Chapter 31

— VILEA'S POV —

The moment we heard Anette's awake, we rush to the corridors. Running to her room and we run out of air. When we got there, we see Anette already sitting taking care of her gunshot. Noah walked to her, but instead of being happy, she leans back, frightened and raging. Noah stopped in his tracks. Anette ready to get out of bed, holding her wound, she stands and tries to run to Noah and release her anger, but was stopped by Mr. Bryche.

"Where's Noah?!" She screams, her voice turned hoarse as tears fall down her cheeks. Noah surprised, he backs away. "What did you do to Noah?!"

"Junipper! Stop!" Chris said, as he pushed her back to the bed.

"What do you mean stop?! Why is he even here?! You saw him try and shoot Noah! And you didn't do anything!!" She cries, pointing her fingers to Noah. I could sense the drug is still in effect and I guess she might recognize me.

"Anette..." I call for her name as I walk to her slowly. "Do you recognize me...?" I pray that she recognizes me like what happened earlier today. But seeing her angry expression, I guess not.

"You're that woman who I saw talking to this bastard!!" Anette exclaimed. Just as I thought. "What do you need? Why did you even have to come here?!"

"Anette! Calm down! Please!" Mr. Bryche pleaded to her. "They aren't who you think they are.." She calmed slightly, confused. She looked at us and just glared.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"I mean something happened to you while you were there" He explained. "What do you remember?"

That's when she started to groan. We could hardly calm ourselves as she holds her head and bear the pain she's feeling. She's eating her words every time she tries to speak. Then I remembered how she reacted from before. It's very much the same. I think, I know why she's acting like this.

"Mr. Bryche, wait!" I stop him. I walk to them and pull Mr. Bryche to me. The headache gets triggered when she tries to remember anything, if she continues this, she'll end up passing out every now and then. "Anette might pass out again if she tries to remember anything. It's better to interrogate Dave instead."

Anette put on a confused look, she couldn't understand the situation. I turn to her and slowly walk towards her. "Anette. Calm down okay? I won't do anything to hurt you... Right now, my intention is to save you and Cherry. So please listen to me.."

I kneel before her and try to reach her hand, but she avoids me. "Then just listen to what we're gonna say.." She reconsiders my explaination and listens.

"The truth is I'm Vilea. Don't be suprised, and the one you see as Dave is Noah." Her face filled with disbelief as she looks back and forth from Noah and me. "Please, don't try to remember anything because you'll end up passing out again. I know you think I'm just trying to mess with your head but.. Dave did something to you.."

She's still quiet. I knew this is too much to take in so I just put it in a few words. It is obvious that she's still confused, with her eyes wide open. Then a loud ring covered the halls. It's the emergency alarm. All of us are stood there, suprised. Then the PA system started to warn us.

"Warning!! Agency files is being infiltrated!! Paging Agent Pepper to the Information Department!!"

Along with siren sounds. I hear most of the agents are panicking, but I know what I should do. I turn to Anette and hold her hand. I give her a smile with her face still confused. "Stay here and keep safe. Stay with Noah, okay?"

"Noah?" She says as I let go of her hand and rush out of the room.

Why must this happen now? I ask myself. I arrive at the Information unit and most of them are tapping on their keyboards.

"What happened?" I ask. Looking at the big screen and notice something odd on the algorithm I used for the company's files. It's different from the one I used and the patterns keep on changing in the other important files also.

"Pep!! Someone's extracting the company files!!" One said. I take a laptop and plug it in the main screen. I immediately tap on my keyboard, countering the infiltration. But this person is already half-way in extracting the files. I can't do this alone.

"Somebody! Transfer the files to an external drive!! Now!!!" I order them. The informations recovering at a fast pace but the other side of the infiltration could counter my attacks also. What's this? It's as if this person knows my every move. How can somebody copy my algorithm so smoothly..? Damn it!

"Pep! Done with the transfer! What else can we do?" They ask.

"List the data that were extracted outside the drive. We have to take those back. If anyone gets their hands on those, all of our covers are blown. Make sure to protect your identities." I tell them as I confinue to tap on the laptop. "No one disturb me okay? We have a tough opponent on our sleeves."

They continue with their work as I focus on my own mission right now. Defending the company files is easy but because of this person it's making it more difficult to handle. But I won't give up on this. I change more patterns and algorithms, then I notice something odd from the patterns of the hacker. I've seen this before. But where..? That's when I remembered it.

In the lab. The algorithms are the same from the patterns in the lab cctv. Now I know there is no doubt that this person working for Dave. But didn't we arrest them both? Then there's another person out there to be taken care of. I get irritated. I feel like my brain is about to get drained. Trying every possible pattern to counter but everything is just tied.

That's when I saw the hacker suddenly became quiet. It stopped. I take this chance to block all access from outside devices. Finishing the job, I stretch for a bit. Sighing in relief, my phone suddenly buzzed. It played an unfamiliar sound, I just hear this sound when.. No..

Altair..

I check the security system at home and I saw someone is changing the system. What's happening?! Where's Altair!? He should be here by now. I texted him to be in front of the building! I better get there already!

I panic. With only my phone to connect with the system, I borrow a company laptop. I'm sweating with nervousness as I plug in my phone and connect to the system. With the familiar patterns, it's the same person that hacked the company files. My heart is beating nervously as I worry myself sick about Altair. "Anyone! Please! I have a small favor!" I plead to my comrades. Then a someone comes to me, I couldn't look up to see the face. I guess I have to trust this. "For just a few minutes, please, change the system. I'll be right back!"

I stand and as I was about to rush to the door, someone took my wrist. "Hey! what gives?!" I irritatedly say as I look at this person. He's mysteriously wearing a black mask, a cap, and sunglasses.

"You don't need to worry about me" He says, as he takes off his masks and glasses. To my disbelief, I take a step back. He gave me a smile as he sees my face.

"A-Altair?!" I suddenly shout. I rub my eyes in case this is a dream, but I knew it isn't. He immediately sat in front of the computer, tapping the keyboard continuously. It's all too sudden to take in, I feel nervous. I knew he's a psychiatrist, he even works at a hospital, how come he's here? And secondly, tapping on a computer with fast speed.

"Done" He said, as he finished filtering the system and adding a more effective firewall. I'm amazed. He stands and takes my hand as he looks me in the eyes. "You're welcome" He smiles at me.

"Stark! We need you here!" Someone said, then he let go of my hand.

"You should go do your thing. I heard what happened to Anette and Cherry. I'm really glad you didn't get hurt. I'll go check on them after this. Be safe okay?" He said before he kissed my forehead, then he walked to the other agents.

Who would've known that he was such a smart guy. I actually thought he was just a gamer or a computer addict or something like that. Why didn't I see it? I've always thought he was a moron but seeing him like this proves that my judgement is wrong. The infiltration that I've always encountered at home was like dealing with myself. The patterns were so similar with mine and it's always changed back and forth from my main algorithm to my alternative one. Now, I could explain that.

I smile at the thought and walked back to the infirmary.