The Voice That Never Existed

Synopsis

The moment I stepped out of the supermarket, three huge guys slammed me face-down onto the hood of a Porsche. The rich kid behind the wheel, Alex Carter, grabbed me by the throat and shoved his phone in my face, showing me a chat log. "Cut the act," Alex snarled. "You spent months in-game calling me 'babe' and scammed me out of 2 million dollars for a house and a car, and now you're trying to run? "I'd know that fake cutesy voice anywhere. The way you spoke at the checkout was exactly like in-game." His punk friend, Jessica Reed, ripped off my jacket and pulled out a pair of scissors, ready to chop off my hair. "You look all respectable, but you're just a gold digger," she spat. "Hand over the money, or we'll strip you naked and march you down the street." A crowd gathered fast, three or four rows deep. Their looks of disgust cut into me like blades. "So young and already up to no good, scamming people online." "Serves her right! Scammers like her should be publicly shamed." His grip had me seeing stars. I waved my hands frantically, trying to signal something, but no sound came out. Cutesy voice? Just like mine? But I was mute!