Breaking the Code

The Final Straw

Please don't try to kill me. I promise there is a reason for everything that happens. Trust me beans! All will be revealed in time! Enjoy! Loves!!

Corey

After the meeting with Sang today I headed to Victor's place straight away. We needed to keep digging on her to find something. I don't know who she is but I have a feeling that Sang is a key player in all of this.

Vic and I were working for hours and we couldn't find anything on her. No social media, no hospital records, no school records. NOTHING! I was about to throw my computer across the room if we didn't find something soon. When I noticed Victor getting just as frustrated I pulled him away from the desk. We needed to talk anyway, might as well do it now.

"Vic, I need to tell you something. Before I do I want to apologize not only for the way I've been acting but for something else. Please know that you're one of my best friends and I was just angry. That's not an excuse, only me telling you why." I look at Victor. The look of concern on his face is deep.

Cracking a smile Victor starts to chuckle lightly, "I was wondering what was up. You've been acting more like Brandon and North lately. I'm sure whatever it is will be fine just tell me." Now I feel like even more of an ass. Shit okay here we go.

"You know the way I came into the Academy isn't the most conventional but you don't know the whole story." I tell him all about B's and my plan to help people while saving enough to get us away from our family. I tell him all about my hacking. I even tell him my code name. When I do he looks so shocked that a leaf could knock him over.

"Vic it's more than that. Once I joined I was told not to access anything having to do with my hacking or I would be kicked out. I knew that they had someone placing blocks on all of my emails and everything related. I recently found out that it was you." I saw the blush over take his face and held up my hand before he could try and apologize.

With a deep breath I tell him the hardest part. "I never cared about getting back into my old circles. There was only one thing I cared about. When I was first starting to code I came across a server that people would chat on. Well one person and I started emailing back and forth privately. We went on that way for years. She knew everything about me and I knew a lot about her. She was in a bad place and the plan was that as soon as B and I were safe I would find her and get her away."

Ignoring the tears in my eyes I continue. I have to keep stopping to breathe. I never thought I would talk about Hacker to anyone and now I've told my family and I'm telling my friend. "I had to get back into my email to talk to her. I didn't know if she was still alive or not. This mission had you so distracted you didn't change the program and I was able to get in." A flicker of anger goes through his eyes.

"When I got in-" I pause to collect myself, "When I got in the email she had sent me broke me. The last email she sent was the day after I was arrested and it was her begging me to help her. I was devastated and then I got mad. You were just doing your job but your job kept me from her. I sent an email back and two days later she got a hold of me." I smile at the next thought. "The joy I felt when I knew she was still alive was enormous. She won't let me get her out now because she's in a place to help people but she is tracking me so she can meet me in some way."

Once I'm done I brace myself for Victor to get pissed. I know I'd be mad if someone broke my codes. I'm not prepared for him to start gushing though. I had no clue he knew some of my hacking work. Apparently I'm the reason he started coding. Damn, the ego boost feels good. Victor paused in his gushing and turned to face me.

"Cor, I never knew it was you and I had NO idea about keeping you from anyone important. I really am sorry. Do you know if she's found you?" I laugh softly and nod at that. If I know anything about Hacker, I know she's found me. I haven't had the chance to check my email yet but I know she has.

Just as I'm about to pull up my email so Victor can see with me if she's found me, alarms start going off on both our phones and computers. Victor and I spring into action to try and figure out what's happening.

After a few minutes we realize someone has hacked into our files about Ashley Waters. While Vic works on blocking the hacker I try trancing them. I have no idea how they found these but I have to find them. After thirty minutes everything stops. They logged off. "FUCK!" I couldn't find them! Who the hell keeps accessing our shit? First our cameras now our files. I don't want to know what's next.

Victor redlines Owen and starts explaining what just happened. When he puts me on speakerphone I tell them that it looks like the person copied our personal information then logged off. I keep trying to find them but I know I won't. They're gone and we won't have another shot until they get back on.

Once Victor hangs up the phone he starts throwing things. I've never seen him this upset. When he starts yelling I know he's freaking out. "HOW?! How the hell do they keep breaking through?! I can't find any leaks. I can't find anything! On top of all of this we have that BITCH threatening us! I don't know what she knows but I will. Damn it! I won't let her or anyone else hurt my family!" Throwing one last desk piece he starts typing again.

There's nothing I can say to make this okay. There's nothing anyone can say to make this right. Nothing will be okay again until we can figure out what Sang knows and who is hacking our stuff. We're both still digging when everyone arrives at seven for the meeting.

Putting our computers away we start to go over everything. Kota tells us about helping her last night, Owen goes in about the meeting. When it finally gets to Victor and I about the leak tonight I'm more confused than ever. While everyone is sitting there in silence I figure now is a good time to check my email. I need a break from this for just a minute. I need a break before I go insane.

Chamomile tea has reduced my sadness.

I know where you are in the world. The funny thing is... well you'll see. Go to Bob's Diner in your town tonight at 8pm. Crawler you and I have a lot to discuss and the first thing is located there. Don't forget.

Signing off for now,

DyingHacker

I look at the time to see how long I have when I realize it's already 8! Jumping up I startle everyone. "Brandon give me the keys now! She found me and I have to meet her. I'm late. KEYS!" I'm practically hyperventilating by the time B gives me the keys to his SUV. His vehicle goes faster than mine and I need to get there NOW!

I make the hour-long drive in just about thirty minutes. Skidding to a halt in the parking lot I run inside. I don't know what Hacker looks like but there's a message somewhere so I can find her. Racing up to the counter I ask if there was a message left here.

The gal behind the counter looks at me for a moment and I start to get more agitated. When she asks me who the message would be left by I almost cry. She was here! Maybe she still is! "DyingHacker. She goes by DyingHacker. Please I need to know!" Smiling softly the gal hands me a folded piece of paper. I collapse into a booth to read what she left me.

Chamomile Tea is here.

Crawler, I don't know if you are actually going to read this while I'm still here or not. I knew when I set this up you might not make it but I hope you do. I live in this state. I was easily able to get here. If you don't see me tonight leave a message for me here. I'll be back at some point soon. Please don't give up on me.

Signing off for now,

DyingHacker

You won't lose it Corey. You won't lose it. As I read through the note once more I look all around. No one looks like they could be her. When I ask the lady behind the counter she said the person who gave that to her left right before I got there. Hold it together Corey. Grabbing a napkin I jot down a short message and tell her to contact me as soon as someone comes to get this.

Once I make it back to the car Raven is pulling up with Brandon. Seeing both of them here is the final straw. I can't hold it any longer. Crumpling to my knees I start to cry. I feel Raven's arms around me and I hear Brandon talking but I don't care. I missed her and I don't know when she'll be back.