Page 93 of Tapeworld Induction

The same arena where he tore his knee.

He heard someone shout his name again.

His eyes hurt from all the spotlights.

“Isaak!”

A crowd of fans, shouting his name after winning the EuroLeague. He was back in the team. A strange warmth flooded his chest. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around himself, dropping to his knees.

“Isaak!”

It wasn’t the noise of a crowd. It was one, singular voice.

Her voice.

“Dylan!”

She was right in front of him. And she wasn’t alone. That friend of hers, from the night at Aftershock, the night he met her.

Relief flooded his chest and he ran towards her.

“Isaak! It’s me!” Her mouth was a smile and she ran to him, her dress fluttering in the wind. She was glistening wet, as if she’d had to swim across the Thames to get to him.

Halfway to her, doubt struck him, and he stopped.

Wait. How do I know this is real?

“Stop.” He raised his hand. “Stop!”

Dylan halted, her face filling with fear and worry.

“What’s wrong?”

A stream of tears fell from his eyes. Memories of his time playing that game as a kid, reliving the time he hurt his knee on the field, and when Sacha had given him the news that they were going to let him go… What if this was another of Astrid’s tricks?

“I don’t know how long I’ve been in here. You could just be another distorted memory, replaying in front of my eyes.”

She continued walking towards him, her eyes like galaxies, and he didn’t stop her. She was so close. Her scent – a mix of perfume and sweat – was intoxicating.

His brain told him to retreat, but his heart told him to embrace her.

“Could a memory do this?” She wrapped her arms around his neck and parted her lips, leaning in.

He closed his eyes.

They kissed.

The wet warmth of her mouth through the Tapeworld – an impossible kiss – was like tasting liquid electricity. His whole body tingled, goosebumps growing on his arms.

It was her. For real. As real as she could be, in this place. He pushed his doubt away. “I thought I was trapped here forever.” He studied her face, wanting to take her all in. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Dylan smiled.

He went in for another kiss, and she grabbed the back of his head with her hand, fingertips brushing his ear. She snaked her body around his, raising her leg around his waist, which he promptly grabbed and held on to.

“I’ve been waiting to do this for a long time, Isaak Powers.” Whispered words between kisses and soft moans.

His heart felt like it might explode out of his body at any minute.