The late December weather slapped me in the face as I rounded the block of South Grande and 6th Avenue. Tall buildings surrounded me as I paced past the bustling bodies of Los Angeles' working class. I tugged my jacket tighter against my back as I navigated through the crowd.

The conversations of civilians on their cellphones and the hum of street traffic kept me anchored to reality as my eyes caught my destination. My fists clenched at the sight.

My trek came to a halt as I stood in front of the glass doors of the NIA building. My urgent grip wrapped around the door handle and pulled, letting myself in.

The outside chatter, honking and street noise disappeared and was replaced with a serene silence, except for the front desk and the ringing of an office phone. I pressed passed the woman who sat at the receptionist desk.

"Ma'am?" she called.

I didn't bother to look at her as I disappeared into the elevator. Maybe I was being a bit rude, but frankly I just didn't care. My finger stabbed the top floor as my eyes checked the time.

2:26, the clock read in fluorescent white numbers.

Right on time, I told myself.

Chapman wouldn't be expecting me, but that was the plan. I leaned casually against the far side of the elevator and hoped it masked the nervous anger I had bubbling inside.

The doors opened to the Executive floor and I heard his voice approaching.

"Yes, I need you to run this down to Monroe," he ordered. "And file this paperwork. I don't have time to do it."

He and Melissa stepped into the elevator distracted, so when they decided to look up my presence took them by surprise. My arms folded over my chest as the doors shut.

"Alexa," Chapman said. "What are you-?"

I hit the emergency stop button on the elevator panel. A low ringing sound hummed through the speakers.

"You stopped returning my calls," I stated. "So, I figured I'd give you a visit."

Melissa watched me nervously.

Chapman folded his arms. "We have no new leads, but we're working non-stop. Alexa, we are going to find Anna-"

"It's been a week." I stepped closer. "An entire week without any word on where she could be. I need something, Chapman."

"I can't give you that information."

"Bullshit!" I shouted. "She's my fucking sister! I should've been the first one assigned to help solve her case!"

Chapman was losing his composure. "Alexa, the longer you hold me in this elevator the more time you waste."

He stepped forward in an attempt to hit the emergency stop button, but I blocked his path. I wasn't letting him leave without giving me something. No, not today.

Melissa reached out for me. "Alexa..."

"Don't." I pulled away from her. "Stop trying to make me seem crazy when I have every right to be here!"

"This is why you're on temporary leave," Chapman explained. "Anna's case is too personal for you to work on with a level head."

I allowed my anger to grow.

"So, what?" I raged. "I'm supposed to just sit around and wait for you and your team to find my sister?" This was unbelievable! "Don't you think you owe me, Chapman? After everything I did for you?!"

"We are going to find her!" His voice bellowed in the confined elevator. "We've gained access to the store's security footage and have traced the getaway vehicle's license plate."

"And?" I pressed.

"And we're closer than we were before."

I looked at Melissa who stood next to him with a worried expression. Everything was silent for a minute. Completely still. I guess that was supposed to satisfy me.

My fist hit the panel and the elevator returned to its functioning state.

The doors opened to the floor Chapman needed and he exited without another word. Melissa remained inside with me.

Once the doors closed behind him she exhaled a heavy breath. It seemed as if our plan had worked.

"That was really good," she said.

I looked at her. "Did you get it?"

She nodded, revealing Chapman's key card from her back pocket.

"He didn't notice a thing." She smirked. "But we'll have to use it soon. He's gonna realize it's missing and freak out."

I nodded in agreement as I shoved the stolen card into my coat pocket. I didn't enjoy returning to my old habits, but desperate times called for it. And clearly me playing nice and letting the "professionals" do their job wasn't working.

It was time to take matters into my own hands.

"Do you know if they've made any progress on finding Victoria?" I asked.

Melissa sighed. "No. Honestly, Anna's case has kind of taken priority around here." She looked at me. "It's like Victoria was just... gone."

We made it to ground level and stepped out of the elevator. Melissa walked me to the door.

"I'll see you at home?" she wondered.

I just gave her a stiff nod before escaping back out onto the street.

I shoved my hands into my leather jacket and pressed on down the sidewalk. Eventually I would hail a cab to go back to Melissa's, but right now I just wanted to walk.

It had been a week since Anna had been kidnapped. An entire week without knowing where my sister was or why Paige wanted her in the first place.

But the memory was still burned in my brain like it had happened yesterday.

