3 How bad can this get?

"It's shocking, isn't it?" Alise asked sarcastically as she approached him while keeping a safe distance. "It appears that your little stunt did not go unnoticed by our superiors after all."

"Is this some sick prank or something?" Tristan cracked up.

"No, this is the heavens giving me a chance to have my revenge for what you did to me. You know, the 'killing me' stuff. It was pretty hilarious remembering you torturing me with a knife before stabbing me in the chest!"

Tristan acted as though what she had said had moved him by slowly shaking his head from side to side and sighing aloud.

He murmured under his breath, "Damn, I missed her heart. What can I say?" he said in a mocking tone of sadness as he stared off into space. "I suppose I'll have to work harder next time; my rookie self eight years ago should feel ashamed."

Although she wasn't aware of it, Alise's mouth twitched upward into a smile. However, she quickly regained control of her emotions when she realized that Tristan was in a vulnerable situation right now.

"If you want, I can still make you laugh, you know! Just give me one more chance to show you don't need those dazzling white teeth, and while we're at it, give me your heart, and we'll settle this once and for all." Despite being pressed up against the wall and unable to move, Tristan grins cockily.

"You don't have to worry; I'll make it up to you when we meet again in the real world... If that's even possible now that they've gained control of both of us."

When he saw her pass him and take a seat in a chair in front of his bed, Tristan frowned and shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe how much he missed her voice and face. He had been so preoccupied with getting away from his captivity that he hadn't had time to think about anything else.

She was now acting as if nothing had happened as she sat across from him, which to him made absolutely no sense given the circumstances that had brought them together.

"What has brought you to these parts?"

After spending several years alone with no contact or interaction with anyone other than guards who were only concerned with keeping an eye on him and making sure he didn't escape or cause trouble for their establishment.

Tristan stated this bluntly while attempting to hide the fact that he felt uncomfortable in Alise's presence. "I'm assuming this isn't just a social visit."

Alise reclined back in her chair, crossed her legs under her dress, and let out a soft laugh. She looked down at her hands lying on her lap and said in a whisper, "In exchange for saving me, these bastards made me work for them as an agent."

Tristan thought she had more to say as she took a little moment to look up at him through the lenses of her glasses, but she chose against saying anything just yet and kept talking slowly. "Before you're stuck inside the game until your trial is over, they want you to feel as comfortable as possible."

"And they sent you to do that?" Tristan asked, looking over her body.

"Aren't you pleased it's someone you know amid all this confusion?" Alise responded with a sly grin on her lips.

"As long as I get my freedom when I perform whatever bullshit debugging they have planned for me. It can't be as difficult as killing someone while trying not to spill too much blood from excitement, can it?" Tristan cracked up laughing.

He was aware that he was being sarcastic, but he couldn't help but be resentful of his situation and furious at being coaxed to play some glitchy virtual game to get his life back on track.

"Are you ready? You don't have much time until the next phase begins. They'll start loading the program soon, so I need to get you ready. Do you get it?" Alise asked, her face serious.

Tristan nodded slowly. "Yeah… yeah, of course. Let's do this."

Alise stood up and walked around Tristan's bed, stopping in front of him. "Come on, let's go," she said, holding her arm out for him to clasp. "We have a lot to talk about while we can, but first, you should probably see how you look now. It might help you feel better to know that you can customize your appearance while playing the game. Consider it an opportunity to flaunt your terrible fashion sense."