Jared Alonzo didn't sleep.
Not after that.
The message replayed in his mind.
"You're improving quickly."
Unknown entity.
High-level access.
Intent: observation… or testing.
"…not random," Jared muttered.
His laptop sat open in front of him.
Screen dark.
Silent.
But Jared knew better.
If they accessed once… they can access again.
"…then I prepare."
He reopened the system.
This time—
Not to trade.
To analyze.
Network settings.
Security layers.
Background processes.
Everything.
System vulnerability: high.
Protection: minimal.
User awareness: insufficient.
"…expected."
Jared began building layers.
Simple at first.
Firewalls.
Monitoring scripts.
Access logs.
Then—
More complex.
Custom detection patterns.
Behavioral tracking.
Hours passed.
Most people would be lost.
Overwhelmed.
Confused.
Jared adapted.
Pattern recognition applies here too.
"…every system has logic."
And logic—
Could be broken.
Morning came.
But Jared didn't stop.
Until—
It happened again.
The screen flickered.
This time—
Jared didn't move.
Didn't react.
He watched.
A small window opened.
"Improved security."
Jared typed immediately.
"You're persistent."
A pause.
"You're interesting."
Jared's eyes narrowed.
Engagement confirmed.
"State your objective."
A few seconds.
"Observation."
"Why me?"
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"Because you're changing faster than you should."
Silence.
Jared's fingers hovered over the keyboard.
"Faster than you should."
That meant—
They know something.
"Define 'should.'"
The cursor blinked.
Then—
"You'll figure it out."
The window closed.
Jared leaned back slowly.
Information gained:
Not random
Not amateur
Aware of abnormal growth
Conclusion:
This is no longer isolated.
"…good."
A faint smile appeared.
At school—
Jared was quiet.
More than usual.
Iris noticed immediately.
"You didn't sleep."
"Correct."
"Why?"
Jared paused.
"…new variable."
She frowned.
"…what does that even mean?"
Jared looked at her.
"…someone is watching."
Silence.
"…what?"
"Not physically," he clarified.
"Digitally."
Iris stared at him.
"…you're serious."
"Yes."
"…and you're calm about it?"
Jared tilted his head slightly.
"Should I not be?"
"Yes!"
A few students turned to look.
Iris lowered her voice.
"…that's dangerous, Jared."
"It's an opportunity."
She froze.
"…you're unbelievable."
Meanwhile—
In the same dim office—
The man watched the screen again.
Jared's responses.
His behavior.
His speed.
"…he's adapting."
Another voice spoke from behind.
"…too fast."
The man smiled slightly.
"That's what makes him valuable."
A pause.
"…or dangerous."
Back in class—
Jared stared at the board.
But his mind wasn't there.
It was elsewhere.
Unknown observer.
Advanced access.
Knowledge beyond surface level.
"…they know."
A slow breath.
"…then I need to know more."
That night—
Jared opened his laptop again.
Not to trade.
To hunt.
"…my turn."
His fingers moved across the keyboard.
Faster than ever.
Tracing signals.
Tracking patterns.
Following digital footprints.
Every action leaves a trace.
"…find it."
Lines of code filled the screen.
Systems opened.
Networks mapped.
Jared's eyes sharpened.
"…there."
A trace.
Faint.
But real.
He followed it.
Deeper.
Then—
The screen froze.
Everything stopped.
Silence.
Then—
A message appeared.
"Careful."
Jared didn't stop.
"You're not ready for that level."
His fingers paused.
Just for a moment.
Then—
"I'll decide that."
He pressed enter.
The system crashed.
Black screen.
Jared stared at it.
Breathing steady.
"…blocked."
A slow smile formed.
"…good."
He leaned back in his chair.
Eyes sharp.
Focused.
"Now I know…"
A quiet whisper.
"…you're real."