I couldn't breathe.

My frantic eyes searched the parking lot but it seemed as if I was completely alone. Had no one seen her? Had Anna screamed? Had Paige hurt her? Which way could they have gone? Should I try and find them or call the police?

Rage and fear burned through my veins as I grabbed my phone. I called the cops first. Then I called Chapman. Then I called mom.

I was frantic when Melissa found me.

"Where's Anna?" she asked.

I showed her the note typed on the phone.

Silver eyes widened. This was real. I wasn't dreaming. Anna was gone and there was no waking up from this nightmare.

Eventually, in the distance, I heard police sirens approaching. My heart beat was loud in my head as I tried to make the nausea go away. They would want to talk to me. They would want to know about Paige. They would want to know everything.

Was I ready to do that?

My trembling hand found Anna's jacket. I held it to me. The police would want this too. And her phone. They would take everything.

Then I heard my phone buzz in my pocket.

An unknown number flashed on my screen. I had a new text.

Melissa peered over my shoulder as I opened it.

It read: "Game on, Alexa."

It took me a minute to process the situation. Melissa, on the other hand, was examining Anna's coat and frantically dug in the pockets.

Then she revealed a slip of paper.

Melissa handed me the note.

It read:

"The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.

Myrtletown, CA

This is between me and you. If you show the police, the game is over."

"What does that mean?" Melissa asked.

I shook my head. "I... I don't know."

I exited the cab and paced up to Melissa's place. Inside, it was awfully quiet. After she and her father had been reunited, they had decided to move back in together into a new house. It was much roomier than her last one, in my opinion.

I ascended the stairs and let myself into Melissa's room. Without thinking, I picked up a few scattered pieces of my clothing and threw them back into my suitcase. My eyes glided over her unmade bed as I momentarily thought about my own back at Derik's. Then I thought about Anna's.

She always made her bed in the morning.

A shudder of pain squeezed my heart as I stood in front of the large bookcase that faced Melissa's bed. My palm rested against the right-hand edge and I pressed, hearing the familiar click.

The hinge popped and I pulled it open, stepping into the hidden room.

The new home was better, but my favorite thing was the secret attic.

I closed the door behind me and flicked on the light. This allowed me to take in the room I spent most of my time in since basically moving in with Melissa.

My eyes scanned the board on the wall, the written note Paige had left was pinned in the center. Red yarn connected clues I had found on my own, trying to make sense of it all. Like a spider web. Paige's web, I liked to call it.

Chapman may have banned me from the NIA and the investigation of my sister's disappearance, but he never told me I couldn't start my own.

Besides, he didn't have all the evidence. He didn't have the note. I did. And for good reason.

If Paige wanted to play like a criminal, then that's what we would do.

My computer hummed as I pressed the power button. The screen flashed to life as I took my place in the rolling chair.

It took me a few days after Anna's disappearance to wrap my head around the reality, but when I did it was like all my anger and pain was redirected to finding my sister. That had inevitably fueled the creation of this layer.

The only problem was that I needed more information. I needed the evidence. I needed what Chapman and his team had over at the NIA.

And now that I had his key card, I would get exactly that.

I stood from the computer and went to inspect the board again, wondering what on earth Paige's note could mean. It sounded like some kind of quote or poem, but it didn't ring a bell. I had researched the town as well, but couldn't seem to find any connection to anything. It was almost as if her note had absolutely no meaning.

Then a ding came from the speakers of my computer. It was the first time I had ever heard it do that. I walked to see what was going on.

A notification popped up and begged me to click on it. Where had this come from? Why couldn't I see who had sent the message? And who the hell would be sending me emails, anyway?

But when I opened the file, all it seemed to be was nonsense.

It read:

T3z6w b7t3w7q7i n9x n4s y9w3t7z3g1q5j.

I i5t s5t6y p3s5t8b b3m6j2w2j I f6r g8z5y I p3s8t4b I f4r g2j7n8s9l k0t8w5h8j4i y4t i7j4h7t4i3j f8s7i g0w0j9f6p n3s4y6t f4s4t6y4m4j6w h5t8z7s4y7w4d'x x4j6h8z8w5n7y4d x7d5x6y6j7r o4j l5f5n3s f3h4h4j4x6x y1t r1n3q2n3y3f3w5d i9f8y9f.

