"The download is complete," a melodic, synthesized voice echoed through the hallway.

A vacuum force yoked him forward. His bedroom blurred into streaks of data and light until he hit the ground hard. The air was damp and cool. When he opened his eyes, the world wasn't rendered in pixels, but in terrifyingly sharp reality.

At 99%, the "Estimated Time Remaining" vanished, replaced by a single word: