XLand II (2) The Long Awaited Sequel

Chapter 1: Encrypted Invitation

The harsh glow of multiple monitors bathed Britta Bethal's home office in an eerie blue light. Her fingers jittered across the keyboard, eyes darting between screens as lines of code scrolled past. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple, but she didn't dare take her attention away from the task at hand.

"Come on, you bastards," she muttered, lips pressed into a thin line. "Not my system. Not today."

A series of rapid-fire pings signaled incoming attacks on her spa chain's network. Who knew that becoming a large franchise would invite cyber attacks, let alone on a spa chain? The nonstop upkeep of digitally punching intruders was difficult, but she thanked herself for taking the plunge to study something after the success of her business. Each attack grew more sophisticated than the last. Britta had been fending them off for the past hour, a high-stakes game of digital cat and mouse. She had never wondered about the security industry until she was attacked chain-wide three years prior, where she spent a fortune to fix the havoc. Based the information she received from the security company she hired this went on for all large businesses and it wouldn't stop there. Why not learn to tackle them herself? And so she did.

She'd come a long way from the insecure young woman who'd stumbled into XLand five years ago. The Britta of today was a successful entrepreneur, owner of a thriving chain of high-end spas, and—though few knew it—a skilled ethical hacker.

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she deployed a particularly clever bit of code. The attacks stuttered, then ceased altogether. Britta leaned back in her chair, allowing herself a moment of satisfaction.

"Knew that would do it," she said to the empty room, stretching her arms above her head.

As if on cue, her phone buzzed. A text from her head of IT: "Boss, you seeing this? Attacks just stopped cold."

Britta chuckled, tapping out a quick reply: "All taken care of. Run a full system check, then call it a night. Good work, team."

She stood, wincing at the stiffness in her muscles. How long had she been sitting there? A glance at the clock confirmed it was well past midnight. Britta moved to the large window overlooking the city, pressing her forehead against the cool glass.

Five years. Had it really been that long since XLand? Sometimes it felt like yesterday—the thrill, the danger, the sheer sensory overload of it all. Other times, it seemed like a dream, too fantastical to have been real. She remembered Saby and the fun time they had together. That girl was a mess. It had been a hot minute since they spoke. Britta wondered why communication lost between them?

Britta's reflection stared back at her: sharp green eyes, a face that had gained character with age, auburn hair now streaked with the occasional silver strand. She was no longer the wide-eyed girl who'd been dragged to XLand by her best friend Saby. That Britta had been changed by her experiences, emerging stronger, more confident.

But at what cost?

The memories came unbidden. The heart-stopping moment she'd realized the true nature of XLand. The aftermath, the nightmares that had plagued her for months.

Britta shook her head, dispelling the dark thoughts. That was in the past. She'd taken control of her life, built something to be proud of. Her spas were renowned for their cutting-edge relaxation techniques, a reputation built on the insights she'd gained at XLand—without the extreme risks, of course.

A soft chime from her computer drew her attention. New email. Probably another client inquiry or a report from one of her managers. Britta padded back to her desk, sinking into the plush chair.