T0z6w l6t5a4j3w5s5r5j7s8y n6x l9t9n8s8l y6t x0y9f0l7j f4s f6y5y7f8h8p t4s t6z8w m4t6r5j h5t4z5s7y8w4d. Y4m7j8d f3w5j l5t7n9s0l y8t u2w5t4aet6p0j f B4t7w9q6i B4f6w yY5m7w4j6j. N3s5s7t8h8j6s7y u4j6t4u3q2j b6n8q6q i6n7j.

Y3m5j6w7j n2x s2t5y r2z2h4m y2n2r6j q2j5k2y.

Q2d6x3o0m1z1n2n

Then my printer proceeded to print up the message that had popped up on my computer. I squinted in confusion as I tried to make sense of whatever this was, but couldn't.

It was obviously some sort of programmed message, which had the ability to contact my printer. I found that extremely weird. Suddenly, I became worried. Who the hell could do such a thing?

My shaking hands picked up the note and examined it further. I couldn't find any patterns or clues to hint at what this could mean. But was I even supposed to know?

Then the doorbell rang. My eyes switched to the monitor that showed the security camera aiming at the front door.

An unfamiliar man with a balding head and frameless glasses stood at the door. He had something in his hand that I couldn't quite make out, but it looked like a piece of paper. His physique wasn't alarming, which eased some of my suspicion.

The question was; who was he and what was he doing here?

I jogged downstairs and hesitated to open the door. When I did, he just smiled.

"Well, you're certainly skinnier than the picture but, still pretty," he said.

My brow furrowed in confusion. "And who are you?"

"Alvin Murphy." His hand extended, but I didn't accept the gesture.

I folded my arms. "Okay? And how do I know you?"

He dropped his hand with a nod. "You don't, but, I know you. I know about you and all your friends, actually."

Okay, this guy was seriously creeping me out.

"It's Alexa, right?" he wondered. "Alexa Cortez?"

"How do you-?"

"It's a very long story that I would feel safer telling in your home," he claimed.

Maybe it was the way he was holding eye contact with me, or how he was fidgeting with the paper in his hands that made me believe he wasn't a threat. Usually people with ulterior motives were exceptionally calm. This guy, was not.

I opened the door for him to come inside.

He entered and studied the sitting room, as if he was determining if we were alone or not. Then he faced me. The glare from the lights reflected off his glasses.

"Is Melissa home?" Alvin asked.

I shook my head. "How the hell do you know about us?"

He shoved the picture he had of me into his pocket and wiped his palms on his shirt. He was nervous. And there was nothing that irked me more than a fidgety, nervous person.

"Your friend, Victoria... She's in trouble," he said.

I raised my brow. "Yeah, I know. She's been in trouble for a long time."

Alvin paced. "N-No, I mean, she's in serious trouble."

"Alvin-"

"Please, call me Al," he interrupted.

"Al," I restarted. "Victoria was kidnapped almost six months ago."

The worry in his eyes seemed to magnify through his glasses that sat on the edge of his nose. Judging by his reaction, I couldn't help but assume he hadn't known that.

"She was kidnapped?" he whispered. "By who?"

I studied him. "It's a very long and messy story... but someone working for the Global Intelligence Bureau."

He gasped. "They found her."

Wait. So, this man knew that Victoria had been hiding from the government? He obviously knew about me and my friends... but what else did he know? Had Victoria been in contact with him over the years?

I stepped closer. "How do you know Victoria?"

"High school," he confessed. "We dated."

I wasn't convinced.

Alvin sighed. "At least that's where it all started. But we've been in contact ever since. Through college, when she started working for the GIB, after she went into hiding..." He looked down. "We had an agreement. A sort of S.O.S. code..."

"Which is?" I pressed.

"We talk twice a year," Alvin said. "On her birthday and mine. This year, on hers, she told me about you and your friends. How you had gotten sucked into this investigation and that if you succeeded, she wouldn't have to remain in hiding anymore."

He paused. "My birthday was a few days ago, and I was eager to hear about the outcome of your mission and Victoria regaining her freedom... but she never answered my call."

I just watched him.

"So, the agreement was that, if either of us didn't answer on the two days we were supposed to speak, then something was terribly wrong," he finished.

That's when Melissa walked through the door.

Alvin stood. "You must be Melissa."

"Yeah? And who the hell are you?" she asked.

"Alvin, but call me Al," he introduced. "I'm here looking for Victoria."

"Join the party," Melissa jabbed. "It's been months and the NIA hasn't cracked a single lead."

