Tony stood before the nine-story building with a nervous expression and a slight tremble in his fingers. This would be his best chance to turn his life around as long as everything written in the letter was true. The beautiful doctor on campus had promised the clinical trial would provide a scholarship if chosen and an opportunity for internship with the company afterward. The letter in his right hand confirmed it in writing and his heart raced at the thought of working for such an impressive monster. It was the new kid on the block in the medical technology field with worldwide investments, according to their website.

Looking up at the looming sign over the doors, he took a deep breath and stepped into the lobby of Morpheus Labs. Only time would tell if this would become the best or worst decision of his life. After a quick glance, Tony walked to the reception desk in the center and handed over his letter with a smile to the beautiful middle-aged receptionist alongside his student ID card to prove his identity.

“Hello, I’m here to meet with Dr. Evans. I have an appointment.”

Tony put on his friendliest smile as he tried to hide his nerves. His right leg shook with a nervous tick while he watched the receptionist evaluate him with her light blue eyes. His dark blue t-shirt under a frayed grey jacket and blue jeans was hardly presentable among the suits wandering the large company’s lobby but it was the cleanest clothes he had available. Tony never had much fashion sense, but even he knew that a high-brow company such as this would look down on t-shirts and jeans. He just didn’t have the cash to rent or buy nice jacket and slacks for a leap of faith position. His credit cards were already maxed out from paying tuition and books for this semester and his most recent workplace declared bankruptcy after a series of lawsuits. In fact, he was still praying for his last paycheck to clear the bank even as he stood in front of the receptionist’s judgmental eyes.

“Third floor, room 303. Take the elevator and turn left.”

The receptionist stated curtly before passing him a lanyard with his name on it and shooing him away with her disinterested eyes. Her fingers danced on her keyboard as she ignored his presence, with a thin line of a smile across her lips. Inside, she shook her head at the desperate young man and his gloomy fate. She had already seen nine other college age men and women with similar letters and hope in their eyes yet none had come out of the elevators once they went up. She didn’t know what happened to them and she didn’t dare to ask nor want to know. The company paid her well enough to maintain her silence on anything odd and the doctor had a malicious glint in her eyes that scared her too much to try sating her curiosity.

“Thank you.”

Tony thanked the receptionist with a muted voice as he walked past her to the elevators where another woman was waiting by the doors. Her short stature contrasted heavily against her oversized chest in her dark blue blouse and skin hugging blue jeans. Her crimson red hair fell past her shoulders to the middle of her lower back and hid her lowered face as she played with her phone. The elevators ringing every so often in front of her as they traveled down from the higher floors. Her muted clothing was only broken by the neon red sneakers on her feet that she tapped to the beat of the music playing from her phone game.

Tony stopped beside her and waited by the elevator doors as well without saying a word. She had a strangely familiar aura to her though he could not recall where he had seen her previously. His mouth opened and closed several times as he debated on saying something to her, but in the end, he shut his lips and waited quietly. His right leg continued to tremble in anxiety as he waited by the elevator door with the young woman as his eyes focused on the numbers lighting up one at a time. For some reason, it felt like a very long time before the ding rang out and the doors opened up.

Stepping into the elevator following the woman, Tony’s fingers brushed hers lightly as he pushed the button for the third floor. The feeling of sparks flew across his skin as he nearly grunted from the shock of her soft skin. How long had it been since he felt the touch of a woman that wasn’t the customary hug of a family member? He honestly couldn’t recall at the moment and for some reason, he felt a wave of depression roll over him. He loved reading fantastical books with dark heroes finding romance and the drama of Hallmark movies where the initial couple would obviously be together by the end after they went through hardships from a failing business, trust issues or family problems. However, he knew that real life was nothing like the movies or books, at least his history cemented that fact for him. His own lack of social skills played a part, a majority even, but he couldn’t bring himself to change and allow others in so easily.

