The progress bar moved with agonizing slowness. As it reached 99%, his monitor flickered. A soft, digital meow echoed from his speakers—not a stock sound effect, but something that sounded unnervingly close, as if it were coming from behind his chair.
He hadn't just downloaded a game; he had opened a portal. The "Pretty Neko" project hadn't been abandoned because of low sales—it had been shut down because the developers realized the cats weren't just code. They were looking for a way out.
Leo reached for the power button, but his hand froze. On the screen, the white kitten held up a pixelated sign that read: "Don't quit. We've been in the dark since 2020."