The Digital Detox Dealers

2029: The Metaverse isn't just an escape—it's reality.  The physical world, a faded memory, exists only as a muted stage for the digital drama of our lives.  But in this digital cocoon, Anya Sharma offers a radical service: escape. As a Digital Detox Dealer, she curates real-world experiences for clients desperate to reconnect with the forgotten tangibility of life, trading sterile soundscapes for the symphony of nature, curated online communities for the chaotic ballet of city streets.
John Hart, a titan of the virtual world, seeks Anya’s services, his simulated success a hollow echo of true fulfillment.  Joseph Torres, a young artist, yearns for the raw inspiration lost within the confines of virtual galleries.  They, and countless others, flock to Anya, seeking fragments of themselves lost in the digital deluge.
But Anya's world, once a sanctuary, begins to unravel. Whispers of manipulated environments, experiences designed to evoke predetermined responses, reach her ears. The line between the real and the simulated blurs, raising the chilling question: is the reality she offers merely another layer of the digital façade?  Paul Saunders, a grizzled veteran of the pre-Metaverse era, warns of the dangers, but Anya, driven by an unshakeable unease, presses on, her investigation uncovering a labyrinth of corporate machinations and clandestine agendas.  Her path collides with Angela Gordon, a brilliant programmer from her past, whose true intentions remain shrouded in mystery. Is Angela an ally or a dangerous adversary?
The stakes escalate as Anya uncovers a chilling truth that could shatter the foundations of their virtual existence.  John Hart's immersion in the real world sparks a profound awakening, his words resonating with a growing movement of dissent. Joseph, inspired by the raw beauty he rediscovers, creates art that becomes a symbol of resistance.  Anya's quest culminates in a secluded research facility, where she confronts the architects of this manufactured reality and makes a choice that will ripple through the Metaverse, impacting millions.  Will she join the fight to dismantle the system or remain trapped within its web of deceit? The future of reality hangs in the balance.