The morning sunlight streamed through Natasha's bedroom window, but she barely noticed it. Her mind was a whirlwind of determination and fear. The revelation that Alex was somehow trapped inside Jungle Quest had turned her world upside down. There was no manual for something like this, no guidebook on how to rescue someone from a video game. But if there was even a sliver of a chance to find him, Natasha knew she had to take it.
Her laptop hummed on the desk, displaying the job application page for NeoGaming Corp, the company behind Jungle Quest. She stared at the blinking cursor in the "reason for applying" field, her fingers hesitating over the keyboard. How could she explain her real motivation without sounding insane?
Natasha took a deep breath and started typing. She emphasized her interest in gaming, her quick learning skills, and her eagerness to contribute to a groundbreaking project. The words felt hollow compared to her real reason: finding Alex. With a final click, she submitted the application.
The next few days were an agonizing wait. Every time her phone buzzed, her heart leapt, only to sink when it was a spam call or a text from a friend. Finally, her phone rang with a number she didn't recognize. She answered immediately, her voice shaking.
"Hello?"
"Hi, is this Natasha?" a warm voice asked. "This is Sarah from NeoGaming Corp's HR department. We reviewed your application, and we'd like to invite you for an interview."
Natasha's heart soared. "Yes, absolutely! Thank you so much."
The interview was nerve-wracking but straightforward. Natasha played up her enthusiasm for gaming and her willingness to learn. She left the building feeling a mix of hope and anxiety, the company's sleek glass exterior reflecting the uncertainty she felt inside. Two days later, she got the call—she had been offered an entry-level position.
Her first day at NeoGaming Corp was a whirlwind. The headquarters was a marvel of modern design, with open-concept offices, state-of-the-art equipment, and walls lined with concept art and posters of their games. Natasha was introduced to her team, a group of friendly but preoccupied employees, and assigned a desk in a corner of the bustling office.
Her job, as explained by her manager, was largely administrative—data entry, filing reports, and other mundane tasks. But Natasha didn't care. This was her way in. Every keystroke, every interaction was a step closer to uncovering the truth about Alex.
During lunch, Natasha wandered into the company cafeteria, a sleek space filled with rows of employees chatting over gourmet sandwiches and espresso. She spotted a programmer she had been introduced to earlier, Ryan, sitting alone and scrolling through his phone. Gathering her courage, she approached him.
"Mind if I sit here?" she asked.
Ryan looked up and smiled. "Sure, go ahead."
They chatted casually at first—work, the office, their favorite games. Natasha waited for the right moment before steering the conversation toward Jungle Quest.
"So," she said, trying to sound casual, "what's it like working on a game like Jungle Quest? It seems pretty advanced."
Ryan's face lit up. "It's incredible. The AI, the adaptive environments, the immersive experience—it's all cutting-edge. Honestly, it's the most complex project I've ever worked on."
Natasha leaned forward slightly. "Have you ever noticed anything… unusual about it?"
Ryan hesitated, glancing around as if to ensure no one else was listening. "Unusual how?"
"Glitches, maybe? Or hidden areas that aren't in the official programming?"
Ryan's expression grew serious. "There are rumors," he said quietly. "Players have reported strange things—like areas of the game that don't match the design specs or NPCs behaving unpredictably. The higher-ups don't acknowledge it, though. They just brush it off as urban legends."
Natasha's heart pounded. This was exactly the kind of lead she needed. "Do you think there's any truth to it?"
Ryan shrugged. "Hard to say. But if anyone knows, it'd be Alison."
"Alison?"
"Alison Drake, the CEO," Ryan said. "She's the one who oversees everything. If there's something off about the game, she'd know."
Natasha filed that away for later. She needed to find a way to get close to Alison. But for now, she thanked Ryan for the conversation and returned to her desk. Her mind buzzed with possibilities, even as her fingers mechanically entered data into spreadsheets.
That evening, Natasha stayed late at the office. Most of her coworkers had already gone home, and the quiet hum of the building felt eerie. She used the time to explore the company's internal database, carefully avoiding anything that might raise suspicion. She found technical logs, bug reports, and design documents for Jungle Quest, but nothing that hinted at the strange phenomena Ryan had mentioned.
As she was about to shut down her computer, a folder caught her eye. It was labeled "Restricted—Project Nexus." Natasha's pulse quickened. Could this be connected to the glitches and hidden areas? She clicked on it, but a password prompt appeared. Frustrated, she leaned back in her chair. She'd need a different approach.
Over the next few weeks, Natasha carefully gathered more information. She listened closely during team meetings, eavesdropped on conversations, and slowly built rapport with Ryan and other employees. She learned that Alison Drake rarely interacted with entry-level staff, but she occasionally held Q&A sessions for employees. It was during one of these sessions that Natasha planned to make her move.
The day of the Q&A arrived, and Natasha sat in the back of the packed auditorium. Alison Drake was an imposing figure, with sharp features and an air of authority. She spoke confidently about the company's vision and the future of gaming. When the floor opened for questions, Natasha raised her hand.
"Ms. Drake," she began, trying to keep her voice steady, "there have been rumors about unusual occurrences in Jungle Quest. Areas that weren't programmed, glitches that seem… intentional. Can you speak to that?"
The room fell silent. Alison's sharp gaze locked onto Natasha, and for a moment, she thought she had overstepped. But Alison's expression softened into a polite smile.
"Every game has its quirks," Alison said smoothly. "But I assure you, Jungle Quest is thoroughly tested and monitored. Any rumors are just that—rumors."
Natasha wasn't convinced. The answer was too polished, too rehearsed. As the session ended, she noticed Alison speaking quietly to a man in a suit, who nodded and left the room. Natasha's instincts told her she was onto something.
Later that night, Natasha received an email from an anonymous sender. The subject line read: "If you want answers, meet me at the server room, 10 PM."
Her hands trembled as she read the message. She didn't know who to trust, but she had no choice. This was her best chance to find out what happened to Alex—and she wasn't going to let it slip away.