Hacker Academy

Saturday

I zip up my jacket and look at Unix. "I'm going to the mall now. You sure you guys will be okay?"

Unix smiles and waves me away. "Domain and I will be fine. We'll be grocery shopping."

Eyeing the bored Domain, I point at him. "No beer. Lots of water. I want some sour candies."

"You're like a controlling mother." He cringes at me.

"Then you'd be the rebellious kid," I say without missing a beat.

I've been in a consistently good mood these past few days. Even with Unix always dangling beside me like a rescued puppy. I did well in all of my classes, and some I was actually able to receive hackcoins for having the best assignment.

On some days Miss. Tag would suddenly appear during class. She would grin at all of us like we were kindergarteners. Then she'd eye me carefully with a serious, even terrifying expression and then leave. She was somehow different after Monday. Like she despised how I challenged her authority. But I paid it no attention.

Saying good-bye to Domain and Unix, I leave the dorm and head out to the mall. The crisp summer air feels cool on my cheeks, but staying out too long can also give me a sting. I exhale foggy mist while rubbing my hands together, very aware of the fall season. HackCity looked gloomy today, with a thick fog covering up the tall scrapers making it look like a ghost city. The neon lights glowed faintly, like dying candlelights after Christmas. Even though the city felt dead, I won't let it dampen my mood. I glance down at my phone to see the directions from the school to the mall.

"I was wondering when you'd show up."

In exasperation, I turn around to see Cyber in a black hoodie coming up towards me.

"Can you stop appearing out of nowhere and scaring the-"

"Figured you might get lost. So thought I'd wait for you."

"Thank you, but I can find my way." I hold up my phone.

Cyber chuckles and shakes his head. "So headstrong. Come along."

He can make me fume just by opening his mouth and uttering words. But after today, he won't ever bother me again. Just put up with him for a few hours. I shake my head and follow after his tall figure. We don't talk much on the way there. Sometimes he pulls me back when I'm too close to a car, but I'm getting better at avoiding them even at a close distance. I was always meant for this city.

At the mall, we enter the elevator and go up to the highest floor. When the doors open, the dome is the same as I last saw it. The glass ceiling makes the dome look so much brighter.

There are glass tables in a square formation, with the largest table at the center. Most of the tables are already occupied, and cheers and shouts erupted almost every moment. To the left, there's a counter and above it are neon lights with the words, SIGN IN.

"Come. We gotta sign in if we want to compete," Cyber says as he walks towards the counter.

I stare at him dumbfoundedly. "What do you mean, we?" But he was already far away. I follow after him quickly. There are glowing beer bottles behind the sign in counter, which I assume also serves as a bar. A girl aligns the bottles neatly in rows.