For a moment nothing happens.

I'm still stood in the temple like room. Cupid and Cal's eyes are fixed on me.

Then I blink and everything changes.

I gasp and take a step backwards. Cupid jumps forwards and grabs my arm - preventing me from falling over.

"Easy there" he says.

I nod then move away from him and look around.

The floor is now cobbled stone, the chair Cupid was sat on now looks like a bench, and a worn out diner stands at the other side of the space.

We're in the Forever Falls town square. Or we almost are. I can't put my finger on it but there's something not quite right.

The whole area is desolate and painted in twilight. Even though I presume we are still inside a cool breeze tickles my skin.

I walk over to bench - realising why the square looks slightly different than it should.

"This isn't in the right place" I say, running my hand along it.

Cupid nods.

"The program creates a kind of blanket – wherever there are objects in the actual room it covers them with an image of something that won't look out of place in the hallucination." he explains "There's a chair there so the program shows you the bench in the square."

"It feels like a bench though." I say "And it's longer than the chair. Can I sit on it?"

Cupid nods.

"Your brain is telling your senses that all this is real - and your body will act accordingly." he says. "Probably worth bearing in mind for when the enemies get here." he adds "In the Sim they aren't real but they can still hurt you."

I look at Cupid slightly alarmed.

He smiles gently.

"Don't worry, it's only a sensation. Once you take out the microchip any pain experienced will go away."

I roll my eyes.

"Reassuring" I say.

I continue to gaze around the square – it all looks so real. I cast my eyes to the middle. The worn fountain stands there like always, a tired trickle of water dribbling into the stone pool below it. If it wasn't completely deserted I could have almost fooled myself into believing I was there.

I shake my head.

"This is insane." I say – peering up at the deep orange sky. "What happens if I leave?"

I locate the place where I remember Cupid's door to be. Now it looks like the alleyway that leads to the Love Shack.

"The program will recreate this image in the next room you enter" says Cal.

He looks at his brother.

"Now, where did you put the weapons? And what time will the enemy arrive?" he says sternly as though the time for chit chat is over.

"They're in the diner" Cupid says gesturing towards the run down food place in the corner of the square "And the enemies should arrive in about five minutes"

He begins to head over to Romeo's and Cal and I follow – our footsteps echoing against the cobbled stones. I peer into the florist window as we make our way by. It's completely deserted.

"Don't you ever feel like loading up a Sim and just like - going mad inside it – like trashing the place up or snooping around the houses or something?" I say.

Cal looks momentarily horrified.

"No!" he says.

"Oh...erm...I totally wasn't thinking of anything like that either..." I say.

In front of us I see Cupid's shoulders move slightly as though suppressing a laugh. He opens the door to the diner.

The inside looks exactly the same as the one in the square.

I've spent many evenings in here I think sat drinking shakes with Charlie while James was on shift.

I feel a slight turn in my stomach as I think of the two of them.

"How does it look so realistic?" I ask Cal to distract myself.

The Matchmaking Agent purses his lips as though unsure of whether he should tell me. He looks into my eyes sternly then sighs.

"You saw back at the Matchmaking Service we have extensive amounts of surveillance." he says quickly "Cupid just hacked into that to get the Sim to recreate the square."

We follow Cupid along the black and white tiled floor past the booths, until we get to the counter. Cupid puts his arm on top of it and swings himself over – disappearing momentarily from view. Seconds later he throws a bag onto the counter-top.

Cal unzips the satchel and empties it; three bows, quivers, and a number of arrows fall noisily out. There are a couple of Capax's, an Ardor, and around ten of the black Cupid Arrows.

"Do they work on you guys?" I ask.

Cal nods.

"Yes, but differently than they do on humans." he says "The black arrows, like we mentioned before, kill all cupids except for my brother and I. When hit by a Capax a cupid will find it very difficult to suppress the truth. And the Ardor" he continues darkly "causes immense pain to anyone of our kind."

Cupid looks at me.

"Probably worth mentioning that the Sim thinks you're a cupid..." he says "If you get hit by a black arrow you'll be fine. Die in the Sim and the chip will just stop transmitting and you'll come to in my combat room. Get hit by the Ardor and....well..." he adds "...just don't"

Die? Immense pain?

Involuntarily I shiver.

The brothers arm themselves with a bow each and a number of arrows. Cal looks suspiciously at the third bow as I reach for it.

"Selena won't be using weapons" he says to Cupid "Should we really be letting Lila play about with one?"

I frown.

"Hey" I say sharply "If I'm going to be attacked by some crazy programmed enemies that could lead to me experiencing 'immense pain' then I want a freaking weapon"

Cupid grins.

"It's just a game brother." he replies.

I swipe the bow off the counter -it's heavier than I imagined, and cool to the touch. Then I scoop up a quiver and fill it with arrows. I sling both over my shoulder somewhat unsurely.

Cupid raises his eyebrows.

"They look good on you." he says- his eyes twinkling.

"Hmmm" I reply "Shame I don't know what I'm doing with them..."

Cupid wafts his hand in mock dismissal.

"You'll be fine" he says.

Cal however looks troubled.

"Are you sure about this?" he says "She could get hurt – we would never expose a new recruit to danger like this on their first attempt. Even experienced Cupids have been traumatised from getting hurt in a Sim. What if she gets hit my an Ardor? What if she forgets to take out the chip?"

Cupid gives him a look.

"She's my match." he says simply "She'll be fine."

Cal looks at me questioningly and I nod.

I feel nervous – but if none of this is real then how bad can it really be?

I'm just about to reassure the Matchmaking Agent when I hear the sound of voices coming from outside. I gasp. The sudden sound of intruders against the silence of the Sim sends a chill down my spine.

"Remember...whatever happens...it's not real Lila" whispers Cal hurriedly, pulling me downwards out of view.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are." comes a cold male voice from the square.

My skin prickles and I feel my palms go clammy.

Cupid looks down at me and grins.

"They're here."