed, and slid under the sheets.
Pulling the helmet over his head, he took a deep breath.
"Let's get some real work done tonight."
He logged into Ascendant Realms.
The familiar buzz filled his ears, and his consciousness snapped into the virtual realm.
Only... this time, something was wrong.
Victor's eyes snapped open—he wasn't standing. His limbs were bound tightly, and his back rested against a stone pillar. The ground beneath him was hard, cracked, and damp.
"What the hell?" he muttered.
Next to him, another figure stirred.
"Oh, welcome back," Tarkos grumbled. He was tied up as well and his voice was laced with frustration.
Victor twisted while trying to flex his fingers.
"What happened? Why are we tied up?" Victor asked.
