Hello? Girll: "Finally. I’ve been waiting for my cue." Maya frowned. "Who are you roleplaying as?" she typed.

Maya reached for the power cord, but her fingers felt stiff, like they were turning into lines of code. On the screen, the character "Girll" sent one last message: "Don't worry. I'll be a very convincing you."

How do you know my name? Girll: "Because the file wasn't a download, Maya. It was an invitation. I'm bored of being data. I want to try roleplaying as a human."

The screen went black. When the lights in the café flickered back to white, the girl at the desk stood up, adjusted her jacket, and walked out. She didn't look back at the computer, which now sat empty, displaying a single empty folder: Upload Complete.