It's finally here! My 18th birthday had arrived at long last. I could barely contain my excitement as I rapidly typed on the keyboard connected to the brand new VRX 7.8.

Since the Age of 8, I had dreamed of playing a virtual reality game, but have been forced to wait. Thirty years ago the world was almost plunged into a nuclear apocalypse due to corruption within the various governments. To fix this a world ethics accord was signed, that required politicians to follow certain ethical standards. They were required to take a daily lie detector tests and had little to no privacy. Of course, this ethical requirement trickled down into the societies, leading to a great number of laws that banned some activities and limited others. Which is why I had to wait until 18 to play any Virtual Reality Game.

I had worked a part-time job to save up to buy the newest VR headgear equipped with the finest muscle control on the market.

Worth, Mad worth.

My name is Nathan Harrison, and in real life, I'm a pipsqueak. I'm Barely 5 ft tall, with brownish red hair and a skinny frame. This was a chance for me to be someone different. I have always been made fun of by my classmates and "peers", but now I can say goodbye to all those turds and move on with my life. I was about to play the newest and most advanced game ever made. B.L.A.N.K., A collaborative effort between the Five Mega-Giant Gaming Corporations.

Bisque Gaming Inc.

Legendary Gaming Inc.

Anarchy Gaming Inc.

Nine Suns Gaming Inc.

Kratom Gaming Inc.

Together they had created a world beyond the scope of what we had believed to be possible. Blank, a game that has everything, the only thing missing is you!

I finished logging in and slid the VR gear over my eyes. I lay back in my bed and relaxed as the game paralyzed my body.

The VR tech merged with my consciousness as the virtual world loaded.

I was standing in a white room. A screen appeared on the wall in front of me. A pleasant looking young woman appeared on the screen. Her voice was also pleasing as she spoke, " Welcome to Blank, would you like to create a character?"

Yes!

It guided me through the various customization options and I quickly selected them. I had long since decided what I would play.

Name: Thorn

Hair: Black

Height: 6'5

Class: Warrior

Race: Human

The nice lady asked the final question, " What is your age? "

Huh? why would they ask that? Shouldn't the game already know your age? Does that mean I can appear older than 18?!? Alright, let's do it! Ten years shouldn't hurt anything, so I told her 28!

A red warning light appeared as soon as I answered. The screen lady looked angry.

Wtf was going on?

Her face full of anger, the Lady yelled, " You are a Liar! The government doesn't tolerate such atrocities. You will now be punished according to your crime. You added ten years to your life, so your character will be ten years younger instead. Welcome to blank, have fun and happy gaming! "

I was still in shock as the game began to load. I remembered the ethics accord and realized this was the work of the political powerhouses. I should have known something like this would happen. How could I be so stupid!

I had trained and worked so hard preparing for this moment. I was supposed to get to be different!

All of these thoughts ran through my head as the game finished loading. Maybe she was kidding, surely she wouldn't actually do that. I opened my eyes and looked down at the hands of a child. How am I supposed to become a mighty warrior when I'm stuck in the body of an 8-year-old!