He had been my best friend for 30 years. He was also the world’s most evil man. I was going to kill him.

He had been my best friend for 30 years. He was also the world’s most evil man. I was going to kill him. <br><br>We met when we were kids, and have been best friends ever since. We did everything together. <br><br>As we grew older we went to university together and even got our first job at the same company. We were inseparable. <br><br>One day, he took a massive risk. He left his job and with his life savings, started his own company. I remember telling him that he was making a massive mistake. He just grinned maniacally and said “Just watch”. <br><br>Three years later, his company was massive. He founded NeuroCore. <br><br>With unlimited funds, he started hiring massive amounts of scientists. Within a few more years, he had developed NeuroCore’s flagship product. It was an armoured helmet that could be worn over your head. Once activated, it began to read your brain signals. It could read your thoughts. It could make any dream, fantasy or wish you had a reality. <br><br>The world went crazy for it. I have to admit, I was the first in line for it. It was everything it promised. I spent a year in the helmet, living life after life, enjoying fantasy after fantasy. <br><br>Then I took it off. I looked around and saw desolation. Half of the city was empty. Buildings lay abandoned, streets were cracked and nature was taking over. <br><br>Bewildered, I wandered the streets until I found a small shop open. Inside I found an elderly woman, sitting on a bed, in one of the helmets. <br><br>I frantically shook her. Eventually she came round. She looked at me, startled, and began to weep. <br><br>She told me that I had been gone for 10 years. That most of the world was gone. Most people just spend their days inside their own fantasy worlds, with no need to interact with the physical world. <br><br>She told me that I had to end it. That I needed to kill him. <br><br>I didn’t even debate it. I knew that I had to. I immediately set out for NeuroCore Tower, where he was. <br><br>I got to the tower and ran inside. It was abandoned and empty. <br><br>At the top of the tower, I finally saw an open door. I stormed in. <br><br>It was him. <br><br>He was sitting at a desk, looking at me grinning. <br><br>“You think you’re my nemesis?” He chuckled. “I’ve lived a thousand lifetimes. I’ve been fictional heroes. I’ve been gods. Nothing can stop me.” <br><br>He clicked a button on his desk. I felt a sensation, like a hand grabbed my brain. I tried to fight it, but my vision faded to black. <br><br>When it came back, I was somewhere else. I was in a forest. I was a knight, riding a horse. I was going to save a princess.<br><br>I tried to shake the thought. I knew it was his doing. But it was too strong. I charged forward, ready for battle, ready for glory. <br><br>And that’s when I realised. He had won. He had trapped me. <br><br>I was going to live in this fantasy forever. He had won.