Linewalkers

9 | Sleuth and Truth

Not Edited 

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She worked with Nomad resting on her lap for what seemed like hours. 

She didn't really know how much time passed, she hadn't glanced at the clock. It was dark beyond her window and she only made slow progress. Apparently, Department of Technological Evolution and Education was diligently protected and she had a challenge getting through their first wall. 

Several codes were in work and she stretched her knowledge, encrypting cover and delving further within the mainframe of DOTEE. She was driven by the desire to prove the whole ordeal as unrealistic. Some part of her mind needed closure, and the other part needed to hear Elias again. She had tried to say goodbye this time but even then it didn't work. 

After several more minutes, she stopped. Her eyes studied the black screen as it loaded with a swathe of codes. An entire page filled and she watched hundreds scroll. Her eyebrows furrowed. If these had been the codes Elias were talking about, there were far too many to crack. She entered one of her own codes and suddenly the screen flickered. 

At first, the screen was black, white, and then five codes appeared. She scrambled to grab the notepad across her desk. Nomad leaped from her lap and she cursed when she couldn't find something to write with. She knew that she might be kicked from the mainframe at any moment, her hack was only temporary and so was her cover. 

She found a pen on the floor and she quickly scribbled down the five codes. As she predicted, only another minute passed before she was thrown from the mainframe. She sat back in her chair with a heavy sigh. She wanted to do more snooping while she was into their business but she kept focused on getting the codes. If anything, they were the most important. 

However, she slowly came to the conclusion of what finding the codes meant. 

Elias had been right. 

She couldn't believe it. Everything he had said was true. Her bestfriend wasn't dead and he was trapped somewhere. The codes existed and something happened after she cracked them. She wished that Elias had enough time to explain everything to her and she wished she hadn't been so hysterical. Though, it was incredibly hard to believe it was real, even now. 

She tucked the codes away in a safe place in her room and she promised herself that she would take time to think about it. She didn't expect anything to happen soon and she was sure she'd covered her tracks extremely well. She needed to rest on the thought. 

With a yawn, she powered down her computer and stood. She stretched and then changed into her pajamas. Her parents must have come home a while ago, she could hear the television downstairs, but she still hadn't checked the time. Not that she really cared. 

She climbed into her bed and sighed as the soft comforter embraced her body. She rolled around a little bit, cocooning herself, and then she felt Nomad leap on the bed. His little paws padded over to her and he climbed over her body to settle against her stomach. She curled around him and he began to purr. She had grown to love the sound. 

"He's out there, Nomad." She whispered. 

His purring paused and then resumed. 

"Elias is alive," She said, more to herself, "I have to find him." 

She woke the next morning to find Nomad had left her. It wasn't usual for him to leave early, he always remained by her side, and she frowned a little. However, after she made her way to the bathroom, she saw Nomad resting outside her door.