Charlie leaps over the edge of the drop and sails down the slope. The crystalline surface is so slick it's carrying him down at blistering speeds - it's just like a rollercoaster! Charlie grins as he steers his avatar left and right, avoiding rocks in the way - but his heel catches on a stray rock and he slams into the ground, tumbling end over end until he lands at the bottom of the slide in a heap. His avatar's broken an arm, and looks like he sprained an ankle, too!

The blow must've knocked the wind out of Charlie's avatar, because he can barely speak above a whisper - but he can still listen. And about 20 feet away is the unmistakable sound of a woman shrieking in relief.

"Oh my god! You're totally my hero! Just get me out of his gross place, my dad can make it worth your while!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Charlie can make out a stylish woman being led out of the cavern by someone else...

The screen pulls back, and suddenly Charlie is watching his avatar lay broken and motionless on the cavern floor. Huge letters swoop in as the camera pulls away. "AND THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS: GREED AND RECKLESSNESS WILL BE YOUR UNDOING."

Charlie yawns and nods his head in the direction of the blinking "Share with your friends?" prompt before pulling the headset off and dropping it on the dresser. Leaning back in bed, his eyes close, sending him into another world of dreams.

And so he drifts off to sleep, soothed by the gentle tones from the headset - still connected to the internet - as the 'Likes' come rolling in.