Settling in

“I’m so sorry!” You tried to apologize. “I don’t know how I got here.”

Your voice was shaking slightly, and you felt a wave of embarrassment wash over you. Sssniperwolf's expression softened, and she took a step closer to you, her eyes locked on yours with concern. "Don't apologize," she said, her voice gentle. "You're safe now. Just take a deep breath and try to relax."

You took a deep breath, feeling a bit more calm, and looked around the room again. The rows of high-end gaming PCs and consoles seemed to stretch on forever, and you noticed a large screen on the wall displaying a live stream of a popular video game. The sound was muted, but you could see the comments scrolling by in real-time.

Later, you again tried to tell Sssniper that you somehow ended up here for some reason, but Sssniperwolf spoke, holding up a hand before you could finish.

“I know this must be confusing for you,” Sssniperwolf said, her voice still gentle. “But I promise I'll explain everything. First, let me introduce myself properly. I'm Sssniperwolf, but you can call me Lia. And how you got here was through a. . . unique process, one that I'll explain in a bit. But for now, let's just focus on getting you settled in, okay?”

As Lia spoke, she gestured to a nearby console, where a sleek, black gaming chair was positioned. "Why don't you take a seat, and I'll get you a towel to clean up with?" She nodded towards the trash can, which still held the remnants of your earlier nausea.

You nodded, still feeling a bit dazed, and made your way to the chair. As you sat down, Lia handed you a soft, white towel, which you used to wipe your mouth and forehead.

As you wiped your mouth and forehead with the towel, Lia nodded sympathetically and handed you a glass of water from a nearby table. The glass was cool to the touch, and the water inside sparkled in the light of the room. You took a sip, feeling the refreshing liquid soothe your parched throat. The taste was slightly sweet, and you wondered if it was flavored with something, but you didn't ask.

Lia watched you drink, her eyes still filled with concern. "Better?" she asked again, her voice soft.

You nodded, feeling a bit more composed. The water had helped to clear your head, and you were starting to feel more alert.