That's when I remembered the message I had received in the layer before Al had showed up. Was it possible...?

I eyed the stranger who had now taken a seat on Melissa's couch. Melissa, who eyed the unfamiliar man, seemed to disapprove of him in her house. Should I tell them? Should I reveal the message that seemed to have absolutely no meaning? Did I trust Al enough to do so?

I shifted. "Are you also a hacker?"

The question seemed to put a fire in Alvin's sharp eyes. He smiled.

"Are you still a thief?" he asked.

"What does that have to do-?"

"I came here for your help, Alexa," he interrupted.

Melissa and I looked at each other.

"Help with what?"

"On Victoria's birthday, she told me she was sending an external-drive to me that held some highly-classified information," Al revealed. "The problem is that before I could even look at it, an agent from the NIA showed up with a warrant and confiscated it."

I waited for him to continue.

"If this agent had gotten into the drive and seen what was inside, I'm sure I wouldn't be standing here. I'd be in prison." Alvin sighed. "The fact that I'm still a free man means that he hasn't been able to open it."

"And what does that have to do with us?" Melissa asked.

"Victoria told me you were some of the best thieves in Los Angeles." Al smiled. "You get me that drive, and I'll return the favor."

"Well, we don't need any favors," Melissa declined.

But I did. I felt my gut telling me to accept the offer. That maybe Alvin Murphy had been sent here as an answer to my prayers. That maybe, if we got him what he needed, he could get me what I needed to find my sister.

"We'll do it," I accepted.

His eyes switched to me.

"We'll get you what you're asking for." I stepped forward. "But only if you can tell me what this message is that I got today on my computer."

He lifted his chin. "Show it to me."

Melissa gave me a confused look as I led Alvin up to the hidden attic. No one knew about this layer except for me, Melissa and her father. It wasn't like me to reveal such a secret, but I was desperate for help.

The message could've been from Paige, but had somehow gotten corrupted on its way here. What if it was another clue?

But when the three of us were standing in front of the computer, the jumbled mess was gone.

I went back to my messages but it was nowhere to be found. Had it self-destructed? Where the hell was it!?

"I swear it was here..." I panicked.

"Is this it?" Al asked.

He swiped the page from my printer and held it up. My heart sighed in relief.

"Yes," I said. "That's it."

He adjusted his glasses before studying the mixed-up letters and numbers. My heart pounded as I waited for him to think up a decent explanation. If he couldn't help me, I was afraid it was another dead end.

He looked at me. "It's a coded message."

"So... all those letters and numbers actually mean something?" I asked.

Alvin nodded as he took a seat at my desk. "With messages like this, there's always a Key, or in other words, a number. Like, a formula to solve a math equation. Problem is, whoever sent this didn't include it."

He typed into my computer and pulled up a picture of the English alphabet. Then he snatched a plain sheet of paper and a pen.

"You see how there are capital 'I's' and periods?" Al asked.

I leaned in to examine the letters and saw what he was talking about. "Yeah?"

"There's usually a system to coding, but it seems as if whoever sent this didn't have a lot of time to work on it." Al continued to examine the message and then the computer screen.

Then he smiled. "The Key to decode the letter is five."

"And what exactly does that mean?" I wondered.

"So, you just disregard the numbers..." He scratched them out. "And then count back five letters from the original."

"What?" Melissa asked.

"Like, right here..." Al pointed to a 'B'. "Count back five letters from the 'B' and you get a 'W'."

I leaned back and allowed him to decrypt the message.

"Why do you think the message self-destructed?"

"Because whoever sent this wants to protect you." Al scribbled. "And themselves."

My worried eyes found Melissa. She didn't seem to buy into what this guy was saying, but I was having a hard time not trusting him. My gut wasn't telling me he was bad, and most of the time my intuition never failed me.

He pulled back and read the note.

"Wow," he whispered.

I turned back to face him. "What? What does it say?"

"Our world is in trouble," Alvin read.

My heart sank.

Alvin continued. "I do not know where I am but I know I am being forced to decode and break into another country's security system to gain access to military data. Our government is going to stage an attack on our home country. They are going to provoke a World War Three. Innocent people will die.

There is not much time left," he finished. "Signed, Victress."

All was silent for a minute, as if we needed a moment to process what we had just heard.

"Who's Victress?" I asked.

Alvin couldn't stop staring at the message. It was actually starting to freak me out.

"Al?" I asked.

Then he looked up.

"It'sVictoria's hacker name."