The first thing I remember is waking up to a bright white place, empty of almost everything. Then I saw it; a giant floating sign that told me I'd died and asked if I would like to revive. It didn't seem too scary, even though it should have, what with death being mentioned, so I chose yes and waited. Slowly, but faster and faster, the scenery around me changed; trees and grass growing in clarity, sounds slowly filtering in, and finally, my body, which I had only just noticed, becoming heavier. 

Looking around my new environment, I noticed running water and a satchel of food, along with a bow and arrow, a sword, a set of twin daggers sitting beside a vial of what seemed to be oil, what looked like some kind of ornate staff, and a mace. Searching the satchel I found that it also contained an empty flask and I decided to fill it with the clear water from the stream. Next, I turned back to the weapons, deciding that it must be a test. I shrugged and picked up the bow and arrow, muttering to myself that this seemed exceedingly fishy. In a flash, the other weapons disappeared, making me jump in alarm. 

"I may not know what the hell is going on here, but I am starting to dislike it greatly."

My words went unheard as new clothes appeared before me, made of the softest yet strongest leather I'd ever come across. After putting it on and adjusting it, a new screen popped up abruptly, asking whether I was male or female. Curious, I chose male and waited for something to happen. After a few minutes with no change, I shrugged and lifted the pack of food, now containing clean water, and was confronted by another screen asking me to choose my stats. Suddenly, my memory comes rushing back and I realize what has happened; I'm in a game and I've been stuck in it for a year now, forced to recreate my character each time I lose, and play the game from scratch.

There are other people that play the game, but I'm the only one, to my knowledge, who has this problem. I was a game tester for a few years, but people had been pestering me more and more to try out some new stupid game every few weeks, each one more childish than the last. That had been about five years ago now, and it seemed my obstinance had been my undoing. I'd been kidnapped about a month before being forced into this game against my protests, and when my kidnappers realized they wouldn't get my willing cooperation, they drugged me and forced me into the VR helmet they rigged up. Honestly, I'm not supposed to be remembering any of this, but each time I fail, I get a little more memory back. Seems there's a bug in their system.