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Chapter 1: The Wake Up Call

I was running through the jungle, like a predator running behind a prey, barefoot, and drenched in sweat and, for some reason, in blood. My breathing was getting faster as I ran, ignoring the pain swelling up in on my toes that occurred due to stepping on a thorn bushes. I ran like my life depended on it, just wasn't sure what I was running from. I dare not look behind, for if I do, I'll be paralyzed. Paralyzed by fear, by the looks of the creature. This has happened to me before, I think I remember it. Déjà vu.

And so I did the opposite of what I am supposed to do, I looked behind. Just to stop running in my tracks. Just to realize that I am not being chased by anything or anyone. The pain has subsided and the ground felt soft, like velvet.

Am I dreaming?

"Son," a voice, which sounded to familiar, echoed. I again turned around to pinpoint its source.

Yes, I am definitely dreaming. No doubt in that. It's just that I cannot control the outcome of it.

"Dad? Is that you?"

"Yes."

"Come back, dad."

"I can't. I am sorry."

Something snaps.

Oh boy, not again.

This time I feel the time to dilute and loose that part of the dream.

He pulls out a shining object. A gun.

BLAM.

And then a ringing sound.

I wake up, gasping for air, as I come to my senses and break free out of that dream and push myself into reality.

Lucid dreaming sucks.

And that ringing sound turns out to be my phone ringing loudly and buzzing violently.

"What now?" I moan, as I force myself out of the bed and scour through the messy table to locate the phone. Having two phones suck. Like really.

Why do I even have two phones in the first place? Oh yeah, one for work and other for secure calls and messaging through end-to-end communication. And why am I telling you this? Because, I care about my privacy.

The phone that I use for secure calls and text has a custom ROM, ReplicantOS, flashed onto it. It is one of the secure and open source alternatives to Android. The other one is just a simple stock Android phone, Pixel XL, which, obviously, comes minus the bloat ware.

Running through my messy desk I get hold of my Replicant loaded phone.

5:00 am.

Who the fuck calls this early? But wait, a Signal call and a number that I don't recognize or recall?

Yes, recall since I memorize all of my numbers by heart. It is fun to do that.

I swipe left and pick up the call.

"Hello?" I mutter.

"Where the fuck have you been?" a voice, again familiar, blared through the speaker.

"Kyla?"

"Kyla, my ass. Get to the office right now!!! I need you to be here. We have a situation and it might get a bit messier. Heck it is getting messier."

"Is anyone there with you?" I asked as moved towards the wardrobe.

"Yeah, Ravi," she replied, "I'll tell you what is happening once you reach here."