The classroom was dark. The board was black instead of white, and the markers were neon. Blue light outlined the board and the teacher's desk. Every desk and chair had an outline of red. Unix and I sat in the front. She beamed at me.
"You should be glad you're Hacker 1000. If you were higher you wouldn't have been able to be with me."
"What?"
"Encryption on a Monday are for Hackers 900 to 1000. Hackers 1 to 200 have Free Day today. Tomorrow they will have Encryption. It's a rotating system."
I shook my head dumbly. "I don't get what you're saying."
She sighed and handed me a piece of paper:
Encryption
Hacker numbers 900-1000
Programming
Hacker numbers 700-800
Security
Hacker numbers 500-600
Regulars
Hacker numbers 300-400
Free Day
Hacker numbers 1-200
"It would be nice to be Hacker number 1," I mumbled.
I would be rich, and mom and sister could get anything they wanted. We wouldn't have to live in the worn-out apartment, and we could have a big turkey once a while. Sister could have a new bear, and mom could have a queen sized bed. I wouldn't have to worry about the tax papers in our room because there wouldn't be any. We could be free.
"Hello Hackers."
I was snapped out of my daydream.
A woman in white uniform came into the classroom. Stitched in black thread on her jacket was her name. Amelia. Her hair was in a ponytail, and she wore a pair of black glasses. She looked round her late twenties. She kept a straight face as she inspected the class.
"Have you all finished the assignment?"
There were a few yeses.
"Alright." She sat down and opened her computer. The light illuminated her face in a frightening way.
"Send me your assignments. Give me the passwords for it."
She scrolled through. "Unix, Tag, Beta..."
I gulped. What was I supposed to do? Would she even notice me?
"Ahem! Amelia, there's a new student. Her name is Ada." Unix smiled.
Amelia looked up from her computer. She looked at me.
"You're the new student."
I squeaked. "Yes."
"Hacker Number."
"1000."
She made a noise of affirmation and went back to looking at her computer.
"There are a few rules here, Ada," she said, typing. I will send an assignment and the password to you, and you must complete it. You will give me your assignment the next class. I pick the assignment with the least mistakes, and use it for hacking. Any Hackcoins given will be distributed among the student and the school. I encourage you to do the best that you can. It's the easiest way you can make money." Her sharp eyes stared at me.
"Is that understood?"
I nodded.
She stood up and turned around to write on the board.
"Encryption."
Domain met us again in the cafeteria.
YOU ARE READING
Hacker Academy
Science FictionI am a hacker. It's the only way to help my mother and sister survive. At Hacker Academy, I make money, friends with dark secrets, and love. But if there's one thing I've learned at Hacker Academy, some secrets should not be hacked. Highest Rankings...