The young woman made an imperceptible flinch at the sudden skin touch, but she said nothing and her face didn’t change as she went back to her phone game. Tessa was known as being an outgoing person around campus, but none knew of her family hardships. Her mother ruined both of their credit scores before she even entered high school which made getting a student loan impossible. Her father was a complete paranoid in private and it was a wonder that he never accidentally shot the mail carrier or that he even qualified to own a handgun permit. Her older sister was the only relatively sane one, though a bit overly self-centered; she still sent her birthday and Christmas gifts. Her phone was one of those very presents, a pre-owned smartphone with a small crack in the top left but fully functional. It allowed her to hide her personal anxiety from others behind the busy screen and light music.

Before either could start a conversation, the ding of the elevator stole their attention as the doors slid away revealing a glass hallway. Men and women in the stereotypical white lab coats were walking back and forth with tablets and speaking into recorders in their hands. Large letters in black outlined in gold marked the doors along the hallway as the duo stepped out of the elevator and scanned the area. Finding their door, they walked side by side naturally at first and then unconsciously tried to outpace the other to show their enthusiasm to join the trial. After all, the aftermath of the trial was the potential internship and both desired to make the best first impression on the overseeing staff. Unfortunately, the glass walls were blacked out so their small race was completely wasted.

Opening the door, Tony stood aside as Tessa passed by him first before he joined her. Both were slightly stunned as they walked into the room as there were already four more men and women sitting and waiting for the staff. Closest to the door was a young man with brown short hair slicked back and a lazy posture with a lanyard showing his name as Vincent. His baggy jeans and stainless white tee made Tony feel less guarded by his presence as he considered the man to not be a threat in the competition for the internship. Next to him sat another young man with the name tag Nick who wore a clean button down blue short sleeve and black slacks and a smile so bright that it was blinding. Tony almost unconsciously moved to block his eyes from the glow coming off the young man as his stomach churned from stress.

On the other side of Nick, two ladies were glaring at each other with undisguised hostility, likely arising from their similar clothing styles. Natasha with her long straight blue hair crossed her arms under her chest covered with a blue blouse, light jacket and white pencil skirt. Similarly, Sarah with her curly red hair glared at Natasha in a red blouse, light jacket and white pencil skirt. Blinking at the oddity, Tony lowered his head only to notice that both were wearing high heels of the same shape and in matching colors to their hair and blouses.

His eyes shifted away after a moment and tried to look less awkward as he scanned the rest of the room. Sterile white floor tiles and clean walls gave away nothing to suggest what the room was intended to be used as originally. Several rolling hospital beds with IV drips could be seen farther in with a floor to ceiling curtain split the room and blocked the view further in but not the sound. Clacking heels and the tapping of fingers on tablets droned out from the other side and Tony’s brow rose slightly in confusion.

Before he could think too long, Doctor Evans walked out from the other side of the curtains with her own tablet. Her black flats echoed around her as her lithe figure stood in front of everyone. Her lips pursed into a small frown when her eyes skimmed over the room. Several chairs were still empty and she abhorred tardiness in her work. She tapped her earbud and gave instructions to her assistant to blacklist anyone that failed to register on time.

Cold sweat ran down Tony’s back as he realized that he had arrived a few minutes early and still almost lost the internship right at the starting gate. He took a deep breath and smiled his best smile as Doctor Evans’ eyes passed over him and Tessa who had yet to take a seat anywhere.

“Good. Since you all are here, let’s get started. Lay down on the beds and open or remove your shirts. We will be placing a heart monitor on you to ensure your safety while you are in our virtual city.”

After giving out her instructions to the group, the good doctor maintained her silence and waited. She tagged in her assistants on the tablet after verifying the count and they soon walked in from the other side of the curtain to help everyone get settled. Her authoritative aura forbade any questions and she didn’t believe in hand holding others. These people had already signed off on the paperwork electronically before arrival and whether they read it before signing was none of her concern. She only required the data and complete compliance.

Tony laid on the bed as instructed and removed his shirt as the heart monitor pads were placed and connected to a hanging device. Then a helmet, similar in shape to one worn by motorcyclists, was placed over his head and slid snugly into place before he was asked to lay back and get comfortable. As his head felt the pillow below, he saw the face of the man assisting him turned from a thin line into a mocking smile and a zealous glint flashed across his eyes. Tony felt as though something was wrong and as his mouth opened to voice his thoughts, an electric shock passed from the helmet and his consciousness turned to black.