Hacker Academy

New Girl

I decide to start from the first floor of Hacker Academy.

Everyone's wearing the black jacket. I guess it's their student uniform. Some hackers have headphones on, typing furiously. Some are just playing around with others. Students are sitting against trees, some on benches, and some in the corner with other people who like corners. They all look... like they know what they're doing. And here I am standing dumbly having no idea what to do.

The entrance to Hacker Academy is a line of trees with a gravel path leading to big glass doors. There's a fountain at the centre of campus. Turning around to face the doors, I hesitantly push them.

The walls are made of red bricks, with banners hanging on every wall. The ceiling is extremely high, like a chapel's. There is a balcony-like bridge near the top of the building all made out of glass. Students walk on the glass bridge still looking at their screens.

The daylight shines in from the tall windows, light gleaming over me with every step I take. Hackers scamper everywhere, all minding their own businesses. Where am I supposed to start?

A girl stares at her computer screen and has glasses like a librarian's. She is sitting behind the help desk. I walk over to her, only to have her glare up at me. My mouth feels dry.

"I'm Ada. Hacker number 1000. Just got here." I hand her my citizen ID card.

She stares at the card and looks at me again. She picks up the phone.

"Miss Tag, hacker number 1000 has arrived. I'll send her to you."

She points to the side. "Turn right, and go straight. Go to the hallway with the words, Administrative. Her room is on the 116th floor."

The girl goes back to staring at her computer. I awkwardly take back my card and head right.

The floor is made out of black metallic, like the material of my new computer. My black boots make a clacking sound every time it touches the floor. The red bricks on the wall stop when 3 neon tunnels appear.

They're huge, the tunnels all out of glass, with green neon lights at the rims. Above each tunnel is a sign. Administrative, Dormitories, Classrooms. There are hackers walking into the dormitories and classrooms tunnel. No one is going to administrative. I sigh, and head to the isolated tunnel.

The tunnel inside is glass too. Looking out I can see some tall trees, and even taller skyscrapers. I can hear faint honks from the road. I wonder what it would be like, living in Hackcity.

I come to an elevator at the end of the tunnel. It opens, and I walk in. There are a few buttons. What did she say again? 116. I press the button, and the elevator shoots up. Transportations in Hackcity have a thing for moving quickly and crazily.

When I reach floor 116, my head is dizzy, my stomach feels like throwing up, and my legs are numb. I just crouch in the elevator, waiting to throw up.

The elevator doors start to close. I reach out, trying to block the doors before being sent down again. The doors open, and I see a pair of black heels.

"Hello. You must be Ada."

Her voice isn't soft, but it isn't sharp either. It's a voice of gentleness, with authority in her voice.

"I'm sure you didn't come to Hacker Academy just to sit in the elevator." She says with amusement.

I shake my head.

"I'm Miss Tag. Principal of Hacker Academy."

Slowly, I look up. She ruled the entire school and here I was, sitting in an elevator? I stand up, but fall down. Then I slowly regain my balance.

"I'm sorry Miss Tag. I was just dizzy, and I really don't like-"

"Relax. That was how I felt when I first came here."

She looks straight into my eyes. Hers are a bright grey.

"Let's come into my office, alright?"

She turns around and walks towards the hallway. Her black hair is in a bun, and she is wearing a black blazer and black miniskirt.

I speed walk to catch up with her. "Do you have the highest job in Hacker Academy?"

She laughs. "Other than the founders of Hacker Academy? I have the highest role."

She opens a wooden door with the words Miss Tag on a golden plate. She opens the door and beckons me in. She has a black table and a black office chair. Another plate on the desk has her name. On the left is a bookcase, but there isn't a lot of books in it. Maybe she's not a reader. On the right are black file cabinets. She takes a seat behind her office chair and put her arms on the table like an excited friend waiting to hear the latest gossip. I slowly sit down.

"So Ada," she says. "How do you feel?"

I look around me. "I have lots of questions, and I feel so out of place."

She nods. "Of course. How'd you like the train?"

I look at her. "What do you mean?"

"The Hackcity train that took you here. How'd you like that?" Her eyes are twinkling.

I smile and try to hide that I wasn't scared to death by it. "It was... fun."

She smiles and shakes her head. "That's what they always say."

"Let me get this straight," I say. "Hacker Academy is just a part of Hackcity. Which is really underground New York. And I was teleported here."

She raises her eyebrows. "I'm surprised you know that much."

"Domain gave me some answers."

"Oh, Domain." Miss Tag rolls her eyes at the mention of him. "He certainly is a special person. In a strange way."

"Why is he admin hacker? He's nothing like it."

Miss Tag puts the tip of her fingers together. "He got the job because he was the only person who wanted it." She looks at me. "He gets hackcoins by helping the school. You could too."

The thought of working with Domain gives me chills.

"Now," she bends to the side and takes some papers out. "Let me explain your schedule and everything. There are 5 classes. You take a class each day. Saturdays and Sundays are off."

She points to Monday. "Hacker numbers 1000 to 900 have Encryption on this day. Programming on Tuesday, Security on Wednesday. You have Regulars on Thursday."

I'm about to ask what Regulars was when she holds a finger up.

"Regulars are the normal subjects you would have in a regular school. Such as Math and English."

"And Friday?"

"Friday is Free day. Your teacher plans something special. It's always related to hacking." She paused a moment before continuing.

"And as you know there are dormitories. You'll be sharing it with a girl. Now as I see it," she shuffles through some papers. "You're on the 100th floor."

She hands the papers to me. "All set?"

I nod.

"Great," Miss Tag smiles and walks out of the office before I follow after her. "School starts tomorrow. I suggest heading over to your dormitory right now." 

She presses the elevator button and the doors open. I stare at it for a moment. Miss Tag smiles kindly. "You will be using elevators quite frequently from now on. Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

"Thank you, Miss Tag."

"Not a problem."

She waved. "Bye, Ada."

I keep up the happy gig until the doors close. I exhale.

Yeah, as if I would get used to the elevator.

It shoots down.