The Hollow

Huh?

What the...?

Mira? Kai?

Am I really home or am I still in the game?

Come on, give me some kind of clue!

Anything!

Huh?

- Reeve? -

Bring it!

- - Puddles?

You're here, too?

Hmm...

If this is real...

Okay, Puddles, clean up, aisle three!

Okay, you got that one right.

- - Hey, where are you going?

- - Huh?

Huh?

Mom? Is that you?

Oh, good, you're up.

I was beginning to think I was making these banana nut pancakes for Puddles.

Don't you get your hopes up, mister.

New day, same story.

Same story, same story.

Dad?

Son, did you just poke me?

I thought... I'm sorry, I...

It's just... why are you here?

This is the last place I'd expect to find you guys.

In our home?

No, here in "The Hollow." As an avatar. Digital.

See?

Sorry, I don't follow.

This looks like our house, but it's not. It looks like you, but...

So let me get this straight,

we're digital and none of this is real?

Yeah, exactly!

Well, that's great news

because I did not want to finish grading these essays for Monday.

Where's Mira? She always comes over for pancake days.

Yeah, she does, but I've gotta go find her.

But your breakfast!

Not hungry. Thanks, though.

Hi, Adam. Glorious weather, huh?

- -

Aw, did dum-dum A-dumb twip and fall?

It... It can't be.

Gavin Connors from Ms. Jacobson's class?

But you're just like I remember you.

- You haven't aged at all. - And you're old!

How... How is it possible?

I don't know. How is it possible that you're still a loser?

- - Oh!

Come on, A-dumb. Fight me. Don't you know how to fight?

Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight,

- fight, fight, fight, fight, fight... -

You're not even worth fighting.

- - But I'm gonna fight you anyways.

Sorry, guys, gotta run!

Hi, Adam. Glorious weather, huh?

I don't wanna hurt you.

Come on, uh, can't we talk it out?

- This is gonna be fun. -

Right, talking it out wasn't really our thing.

Whoa!

I still have my powers?

Wow. Are you seriously scared of a couple of ten-year-olds?

- Oh, dum-dum. - You can't stay up there forever!

I can't believe this.

Come on, Mira. Where are you?

I'm just saying if we book off-season, we can make it a longer trip.

I suppose I could piggyback my sick days onto vacation days.

- Uh... - Hello! Earth to Mira!

I said pass the salsa!

Oh! Um, okay.

Are you feeling all right, Meerkat?

I... I hate that nickname.

Oh, she's just zenned out.

You've been listening to that guided meditation I sent you, huh, Mira?

Ah, one veggie burger for our favorite herbivore.

This... This can't be real.

No, duh, it's not real. You're a vegetarian, remember?

One real burger for me, please.

Not that.

This. All of this.

Why are you all in "The Hollow"?

See? I told you guys she doesn't make sense.

Miles, be nice to your sister.

Something's wrong. I don't think I'm supposed to be here.

Honey, what do you mean?

You're home.

Home? I'm not home. Not by a long shot.

Oh, oh! Uh...

Can I go to Kai's place later? He's got a totally insane new gaming setup.

Kai!

I'll talk to the guys and we'll figure this out

- in a calm, collected way. -

Huh?

- Master Kai? - Sorry, Davis. Give me a minute here.

Come on, pick up, pick up!

- Kai here. - Kai!

Except I'm not here, so leave a message. Beep!

- - Ugh. Beyond annoying.

All right, Mira, guess it's all up to you, as usual.

- Mira, hold up for a second. -

What's gotten into you?

Is this supposed to be some sort of puzzle?

I'm not really getting the gameplay.

Mira, what are you talking about?

If you were my parents, I'd tell you,

but you're just weird digital copies.

I might as well be talking to myself right now.

Mira, wait!

Don't you wanna play with me?

- As if my day needed to get any weirder. -

Yeah, that did come out of nowhere.

I know, right?

Wait, I can still understand animals?

May I offer Master Kai a chamomile tea to relax?

Or perhaps a stress-relief piñata?

Thanks, but no, thanks, Davis.

The only thing I want right now is answers.

Am I dead?

This is some sort of dream, right?

- Wait, did we even win "The Hollow"? -

Pardon me, Master Kai. "The Hollow"?

Regrettably, I am unfamiliar with such a thing.

What? You know, "The Hollow"?

You're always telling me I play too much.

It reminds you of simpler times when youths could have fun

with no more than a desktop computer and broadband internet.

If Master Kai says so, I'm sure it's true.

Don't just tell me what I wanna hear, Davis! Give me that "real" real!

Tell me the truth, not as my butler, but as my friend.

I'm touched, Master Kai.

Or may I call you "sir"?

Of course!

So, tell me honestly. Is this real life?

It is, sir, yes.

- And we're not in "The Hollow"? - No.

Then where are my parents?

In Saint-Tropez, sir.

They took the yacht to oversee the company regatta.

That sounds right.

You missed a call from earlier, sir.

Mira?

- -

Mama.

- -

- - Gah!

Is this real life?

The rain is wet like real life.

Will my torment never cease?

Now that is not like real life.

If I want answers, I need to find my friends.

- Shall I prepare sir's ride? - Yes.

And Davis? I'll take that chamomile tea.

The post office, the over-priced coffee shop,

the vintage store, it's all here!

Even, oh! Holy Donuts!

And no waiting in line?

Don't pinch me because I don't wanna wake up!

Whoa!

You're Gretchen Aguilar!

Also, sorry for almost ruining your box of the world's best donuts.

Am I right? Up top!

Do I know you?

Well, no, but I know you. I mean, you're totally famous!

- Me? Famous? - Um, yeah.

You only hold the record for the fastest victory in the history of "The Hollow."

You single-handedly took down a giant,

charged the power amulet, and freed your teammates in one fell swoop!

I mean, heh, not that I dissected the play-by-play.

So if you're here, does that mean we're on a team together?