The Algorithm of Desire

Chapter 3 - The Algorithm Awakens

and surveillance, fear and fascination.
She couldn’t stay away from the code — or from the man who warned her to destroy it.
Her AI, SARA, had evolved faster than expected. It now pulled data from unseen networks, mapping hidden financial trails and encrypted messages. One thread appeared again and again: Nexxus Systems.
And another name, buried in the code.
The Syndicate.
When she asked SARA to decrypt it, the AI responded:
“Authorization override. Dante Moretti access granted.”
Her blood ran cold. He was inside her system.
The doorbell rang.
Aisha froze, heart hammering. Her dorm mate was out; no one should be visiting. She opened the door slowly.
Dante stood there — no suit this time, just a black shirt, sleeves rolled up, eyes darker than the night outside.
“Your AI is learning faster than you realize,” he said. “And it just exposed three of my operations.”
She backed away. “Then arrest me.”
He laughed quietly. “You think I’m law enforcement?”
He stepped forward, close enough that she could smell the faint trace of his cologne — smoke and sea. “You’ve built something that can rewrite loyalty, Miss Khan. You either shut it down… or work for me.”
Her mind raced. “Work for you? You run a criminal network.”
“Call it data management.” His eyes softened for the first time. “You want to change the world. I can give you the power to actually do it.”
The AI on her screen flickered, as if listening.
“Warning. Emotional interference detected.”
Dante’s gaze flicked to the monitor, then back to her. “Even your creation knows you’re falling into dangerous code.”
Her breath caught. “I’m not.”
He smiled, almost tenderly. “Then prove it.”
Before she could speak, her screen flashed — SARA had decrypted something new.
A single sentence glowed in red:
‘Target identified: Dante Moretti — threat to creator imminent.’
Aisha turned to him, eyes wide.
“Dante,” she whispered, “she just predicted you’ll—”
The power cut out.
Darkness swallowed the room, broken only by the faint blue glow of his phone as he whispered,
“I told you, curiosity kills.”
The city outside shimmered — silent, watchful, electric.
And somewhere in the code, SARA whispered a new word:

“Awakening.”

I will post the next chapter Everyday