I opened my laptop and waited for Windows to load. Darkness still cloaked my room, making the light from my laptop cast a faint glow on my desk. I yawned as I entered my password. It was far too early to work, but six was the latest they'd schedule me unless or until another slot opened. I had been waiting for what felt like forever for that to happen.

Almost like clockwork, I heard Fiona moving around and then she brought me coffee and fruit. I mouthed a 'thank you' before turning my attention back to the call I was taking. Once she left for work, I wanted so badly to turn on music or something, just so there wouldn't be silence, but my job said outright that I couldn't have any background noise or distractions while I was working.

Something I did like about my job was that it kept me busy. I had no time to sit and stare at the clock, watching the numbers change or the hands make slow laps around the face. Sooner than it felt like it should have been, I was logging off and getting ready to meet Fiona for lunch.

Right as I was about to walk out of the room, I saw it. It wasn't much, but very distinct: it moved. The mouse cursor moved. It caught my eye and I froze. I stared at the screen but it didn't do it again. After a minute I rubbed my eyes. Surely I was imagining things. It had to be nothing. Still, I went over and turned my computer off before heading out.

---

"And you're sure you saw it move?" Fiona said, sandwich paused halfway to her mouth.

I shook my head. "Not totally. I mean, last night I thought I saw it move but I was wrong."

"How do you know you were wrong?"

I shrugged. "Because I haven't seen it happen! I just keep thinking I do."

She sat her sandwich down and rubbed her forehead. "Do you have anything important on there that someone might want?"

"Other than a few ideas for videos I might want to make on my own, not really. Why?"

Fiona gave me a serious look. "I think you picked something up somewhere."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I think you got something on your computer. Your cursor shouldn't move on its own."

"You think I don't know that?" I asked indignantly. "Fi, I'll take care of it when I get back. Okay? Stop worrying about it." I angrily took a bite out of my sandwich.

She frowned and sighed. "Fine."

We ate in silence for a few minutes before I pulled out my phone and began running searches. I wasn't dumb when it came to computers, but I didn't know everything. The more I searched, the more I realized just how much I didn't know. The difference between viruses and Trojan viruses, for example.

'Trojan viruses are viruses that can be used to access the system of the infected computer through the creation of a backdoor. Through a backdoor, cyber-thieves and hackers are able to modify programs and files, reboot the computer, and anything else they want to do. Often, these are accompanied by rootkits that can hide the malicious files for a time. Some types of Trojans are used to steal bank data, gamer information, send messages from your phone, download more Trojans and adware, and to spy on the user.

Often, Trojans are hidden within seemingly legitimate software.'

I stopped there. Legitimate software? That girl - she said she knew hackers. Oh no.

"Are you okay?" Fiona asked, snapping me back to the present.

"Oh, um, yeah. I just, uh, need to run home." I stood and hastily wrapped my sandwich. "I'm suddenly not feeling well. I'll meet you at the gym after your shift."

"Wait," she said, touching my arm. I pulled away from her and stuffed my wrapped sandwich into a bag. "If you're not feeling well, maybe you shouldn't come today!"

I was already several steps away, but I still shouted over my shoulder, "I'll be there!" I ignored whatever else she was trying to shout at me in favor of a jog home.

When I reached my room - sweaty and out of breath - I turned my computer on. I wanted to just collapse on the floor from exhaustion. All that working out turned out to not be as helpful as I thought it would - I barely got situated over my chair before my legs gave out.

I put in my password and waited for my desktop to load. My search earlier hadn't told me what would get rid of a Trojan - or even detect one - so I opened my browser and did that right away. It took a few minutes, but soon I was downloading an antivirus that was supposed to find them and get rid of them right away.

When it was finished downloading, I went to the folder it was in and installed it. Before I could run the scan, my cursor moved. This time, I couldn't control it and it opened App-Thetic.

S: Wait!

I stared at the new message for a moment before responding.

L: Why? And who are you?
L: You put something on my computer with this stupid app!

S: Trina did, but can you trust me for a moment?

L: Why should I?

A full minute passed, during which time the antivirus window was closed and the task manager was pulled up. Whoever I was speaking to clicked back over to the messaging program.

S: Please?

L: Please isn't a reason.

S: I can't give you a reason to, but I'll make it worth your while if you would.

L: Last time I trusted one of you people I ended up with this app. How do I know you don't want to just steal my information?

S: If that was all I wanted, I'd have it done by now. We wouldn't be having this conversation.
S: You asked Trina yesterday why she was so against Vitality. Truth is, they wronged her brother and several of her friends.

L: Including you.

A few beats passed before the person answered.

S: Yes.
S: They stole from us, and none of us stepped forward successfully. We were shot down.
S: Do you believe me?

