DEAD STARS

DEAD STARS is a fiction novella that follows Lyssa, a lonely 18-year-old girl turned idol. She’s known as Lyssa in the real world, but in the virtual world, she’s known by her stage name Hana. The world she performs in is called the Labyrinth—a virtual reality world where anything is possible. However, one day Lyssa is forced to make a choice: play it safe and continue performing in the Labyrinth or expand her horizons to perform in the real world. With the help of a new friend named Judith, she makes the choice to perform outside of the Labyrinth, but not without facing difficulties. Throughout her journey, she struggles with the concept of selfhood and the lack of control she has over her own life. Additionally, she struggles to maintain a clear mind, spurred on by the overwhelming emotions she feels towards Judith. At her final concert, she has a mental breakdown on stage, permanently ruining any chance she had at saving her career. The team behind her does not care, however, since she is easily replaceable; Judith is rebranded as the new Hana, stealing Lyssa’s virtual persona, while leaving Lyssa behind to rot.