The group approached the capsules hesitantly, each one glancing at the others for reassurance. The sleek, metallic pods gleamed under the cold fluorescent lights, their interiors lined with cushioned seats and intricate panels of glowing buttons.
"Just sit down," the pretty woman instructed, her tone curt as she gestured for them to enter.
Liam hesitated for a moment before stepping into his assigned capsule. The chair was surprisingly comfortable, molding to his body as he settled in. A belt emerged from the sides, securing him firmly in place.
"What the hell is this?" Marcus growled from the capsule beside him, jerking against the belt. "Is this some kind of sick experiment?"
Before anyone could respond, a soft hiss sounded from each capsule. A small compartment on the side opened, and a tiny spider-like robot crawled out. Its metallic body glinted ominously as its spindly legs moved with precision.
"What the fuck is that?!" Marcus yelled, thrashing in his seat as the robot approached his face. The others squirmed in panic as their own robots emerged, each one heading straight for their nostrils.
"Get this thing away from me!" Marcus shouted, jerking his head side to side. Suddenly, another belt shot out, binding his head in place. "No, no, no—!" His voice cut off as the robot entered his nostril.
His face froze in terror for a moment, but then his expression softened. "Wait... I didn't feel anything?" Marcus said, his voice filled with surprise.
One by one, the others experienced the same process. The robots entered their nostrils smoothly, and, to their astonishment, none of them felt a thing.
"What the hell was that?" Liam asked, his voice shaky as he looked toward the woman.
She smiled, her demeanor calm and professional. "Another important requirement. Trust me, you'll thank us later."
The group exchanged uneasy glances but had no time to dwell on it. The woman's voice turned sharp. "Get ready. It's going to be a rough ride."
Without waiting for a response, she pressed a button on a nearby console.
The capsules began to hum, the vibrations building rapidly. Suddenly, they started spinning.
"Whoa! What's happening?!" Jason shouted, his voice barely audible over the rising whir of the machinery.
The spinning intensified, and a loud crack of lightning echoed in the room. Sparks of energy danced across the capsules, and the group screamed in unison as the speed became unbearable.
The lights in the room flickered as the machine roared, the spinning reaching a blinding velocity. Suddenly, a deafening boom echoed through the space.
And then, silence.
The capsules came to an abrupt stop, their interiors empty. The group was gone.
The pretty woman stood motionless for a moment, the smile vanishing from her face. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, dialing a number with steady fingers.
"It's done," she said simply, her voice devoid of emotion.
A deep voice responded from the other end. "Good. Now erase any trace of their existence in this world."
The call ended with a soft click, leaving the room silent once more.
Liam's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry at first. As the haze cleared, he realized he was lying on the wooden floor of a moving carriage. Thick ropes bound his hands and feet, the coarse fibers biting into his skin. Glancing around, he saw the others—Sophia, Marcus, Eleanor, and Jason—all tied up beside him.
The soft sound of humming caught his attention. Turning his head slightly, he peered out of the carriage's opening. His breath hitched.
Riding a massive horse was an orc. The creature was monstrous, its green skin leathery and coarse. Muscles bulged beneath its armor, which was crudely pieced together with metal and bone. Its tusks jutted upward from its lower jaw, and its yellow eyes gleamed with an unsettling intelligence. A guttural hum escaped its lips as it swayed its head in rhythm, seemingly enjoying its tune.
Liam nudged Eleanor, who was closest to him. "Psst. Eleanor, wake up."
She stirred, groaning softly before her eyes snapped open. "What the hell is going on?"
"Keep your voice down," Liam hissed. "There's an orc outside. We're being carried somewhere."
Eleanor's sharp eyes darted to the opening, taking in the sight of the orc. Her expression hardened, and she quickly nudged the others awake.
Sophia rubbed her eyes groggily. "Wait... are we in the game already?"
"I think so," Liam whispered. He raised his bound hands. "But how do we get out of this?"
Before Sophia could respond, Eleanor had already wriggled her wrists free of the ropes. With practiced ease, she untied her ankles and sat up.
Jason gawked. "What the hell? How'd you do that?"
Eleanor didn't answer. Instead, she shifted over to help untie Jason's bindings.
"Thanks," Jason muttered, quickly moving to help Sophia. "Let's get these off, fast."
Sophia freed Liam while Jason handled Marcus's ropes. Within moments, all five of them were unbound.
"So, what do we do now?" Marcus asked, his voice low but tense.
Bang!
The sudden noise startled everyone. Eleanor had slammed her fist against the wooden side of the carriage.
"Eleanor, what the hell are you doing?" Sophia whispered harshly, her eyes wide.
Bang!
Eleanor struck the carriage again, harder this time.
"Are you insane?!" Marcus hissed. "Do you want to get us killed?"
Eleanor ignored him, her jaw set as she raised her fist again.
The carriage lurched to a stop. The group froze as heavy footsteps thudded toward them, the wooden boards creaking with each step.
The orc's deep, guttural voice rumbled outside, followed by a loud sniffing sound.
"Now you've done it," Jason muttered under his breath.
The footsteps grew louder, stopping just outside the carriage.