Luca woke to the soft chime of his System, a reminder that it was time to begin his Daily Routine. He groaned, trying to move his arms and legs, but they felt impossibly heavy, as though they were anchored to the bed. One plush hotel pillow cradled his head, another was tucked against his chest, and despite his best efforts to roll over, the heavy weight of sleep held him captive. His eyelids refused to cooperate, and with a resigned sigh, Luca let himself drift back into unconsciousness.
An hour and a half later, the System chimed again, louder and more persistent this time. Its mechanical voice pierced the silence, announcing it was now 7 a.m. Though Luca had missed his Daily Routine, normal activities still awaited him, as they did everyone else.
