Jacob Lessard built the Penta device to create virtual experiences more real than physical life. Lilya arrives at InterMense to beta test it, expecting to spend a weekend in the Vitalia simulation in exchange for managing some social anxiety. Instead she finds herself caught in something much larger when Ben, another tester, refuses to leave Vitalia — endangering his life. As Lilya, Ben, and Jacob's paths entangle, each of them must confront what it means for something to be real, and make decisions that only matter if reality does.