That was something I had to think about. Truthfully, I had no reason not to. So far, with the exception of this stupid app, everything had been pretty much true.

L: Yes.
L: If that's all you had to say, why have me download the app?

S: I'll explain everything later, just don't delete it and don't run that antivirus. Besides, that one is junk. It may get rid of the app, but it won't get rid of everything. I need to check out a couple of things, but I'll get rid of everything when I'm done. I just need temporary access.

L: Who even are you?

S: Just call me Shawn for now. I promise I'll explain everything later.

The program closed before I could type anything else. I watched as a few folders were opened and then closed. A couple of files were deleted and then the recycle bin was emptied. The app was opened again and I got a new message.

S: Done. You were bugged.

L: I know - you're still in my computer.

S: Not by me. Although, I do have access to your camera and microphone on here.
S: Vitality adds Trojans to their files that are designed to track typing and internet usage.

My pulse picked up.

L: So they know I was talking to you-?

S: Yes. Trina's website was shut down so she'll have to upload it again with another URL.
S: Don't worry - I got rid of them.
S: Also, it's not the first time.

I tried moving my mouse and found I could now. I opened my browser and tried to go to the website. It came back with an error and an offer to buy this domain. I clicked back to the app.

L: How many time has she had to move it?

S: Not as much as you'd think. Surprisingly.
S: Tell me about yourself.

L: You're still in my computer, right? Everything you'd ever care to know is on it.

S: I am, but I'd rather you tell me. I'd feel like less of a creep.

L: Such a gentleman. 

S: I try.

L: What you see on my web show is who I am. Nothing more, nothing less. The only thing I don't mention on there is that I do customer service for Life Bar, which is being bought out this week by Vitality.

S: Interesting...
S: I'm going to give you a link, and I want you to completely go over this website.

L: Are you going to watch me?

S: Yes.

His next message was a link and I clicked it. A browser built into the app took me to some place that seemed to be full of code fragments. I crinkled my nose. Nothing made sense. Still, I went all the way to the bottom of the page. Nothing strange. I went to the About Me section and was presented with a picture of a guy with close-cropped black hair, dark skin, and a dark shirt. His eyes looked warm even though he wasn't smiling, nor did he seemed inclined to.

Next to the picture was a block of text.

'Shawn is an aspiring coder with big dreams. His biggest inspiration is Big-_-badwolf, a famous hacker known for producing code for various big name corporations such as Vitality, Microsoft, Google, and formerly Apple.'

I stopped reading. I knew the hacker. Not personally, of course - no one had met him in person to my knowledge, which led me to believe he wasn't exactly who he said he was - but I'd heard him mentioned several times on the news. They claimed he'd stopped many hacking attempts, but I still wasn't sure just how good he was. Weren't hackers supposed to be bad?

I'd seen enough. I went through the website quickly, since I didn't know how to write or read any type of code. Except Ruby. But that one wasn't present on here. I went back to the app.

L: Okay, I looked at it. What about it?

S: That's about me.

L: I figured that much. What about it?

S: Besides that, all you really need to know is that I don't trust Vitality, and I can prove what I tell you, which is more than they can often say.

It still felt wrong to talk like this about my boss, even when I knew they had no clue.

L: Do it. Prove it. I want to see you try.

S: I'll do more than just try... ;)

I rolled my eyes. Seriously?

S: Remember when I said that Vitality has wronged some people?

L: Yes...

S: The truth is, they wrote code. What happened to the girl who sued Vitality happened to them.
S: To us.
S: Not just that, but everyone who built one of the websites the Knights bought?
S: They don't get paid. Vitality says that, and for a while they did, but they stopped.
S: In fact, they stopped not long after being bought out.
S: It's in violation of contract, but the government won't do anything without proof that would hold up in court.

L: Why are you telling me any of this?

S: Because we're trying to spread the word. The more people who know - the right people - the more likely it becomes that we'll find the one person who can actually do something.

L: There's nothing I can do. Sorry.

S: Still, you may know someone who can, or possibly could.

L: My roommate, maybe, but she's very pro-Vitality.

S: If she's on their side, don't mention any of this to her.
S: Don't mention this in your debate, either.

L: Why not? Exposure of that caliber could almost definitely find you the right person.

S: Exposure like that is what we're trying to avoid.

L: You're making this sound quite underhanded. Like, criminal.

S: It's not totally aboveboard, no, but it's not illegal. Far from it, actually.
S: We're trying to make everything legal. We just have.... alternative ways of doing it.

L: ...Still sounds illegal.

S: I'd explain, but I'm not sure I can trust you.

Trust me? They were the ones who put a virus on my computer. I was the one that didn't know who to trust. But, when I thought about it, I could see where he was coming from. Not only was our encounter random, but I also hosted a show on the internet that was watched by millions of people.

L: How can I prove you can trust me?