My name is Sypher.

I’m the one everyone calls when they need information.

But even the littlest bit of information comes with a price.

Had I known what that price was, I would still hit enter.

Growing up in the clubhouse, I found the binary world of ones and zeros far easier to understand than the chaotic and unpredictable dynamics of my family and my many brothers. I knew I was an anomaly, a glitch in the system, and I hid myself deep within the shadowy corners of the dark web, finding solace in its anonymity. When the club sends me off to college,...

My name is Sypher.

I’m the one everyone calls when they need information.

But even the littlest bit of information comes with a price.

Had I known what that price was, I would still hit enter.

Growing up in the clubhouse, I found the binary world of ones and zeros far easier to understand than the chaotic and unpredictable dynamics of my family and my many brothers. I knew I was an anomaly, a glitch in the system, and I hid myself deep within the shadowy corners of the dark web, finding solace in its anonymity. When the club sends me off to college, the abrupt change leaves me overwhelmed in my new environment, forcing me to decode my new reality.

As I learn to navigate my new reality, I find solace in the one person who accepts me for who I am.

For the first time in my life, I am truly happy.

I should have known it was a glitch, because when my algorithm reveals the truth, I am forced to change the code to protect the ones I love the most.

The funny thing about programming—the tiniest bit of code can irrevocably change the algorithm and when that happens, two things can happen. A new world of information opens up or your system will crash and burn.