Changing the World, One Keystroke at a Time
By Vela Damon
Despite the city noise, Drea maintained her pocket of silence, her sanctuary. She didn’t notice the environmental protest only one block away, the small voices drowned in the rush of capitalism. She didn’t notice the homeless man spinning his empty bottle, dreaming of pretty girls he’d kissed once upon a time.
All that mattered: completing her mission. She had no time for distraction; too much was at stake.
She pecked away at her keyboard, determined to break the encryption software. The enemy’s security was good, but not that good. Just a few more keystrokes...
There. The database opened up like a flower. Only a few moments now...
After the final keystroke, she closed her laptop, opened herself to her surroundings. They’ll thank me soon, she thought, watching the protesters march in their infinite circle, pumping their fists and their signs. She smiled at the homeless man and he smiled back even bigger, revealing perfect white teeth.
I wonder what he was before? She slung her laptop bag over her shoulder, pulled out her cell phone.
The voice on the other end was loud and rude. (You want what?)
“I want to speak to the President. About the virus.”
“Listen, little girl, I don’t know who you think you are or how you got this number, but—”
“I think I’m the person who created the Robin Hood virus. It would be in the President’s best interest to speak to me.”
The line went dead.
Drea threw pieces of the cell phone into each trash can she passed until there were no pieces left. The laptop would follow suit, but not here in the open.
She smiled, envisioning the darkness to come, the world blinking as it finally emerged in the light.
- - -
Vela has been writing forever, but only recently began submitting for publication. Her work has appeared at Toasted Cheese; Thrillers, Chillers N' Killers, Daily Love and 101 Words.
By Vela Damon
Despite the city noise, Drea maintained her pocket of silence, her sanctuary. She didn’t notice the environmental protest only one block away, the small voices drowned in the rush of capitalism. She didn’t notice the homeless man spinning his empty bottle, dreaming of pretty girls he’d kissed once upon a time.
All that mattered: completing her mission. She had no time for distraction; too much was at stake.
She pecked away at her keyboard, determined to break the encryption software. The enemy’s security was good, but not that good. Just a few more keystrokes...
There. The database opened up like a flower. Only a few moments now...
After the final keystroke, she closed her laptop, opened herself to her surroundings. They’ll thank me soon, she thought, watching the protesters march in their infinite circle, pumping their fists and their signs. She smiled at the homeless man and he smiled back even bigger, revealing perfect white teeth.
I wonder what he was before? She slung her laptop bag over her shoulder, pulled out her cell phone.
The voice on the other end was loud and rude. (You want what?)
“I want to speak to the President. About the virus.”
“Listen, little girl, I don’t know who you think you are or how you got this number, but—”
“I think I’m the person who created the Robin Hood virus. It would be in the President’s best interest to speak to me.”
The line went dead.
Drea threw pieces of the cell phone into each trash can she passed until there were no pieces left. The laptop would follow suit, but not here in the open.
She smiled, envisioning the darkness to come, the world blinking as it finally emerged in the light.
- - -
Vela has been writing forever, but only recently began submitting for publication. Her work has appeared at Toasted Cheese; Thrillers, Chillers N' Killers, Daily Love and 101 Words.
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