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CHAPTER ONE
Aria
“Today, you are goingdown.”I shove my glasses up the bridge of my nose for the umpteenth time with a little smile, blinking at the screen in front of me. Although it’s cramped in this small, makeshift home office which consists of a tiny desk I rescued curbside nestled in a corner of the room to give me the best access to my computer screens, here’s where I do my magic. While I don’t really mind teaching coding at the little community college outside of Coney Island, I don’t like the red tape and long hours. I long to get back to my little haven, where my fingers fly over the keys and I truly come alive.
Today, in the most boring white conference room under harsh, fluorescent lights, tepid coffee in hand, I longed to get home to unwrap what I discovered last night:themotherlode of all encrypted goldmines. Way too complex for me to delve into before school, but now, when the night is young and the moon rises, I get to play.
Professor by Day, Hacking Goddess by Night.
At least that’s what I like to think.
I glance at the time and stretch. I can out-code anyone in the world, bar none. One day, I’ll no longer be known as Aria Cunningham, the nobody, barely scraping by at the local community college. I’ll actually make adifferencein this world.
I blink and stare at the screen.
Wait.
My heart beats faster. Is that…
No.
My mouth dry, I click the little icon indicating my download is complete. I scroll down, my hand covering my mouth as I’m seized with two conflicting emotions.
Elation —I did it!I successfully hacked into the most notorious database of criminal activity I’ve ever seen in my life.
And gripping, terrifying fear.
No one has ever done this before. And unearthing something this massive comes at a cost.
I stare, my mouth agape.
Names. Dates. Locations. Pictures.
Evidence.
Politicians and celebrities, CEOs and religious leaders, military icons and monarchs. I stare in both horror and glee as I realize…itworked.
I scroll past pages and pages of information that should be encrypted but reads clear as day now. Oh myGod.This is worsethan I thought. If this got out to the press…if anyone knew what these people have done.No.
And worse? If the owners of this information ever realize I’ve hacked into their database…
“Good thing you covered your tracks,” I whisper to myself.
A blinding yellow light flashes. I stare for a second too long.
I leap to my feet. I smack the button on the surveillance camera that overlooks all entryways to my apartment. My blood runs cold at the sight of six armed men at the back door. I might be in an old, mostly unoccupied house that was nearly condemned, but there are stillthreeaccess points, not including windows, and I don’t take risks.
Shit.
Oh God.
My heart beats so fast I feel nauseous, bile rising in my throat as I quickly assess my options even as my mind whirs.How?? How did they discover where I am so quickly?
I’m so damn careful, sweepingeverydigital footprint as thoroughly as possible. I leave no trace behind and cover every possible angle. I don’t have time to unravel this.
I kick my keys into the trash bin and grab my laptop. I have seconds as I scramble to my hideout in the tiny attic. The trap door glides into place at the same time my front door opens.
I slide into position, my heart beating so rapidly I feel like I’m going to be sick.
