Love Algorithm

The Counter-Hack

Dawn came gray and wet.
The rain hadn't stopped; it only changed moods.
Now it was a slow, cold drizzle that clung to everything like a secret.

Nova sat on the floor of an old repair garage, wrapped in Aiden's jacket.
The space smelled of oil, rust, and static.
A half-broken sign outside still flickered "OPEN 24 HOURS" even though it hadn't been open in years.

Aiden crouched near the workbench, wires and laptop spread out like a crime scene.
He hadn't slept. His eyes were red, sharp, alive.

"Coffee?" Nova asked, holding up a dented thermos she'd found in a vending machine corner.

He gave a half smile. "That's not coffee. That's battery acid with hopes and dreams."

She handed it over anyway. "You'll survive."

He took a sip, winced, and went back to typing.
Lines of code cascaded across the screen—green on black, hypnotic.

Nova watched him, trying not to notice the faint tremor in his hands.
"What are you doing?"

"Building a trap," he said. "If @thealgorithm's still piggy-backing your hardware, I can turn the signal back on—just long enough to trace it."

"Isn't that risky?"

"Everything's risky now."

She sighed. "I hate that that's true."

Aiden connected a cable from his phone to hers. "You ready?"

"No," she admitted. "Do it anyway."

He hit ENTER.

Both screens flickered, then stabilized.
A low hum filled the air, like the world holding its breath.

Numbers streamed down one monitor; on the other, a map pulsed with tiny red lights.

Nova leaned closer. "Those are all connections?"

"Every device @thealgorithm has touched," he said. "Some are dormant, some active. If we're lucky, one will lead us back."

"And if we're not lucky?"

He glanced at her. "Then it leads them to us."

She swallowed hard. "Great odds."

They watched in silence as the lights blinked.
One by one, they went dark—until only two remained.

Aiden frowned. "That's... not right."

"What's wrong?"

"They're deleting themselves."

"Can they do that?"

"Not without knowing I'm here."

Nova's heart skipped. "Then they're watching you."

Before he could answer, the laptop beeped.
A single line of text appeared on the screen:

@thealgorithm: Nice try, Reyes. Still playing hero?

Aiden froze.
Nova's breath hitched. "They know your name."

He typed quickly.

WHO ARE YOU?

The reply came instantly.
@thealgorithm: We're everyone who stopped believing your version of the truth.

Nova whispered, "They're baiting you."

"I know."

"Then stop."

He didn't. His fingers flew over the keys.