I've spent my entire life learning how to weaponize information because I was too small, too young, too female to do anything else in this world. Knowledge is power. Control comes from understanding the patterns nobody else sees.
And right now, sitting here drowning in fear while Anton walks into a trap isn't helping anyone.
"I need to work."
Yuri's eyes flick to mine. He doesn't argue, doesn't tell me to rest or let the men handle it.
I open the laptop. "They know about me," I say, pulling up my university portal. "My classes, my schedule. They've been watching long enough to know I don't have much of an online presence beyond school and hacking competitions."
Yuri leans closer, watching my screen.
"So?"
"So today, I'm not going to be invisible like Anton would like me to be, not now." My cursor hovers over the university's message board, where students post about exams, deadlines, and study groups. "I'm going to be the distressed sister who can't focus because her pregnant sister just went into premature labor. I'm going to chat with my friend Phoenix."
Yuri's focus sharpens instantly. "Phoenix?"
"Someone I met in my Calculus class." I pull up the chat app. "They've taught me new hacking tricks. Never met in person. Never even heard their voice."
"Gender?"
I pause. "I always assumed female. But I've never asked."
The possibility of Phoenix being exactly who they seem. Or Phoenix could be the person who's been orchestrating everything.
Either way, this conversation is important.
"Phoenix was online earlier today," I say as I check the timestamp.Active three hours ago."I have to be careful not to share too much too quickly."
"How do you usually talk to this person?"
"Reserved." I pull up our chat history and scan through months of brief conversations about algorithm optimization and security issues. "But this week I mentioned I had some stuff happen, and I'm going to build on that."
"I like the way you're thinking," Yuri says.
I pull up the chat interface and start typing.
Fee:Hey Phoenix. Did you take the test yet?
My cursor blinks. Three dots appear, then disappear. Then nothing.
I count the seconds. Phoenix usually responds within minutes, especially about class stuff.
Nothing.
My fingers hover over the keys before I type again.
Fee:I might need your help with something.
Not unusual. We've traded hacking tips before, solved problems together in the digital shadows where academic integrity doesn't apply. But the request still carries weight.
I turn to Yuri, keeping my voice low.
"They knew I was supposed to take that test today." My throat tightens. "They also know I wouldn't ask for help unless I really needed it."
Yuri watches the screen over my shoulder. The cursor keeps blinking. Three dots appear again.
Then vanish.
