The days passed in a blur.
Between school, yoga, and her endless hours in Another Life VR, Sarah hardly noticed time slipping by. Her sandbox island was finally taking shape—her own digital playground where she experimented with coding, architecture, and world-building.
She had no real schedule, but somehow, every day had started looking the same:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Wake up, do yoga.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Survive class without dying of boredom.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Work on her projects in Another Life.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Eat something that required minimal cooking effort.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Maybe sleep (if she remembered).</li>
</ol>
Occasionally, she chatted with her new in-game friends—Hexa Shaw, Byte Knight, and Shiro Bitters, all regulars from the Skatz Partz community.
And yet, despite how busy she was, one nagging thought kept returning.
Where the hell is Makaveli?
She had only seen his name online once since their last conversation.
But he never messaged her. He never stopped by.
Sarah had no reason to care.
It’s not like we’re best friends or something. He probably has a life.
But her brain wasn’t cooperating.
What if he’s married?
What if he has a girlfriend?
What if he’s just not interested?
Then the worst thought crept in.
What if he’s gay?
She groaned, burying her face in her hands.
Would be just my luck.
Shaking the stupid thoughts away, she turned back to her build, determined to stay focused.
And then—her email pinged.
Sarah pulled up her inbox, scrolling through junk mail and class notifications before her eyes landed on a subject line that made her sit up straight.
Subject: Invitation to Auracron Prime’s Competitive Coding Event
Her stomach flipped. She clicked it immediately.
From: Professor Jansen
To: Sarah Daniger
Sarah,
I am extending an invitation for you to participate in the Auracron Prime Competitive Coding Event.
While the official registration period has closed, I was able to secure you a last-minute entry. You will be representing our class alongside other top students.
Please review the entry form and respond by tomorrow morning to confirm your participation.
This is a major opportunity for potential job offers with Auracron Prime.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Sarah stared at the screen.
The competition?
She had known about it, of course. But she had never entered.
I wasn’t ready. I wanted to learn more LUA first…
But now? Now, she had a direct invitation. And more importantly—a chance at a job with Auracron Prime. She inhaled sharply, her mind racing.
Auracron Prime… the same company that made Another Life and Stroma AI.
The same company that Makaveli had been building virtual cities for. Her pulse sped up.
Does he already work there?
If I win this, will I be working with him?
She shook her head. Focus, Sarah.
You have to do this.
No matter what.
She clicked the application link and started filling it out. Sarah had expected basic questions. Instead, the form dove straight into her soul.
Q1: How many hours per week do you engage with metaverse environments?
Uh, do I put the real number? Because the real number is embarrassing.
She settled on: “30-40 hours.”
Q2: Describe your most ambitious coding project.
Does fumbling through a failed NPC AI script count?
She typed: “Developing interactive scripting tools for in-world builds.”
It sounded professional enough.
Q3: Do you have any health conditions that may impact long hours at a computer?
What, like a broken heart?
She skipped to the next one.
Q4: Do you work better alone or in teams?
Sarah paused.
She wanted to say alone, but…
Her best work in Another Life had come from collaborating with others.
She typed: “Depends on the team.”
Q5: What motivates you?
She hesitated.
Her first instinct was to type something generic—
Success. Career growth. The challenge.
But… was that really it?
Her thoughts drifted to Makaveli, to their conversations, to the way he had pushed her to be better.
Before she could stop herself, she typed:
“Building something that matters.”
She stared at the words for a long time. Then she hit Submit. Sarah’s mind was still spinning when she saw a notification pop up.
Hexa Shaw is visiting your island.
A moment later, a floating shimmer appeared, and Hexa’s sleek cybernetic avatar materialized.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Hexa (in world chat): Dani! What’s up?
Dani: Hey Hexa! Just… losing my mind over this coding competition thing.
Hexa: Ohhh, you got invited?
Dani: Yeah, Professor Jansen pulled some strings.
Hexa: Dude, that’s awesome!
Sarah sighed, rotating her build to snap it into alignment.
Dani: I don’t know. I wasn’t planning to enter yet. I don’t feel ready.
Hexa: No one ever feels ready. You just gotta do it.
Sarah stopped, staring at her screen. That… was exactly what she needed to hear. She exhaled, then typed:
Dani: Yeah. You’re right.
Hexa grinned and floated closer.
Hexa: Also… not to change the subject, but uh…
Dani: Oh no. What now?
Hexa: You and Makaveli. Something’s going on there.
Sarah’s stomach dropped.
Dani: WHAT?! No. Absolutely not.
Hexa: Mmhmm. So you’re just sitting here wondering where he’s been for the last few days for NO reason?
Sarah’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, struggling to type.
Dani: He was helping me with my land purchase, that’s all!
Hexa: Suuuure.
Sarah groaned.
This is why I don’t have friends.
Hexa just laughed, then plopped down on an invisible seat.
Hexa: Anyway, I’ll shut up. You got work to do. But seriously, Dani… you should enter that contest. You got this.
Sarah smiled slightly.
Dani: Thanks, Hexa.
