@ astine:

Well, if the aim of the virtual world is to perfectly simulate reality then you can’t really have menus or a pull down console activated by key combo. The UI has to be something that can be detected within the simulation, and since the simulation only allows “players” to perform actions that conform to the current physics model, it make sense that exiting the sim would be an in-world action.

Kinda like some video games – I remember some Resident Evil installment required you to interact with a typewriter to save progress.

I like it. Though, I have a hard time imagining that any virtual world would embed the keys to the kingdom, so-to-speak, in the mechanics of the game. Seems a little like placing a wall switch in a Quake-like game which caused the console to drop down. :\

I think I should have put some tea on for this story.

Very good. I really enjoyed the story. By the way, can I take a look at that letter. Help yourself some cookies and tea while I read it.

@ Luke Maciak:
The starchan thing was intended as a joke… It was kind of a meme on 7chan back in the days when Moot ate more soup and thus the chans were forced to mingle more.

@ Alex Reinisch:

Thank you for the spell checking. :)

I could elaborate and explain it but sometimes keeping things intentionally vague stimulates the imagination more than spelling it out.

@ Jereme Kramer:

Yep, that was exactly my intention – I was sort of following an established pattern. I find the creepypasta like format is strangely powerful for what it is – it has this “campfire tale” charm to it.

Oh, and star is a wildcard so *chan should be read as “set of all possible in existence chans”. :P If I put a number there I would allegedly break at least two internet rules or something.

I really like it…

I’d like to point out that the story can be enhanced by listening to a “Skream and Jimmi Hendrix” station on Pandora. I’d have to disagree with Alex — I prefer it when stories are kept short, and the format is an important part of it being creepypasta. It actually reminded me alot of the Kris Straub stories about Ichor Falls (yes, the same Kris Straub that writes goofy non-sequiturs for chainsawsuit).

Also, what is this starchan and why haven’t I heard of it?!?!

Nice! I enjoyed the story of it, but felt cheated that it was just a letter. I long to follow the character that received the letter. How would they react to the letter? What traps and trip-ups would they fall victim to? What is Mr. Radcliffe like in person? Would they make it through the right door? Can the next part—the truth—be described to the reader, or would it ruin the appeal?
You clearly got me thinking. Thank you, and well done.

Here are some typos should you wish to fix them:
[4th paragraph, “apple opportunity”: should probably be “ample opportunity”]
[8th paragraph, “book exist”: should be “book exists”]
[10th paragraph, “my latter” -> “my letter”; “will be small fence” -> “will be a small fence”]

Creepy indeed…