The weight in Elias's hand grew warmer. The game camera panned to the digital front door. Something was tapping on the other side.
In the game, he walked into his kitchen. There, sitting on the digital kitchen island, was a revolver. It was rendered in high-contrast chrome, pulsing with a faint, rhythmic light. File: Guntastic.zip ...
He looked back at the screen. He made his character pick up the gun. The moment the digital hand closed around the grip, Elias felt a cold, metallic weight settle into his own right palm. The weight in Elias's hand grew warmer
He moved the character—an identical digital twin of himself—through the hallway. The physics were uncanny. He could see the slight scuff marks on the floorboards where he’d dragged his bike last week. In the game, he walked into his kitchen
"Cute," Elias muttered, his heart rate picking up. "Someone mapped the building."
On the screen, a message finally appeared in a jagged, red font:
Elias looked away from the screen toward his real kitchen island. It was empty, save for a bowl of half-eaten cereal.