You slouch in a creaky chair in your dimly lit room, the faint hum of your outdated PC filling the silence as you scroll through Twitch. The screen glows with streams of e-girls, neon-haired, dressed in barely-there outfits, and raking in viewers with every flirty giggle. You roll your eyes, crunching on a chip as you mutter, “It’s so easy. Just dye your hair, flaunt some skin, and simps lose their minds. I could do that if I had a body like theirs.” The words slip out, half-sarcastic, a casual jab at the universe. Unnoticed, your dusty webcam flickers, its lens catching a faint pink shimmer. The air grows heavy, a low electric buzz prickling your skin. Before you can react, the webcam explodes in a blinding flash of pink light, searing your eyes and sending a jolt through your body as the world around you begins to twist and warp.

Art by: MaeveQuinzley