Chapter 3:

The Masked Meeting

who I am is not who I want to be


Two months had passed since Zack and Karma's virtual friendship had blossomed, their connection growing stronger with each passing day. It was at this juncture that Karma, veiled in mystery, broached the subject of a face-to-face meeting, a proposition that sent ripples of both excitement and apprehension through Zack's heart.

Their online interactions had been shrouded in enigma. Karma had never unveiled her true identity to Zack, concealing her visage behind a mask and cap. All he knew of her was the mesmerizing sound of her voice, an enigmatic charm that had captivated him.

An unshakable sense of lethargy had settled upon Zack. He yearned for the opportunity to converse with Karma in the flesh. The thought of finally gazing into her eyes kindled a longing he couldn't suppress.

"Why not meet her, just once?" a voice whispered to him, a voice echoing the desires of his heart.

Was it love that had taken root within him? The question tormented his thoughts, an enigma defying simple answers.

Determined to take the leap of faith, Zack made his way to the café where they had agreed to meet. The prospect of laying eyes on Karma, a presence that had haunted his thoughts, filled him with a mix of eagerness and anxiety. How had he become so enamored with a voice, and why was he powerless to escape her enchantment?

As he waited near the café's window, impatience gnawed at him. Minutes stretched into half an hour, and Karma remained conspicuously absent. Anxiety clawed at Zack's heart, and he attempted to reach her by phone, only to discover that her phone had been switched off.

Anxious and fretful, Zack's heart raced as he stared out the window, his mind a whirlwind of apprehensions. Then, like a specter emerging from the shadows, a girl entered the café. She wore a black dress, her features concealed by a mask and cap. Relief washed over Zack as he recognized her, his pent-up worries dissipating.

Karma's arrival was a revelation, her short hair framed by bangs, a stark contrast to the enigmatic persona he had known only through their digital exchanges.

As they settled into their seats, Zack couldn't help but reminisce about the moment when Karma had first broached the idea of joining forces as hackers. Her request had been delivered with a touch of timidity, a stark contrast to the confident demeanor she often projected.

"Do you want to know a secret about me, 'Little Dude'?" she had asked, invoking the affectionate moniker that had become synonymous with their interactions.

The question had piqued his curiosity, and he had feigned ignorance, encouraging her to share her secret. He yearned to hear those words again, to relive that moment eternally.

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Karma had repeated her question, her voice laden with intrigue.

"'Little Dude,' do you want to know a secret about me?" she had inquired.

His heart had soared with elation, and he had eagerly expressed his desire to unravel her secret, promising not to judge.

And then, she had uttered the words that would irrevocably alter the course of their friendship. "I'm a hacker, just like you," she had confessed. "Can you please become my teammate as a bug bounty hunter?"

The revelation had sent shockwaves through Zack, his mind teeming with questions. How had she uncovered his involvement in hacking? The mysteries of her past began to unravel, but she remained cryptic, pledging to disclose the truth at the appropriate moment.

As Zack listened to Karma's rationale for recruiting him as her teammate, he found himself captivated by her unique perspective. She yearned for the freedom wielded by black hat hackers, the liberty to operate unbound by constraints. Her unorthodox beliefs both fascinated and disconcerted him, leading him to contemplate the perilous path she tread.

Yet, Zack was undeniably drawn to her, her unvarnished candor and unapologetic authenticity resonating deeply with him. He longed to fathom the complexities of her mind, to solve the enigma that was Karma.

Their journey as bug bounty hunters had begun, and Zack's transformation had commenced. He sought self-actualization, and now, working side by side with Karma under the pseudonym 'Akane Toru,' he stood on the precipice of change—a transformation that would blur the lines between good and evil, right and wrong.

In the realm of hackers, they were the white hats, the defenders of the digital realm. But Zack couldn't help but ponder the intricate web of ethics that defined their roles. Karma's yearning for freedom, her fascination with the world of black hat hackers, cast a shadow of uncertainty over their path.

As Zack immersed himself in this new world, he couldn't escape the allure of Karma's unbridled spirit. The boundaries between right and wrong began to blur, and he found himself navigating a precarious path where lines of code held the power to shape destinies.