Page 25 of Hide and Seek

Echo is a few years older than me, and she’s always acted like a big sister to both me and Cipher, even though he’s actually about a year older than her. Back when we first met, Echo was always the first to step in and put other players in their place for the shit they said and how they talked to me when I was a literal child, even though she wasn’t much older and had to deal with twice as much abuse for being a girl gamer.

I’ve done my best to stand up for her the way she always did for me, but taking on my cyberbullies is only one of the many ways she’s always been there for me, whether I needed a protector or advice or even just someone to listen to me vent.

She deserves better than to be shut out like this, and I mark myself as online.

Phoenix: ugh, of course you come online just as I have to go do exam prep

Echo: he lives!

Echo: are you sure everything is okay? I’m worried about you

Phoenix: Everything is fine. Just trying to get through exams

Echo: I don’t miss those days, I swear exams were half the reason I dropped out of college

Phoenix: yeah, they’re the worst. Especially here

Echo: okay, I won’t keep you if you have to go

Echo: but don’t be a stranger. It freaks me out when I don’t hear from you for more than a day

Phoenix: I’ll try to do better. Once exams are done things will calm down and then you won’t be able to get rid of me and you’ll be begging me to go offline and leave you alone

Echo: lmao promise?

Phoenix: promise

Phoenix: ttyl

Echo: ttyl

I set my status back to offline and start another scan for the elusive file I’ve been searching for. It’s still early, but I might as well go to the dining hall and get something to eat.

That feeling of being watched hits again as I stand, but instead of making me uneasy, some of my nerves and mental turmoil over lying to one of my best friends actually settle.

“Christ on a bike,” I mutter to myself, cutting across the room to my dresser. “You need therapy.A lotof therapy,” I tell myself and pull open the drawer to dig around for a fresh shirt.

It takes way more effort than I’d ever admit to, but I manage to change shirts without looking out the window and scanning the trees for any sign that someone may be out there.

I don’t know if I actually have a stalker or if I’m losing my marbles and trying to manifest one, but I’ll only drive myself crazy if I’m constantly looking over my shoulder or searching out shadows in the trees.

The only thing I can do is live my life and try to get through the next ten days. If someone is out there and watching me, then whatever. It’s not like I can do anything to stop him.

And maybe he likes what he sees.

7

JAX

Leaning back in my chair,I watch the image on my screen as Myles pops the tab of a soda and takes a long guzzle while typing away on his keyboard with his other hand.

He’s been at his computer for almost five hours now, and considering he’s slurping down that drink like someone might snatch it from his hand if he doesn’t rush, he won’t be going to bed any time soon.

“Is he doing anything interesting yet?” Jace asks from across the room.

“Define interesting?” I say as a hollowthunk, followed by three others, rings out.

“Something other than staring at his computer like a zombie,” Jace says.