Chapter 255

Calvin was drenched in sweat, his panic so overwhelming that he could barely think straight. He sat there trembling, staring at his computer screen as if it were alive. He started typing desperately, hoping to communicate with the hacker who had just obliterated his digital fortress. He wanted to beg—no, plead—for mercy. But his attempts were futile. His skills, which he once thought impressive, were laughable in the face of the force he was up against. Another line of text appeared on his screen, "I've sent everything to everyone you know. If you can't face them, maybe take a stroll to your rooftop. Just a suggestion." And finally, the hacker typed, "Oh, and good luck in the afterlife." A smiling emoji followed. Calvin's stomach dropped. The sinister grin on the screen burned into his mind, its cheerfulness more terrifying than any threat. He screamed in agony, stumbling backward from his chair and collapsing to the floor. His bedroom door burst open. His parents sto