She logged off soon after, but her mind wouldn’t shut off. Because now, on top of the contest, the company, and her future… She had one more question.
Where the hell is Makaveli? And why did it bother her so much?
Sarah sat in her usual spot in Professor Jansen’s class, but her mind was nowhere near the lecture. Her notebook was open, her pen was in her hand, but the only thing she had written in the past ten minutes was:
Auracron Prime… Another Life… Makaveli…
Her knee bounced under the desk, her brain still circling the contest invitation.
I wasn’t even going to enter. But now I have to. It’s my best shot at a job with Auracron Prime.
She tapped her pen against her notebook absently.
And if Makaveli already works for them?
The thought made her pulse quicken.
Would I end up working with him?
Would he even want that?
Do I even want that?
A sharp throat clearing from the front of the room snapped her out of it. It was Professor Jansen.
“Ms. Daniger. Still with us?”
Sarah stiffened as a few students turned to look at her.
Oh crap.
She nodded quickly, even though she had no idea what was just said. Professor Jansen raised an eyebrow but continued the lecture. She exhaled, feeling her face burn.
God, get it together, Sarah.
As she adjusted in her seat, a voice murmured from her right.
“Trouble focusing today, Dani?”
She froze. Slowly, she turned her head to see Steve McCall sitting there, his arms casually folded, a knowing smirk playing at his lips. Sarah rolled her eyes.
“Mind your business, McCall.”
He chuckled lowly, leaning back in his chair.
“Just saying. You’re usually the overachiever in this class. But today, you look like you’re in another world.”
Sarah felt a small jolt at his choice of words.
Another world.
Another Life.
She blinked. It was probably just a coincidence. Right?
Before she could think too much about it, he tilted his head, studying her.
“Wait. You’re not nervous about the contest, are you?”
Sarah let out a scoff before she could stop herself.
“Me? Nervous? Please.”
Steve’s smirk deepened.
“Good. ‘Cause I heard the competition’s pretty brutal. Especially against someone who’s got experience with… I don’t know… building virtual cities?”
Sarah’s stomach flipped. She stared at him, her brain screeching to a halt. That was… oddly specific.
He couldn’t possibly mean Makaveli. There’s no way. No one else knows that he builds virtual cities. Unless…
She shook her head, forcing herself to relax.
I’m being paranoid. He’s probably just talking about advanced coders in general.
So she just shrugged.
“I guess I’ll find out.”
Steve gave her a lazy grin.
“Guess you will.”
The rest of class was a blur, but Sarah couldn’t shake the weird feeling that Steve had just messed with her head on purpose. By the time she got home, she needed a distraction. She booted up Another Life and checked her messages. Unsurprisingly, her in-game friends had filled her inbox.
Private Chat – Byte Knight, Shiro Bitters, Hexa Shaw & Dani
Byte Knight: YO, Dani! You’re in the contest??
Dani: Word travels fast, huh?
Shiro Bitters: Are you ready tho?
Dani: I mean, as ready as I can be.
Hexa Shaw: You know who would totally crush this contest?
Sarah sighed, already knowing what was coming.
Dani: Don’t say it.
Hexa Shaw: Makaveli.
Byte Knight: LOOOOOL
Shiro Bitters: LMAO SHE TYPED "DON’T SAY IT" BECAUSE SHE KNEW
Sarah groaned, typing aggressively.
Dani: WHY DO Y’ALL KEEP BRINGING HIM UP
Hexa Shaw: Because you’re obsessed.
Dani: I AM NOT.
Byte Knight: Girl, please. You go two days without talking to him, and suddenly, you’re spiraling.
Sarah paused, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.
Wait… has it really been two days?
That… shouldn’t feel weird. But it did.
Before she could respond, Shiro Bitters chimed in.
Shiro Bitters: If y’all get married in-game, can I DJ the wedding?
Dani: I hate you all.
Hexa Shaw: You love us.
Sarah logged out of chat before they could roast her further.
I am NOT obsessed. I just—
A notification popped up. Sarah’s heart jumped when she saw his name.
Makaveli: Been busy. Taking time to prepare for something big. You?
She stared at the message, reading it over twice. Something about it felt… off. Sarah typed her response carefully.
Dani: Define “something big.”
Makaveli: Can’t say yet. But it’s gonna be fun.
Dani: You sound ominous as hell.
Makaveli: That’s part of the charm.
Sarah bit her lip, her mind racing. Was he talking about the contest?
Does he already work for Auracron Prime?
Is he entering the competition?
Or is this about something completely different?
She typed back slowly.
Dani: Guess I’ll have to wait and see then.
Makaveli: Guess you will.
After the chat ended, Sarah leaned back in her chair, her thoughts swirling. Something was weird about all of this.
Makaveli disappearing for days.
Steve being oddly specific in class.
Makaveli suddenly mentioning "something big."
For the first time, a strange feeling crept in. A feeling that maybe—just maybe—something was off. But she shook it off, pushing the thoughts away.
You’re overthinking it, Sarah.
She logged out of Another Life, exhaling slowly.
It’s just a coincidence. Right?