Hacker’s Heart

CHAPTER 1 ✨Sophia✨ “Never in my 19 years on earth have I regretted stepping outside as much as I do now.” I thought to myself. I could hear my heart pounding fast in my chest as I adjusted my hoodie to cover my face more properly. The night was cold and so was the silence. It felt like it shouldn’t be that way like it was too heavy or something. The stillness seemed to press down on me as if the very air was thick with it. It felt like the air was holding its breath just as I was. The streetlights flickered every few seconds casting weird wavy and spooky patterns all around me. I started to walk faster on the cracked and uneven sidewalk path these old buildings tend to have when no one bothers with maintenance. My shoes hit a staccato beat against the deserted streets, rap-tap-tapping away in my head reminding me how alone I really am right now, how helpless and far from refuge I stand. Another thing I can’t shake has been the sensation of being followed. The past few months have been quite an emotional roller coaster. A blur of fear, paranoia, and survival. I didn't leave that home because I wanted to. I left because I needed to. The kind of things I discovered that day……people don't just walk away, they run. Because I found out things that gave me no choice but to run. The kind of secrets you wouldn't be shown mercy for and wouldn't likely get a second chance at life if caught. I could hear their sinister voices in my head…..how they laughed about my future. I thought by disappearing into the darkness, becoming someone new with a new identity would grant me some sort of peace. But peace was something you were given. You had to earn it, to fight for it and I haven't fought hard enough yet. I almost couldn't find that peace though and fear was my constant companion. I rarely left my hiding place and every time I did, my instincts screamed at me to turn back, to run. But tonight was different. Tonight, the fear was almost tangible, as if it were a living, breathing entity trailing my steps. I could not ignore it any longer. I was being followed. I think I heard the footsteps slowly following me, they were very faint, but I could still tell they were there. I held my breath and suddenly I increased my walking speed as my heart beat faster. I dared not look back. The last thing I wanted and needed was to confirm my fears. Who was it really? Were they from my adoptive parents? Had they finally found me? Or was it someone else from the new life I abruptly took over? These questions were embedded in my head like a tornado with the next question being even more dreadful than the previous one. The footsteps became louder and nearer and nearer. Suddenly I began walking on my own with the help of my legs and there was a flow of energy in my veins. The road ahead turned left really fast, so I quickly followed the turn, hoping to lose the person following me in the maze of the alleys. I was breathing fast and looking everywhere for a way to get away. I saw a dark wall that wasn’t probably illuminated. I quickly rushed there and stayed behind the wall, tears threatening to fall. “No, I can’t be weak. I got this far, I cannot be weak.” I said to myself. The footsteps did not stop, they kept coming closer and closer. I could see a shadow becoming larger and larger. It looked like the shadow of a man. I knew I could not risk the fact of getting caught. While frantically looking for a solution in my head, I saw something move. To my right, following the movement, there was a narrow alley between two old, broken, and probably abandoned buildings. Without thinking, I ran into it bumping into a rough brick wall as I squeezed my body through the tight space. That alley was extremely narrow that I could barely squeeze in but I pushed through: my fingers running up against the cold wet surface of the walls. I could hear footsteps, approaching me, getting louder and closer. I started to panic, pushing myself to run faster. The alley opened up to a wider street, and for a moment I hoped I had lost them. I started walking back, my face looking back. But then, that hope disappeared the moment I turned the corner and ran right into someone. My heart almost skipped a beat. In fact, it did. Has the person following finally caught up with me? I stumbled back like a drunk irresponsible person, gasping for breath. My vision started to get blurry, but I blinked quickly to clear it. When I could see again, I recognized the person in front of me—Lila “Maya? What are you doing here?” Lila asked, with a tone mixed with surprise and worry as she reached her hands out to help steady me. For a moment, it felt Like I couldn’t move or speak. My heart was still racing from all the running away. But seeing Lila, my supposed sister there made me feel a little safer. I wasn’t alone anymore. “I……I thought someone was following me,” I finally said in a shaky tone. Lila’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “Who?” “I don’t know,” I replied, looking back nervously. “But I heard footsteps. They were right behind me.” She tightened her grip on my arm as she looked around. “There’s no one here now. Maybe you’re just hallucinating.” I shook my head almost immediately. “No, I know what I heard. Someone was following me, Lila.” She sighed and looked at me more softly. “Okay fine, let’s just get back to the apartment. It’s not safe out here.” I nodded, still feeling uneasy when a realization dawned on me. Lila turned, trying to head to our small apartment when I grabbed her hands. “Wait, what are you doing out here by this time?” I asked. Lila wasn’t feeling too well earlier and had to go deliver the list in her stead. “Let’s head inside first and I’ll let you know.” She said. I nodded and followed her, my mind easing up a bit. Almost as soon as we stepped into the house, Lila plopped down on the couch fatigued. “How are you feeling now?” I asked. “A little bit better, I guess”. She replied, turning her gaze at me. “What about you Maya, are you okay now?” “Yeah,” I responded as I headed over to the dining table. “What about the place you went to?” Lila asked. “Drew said it wasn’t a bad idea, but he is still considering it.” I unscrewed the cap of a bottle of water and drank out of it. I could still feel my hands trembling from the earlier fear as I dropped the bottle near the kitchen sink. It felt like I could breathe for a second and I tried to even my breaths before continuing. “And, I already submitted the list to him. Overall, we will get feedback as soon as tomorrow.” I turned to Lila for her response, my back resting on the sink, and raised the bottle for a second gulp of water. “Anyways that’s good but the materials we need for risott………” Knock. Knock. A not-so-gentle knock on the door disrupted our conversation and peace. It was a deliberate and sharp type of knock that echoed in the still parlor. We both froze still. Usually, we don’t have visitors or stay-at-home neighbors except for Drew and his family, whose house is a 15-minute walk from here. Lila and I shared a worried and anxious look. My stomach dropped. “Are you expecting someone?” I asked, whispering. She shook her head no. That’s suspicious. Who could it be? At this time?