Chapter 3: The Four

The message—“NEXT: THE CITY”—hung in Arman’s mind long after the lab had returned to its usual hum. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something vast and dangerous was unfolding, and somehow he had stumbled right into the middle of it.

Later that evening, the four of them gathered in the school courtyard. The air was heavy with the smell of rain-soaked concrete, and the dim streetlights cast long shadows across their faces.

Riya broke the silence first. “We can’t ignore this. If they’re planning something against the city, we have to do something.”

Kian frowned, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. “We’re just students. What exactly do you think we can do against a hacker collective?”

Arman looked up from his laptop, which balanced precariously on his knees. “We can start by figuring out what they’re after. That message wasn’t random. They’re using our school’s network as a gateway. If we trace the signals, we might uncover their next move.”

Zara leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “And what happens when they notice us poking around? You saw what they did today. They’re not amateurs.”

Arman met her gaze. “I know. But if we don’t try, who will?”

For a moment, no one spoke. The tension between them was palpable—not just from the threat of Black Circuit, but from the emotions simmering beneath the surface. Riya’s eyes lingered on Arman, her admiration clear, though she tried to hide it. Kian noticed, his jaw tightening. Zara, meanwhile, seemed torn between skepticism and a grudging respect for Arman’s determination.

Finally, Zara sighed. “Fine. I’ll help. But if we’re doing this, we do it smart. No reckless heroics.”

Arman allowed himself a small smile. “Agreed.”

Riya nodded eagerly. “Then it’s settled. The four of us.”

Kian muttered under his breath, “The four of us against an entire hacker collective. Sounds insane.”

Arman closed his laptop with a decisive snap. “Insane or not, it’s our only option.”

Just then, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen—and froze. A new message had arrived, anonymous and chilling:

“We know who you are. We know where you live.”

Arman’s stomach dropped. He looked up at the others, his voice low. “They’ve already found us.”