“All boarding for the flight to San Francisco!” The intercom’s voice went off repeatedly. Eniola’s friends rose from their seats in the huge glistening airport shaped like a dome in Las Vegas. There were holographic screens floating above them against the wall, showing international flights and a flurry of passengers waiting in the seating area and androids wheeling the squeaky-clean marble floors, all in between the bus terminals surrounding it in a circular tube.

This was the part Eniola had learned to hate. An hour before the flight to Los Angeles. She felt the warmness that had there slowly separate as they all got up to take their bags and head into the line. In another few days, she’d see them again for her 17th birthday, but now they were to separate. She knew the others were looking forward to getting to relax and being with their families, especially after the busy schedule and stress they’d endured.

“See you soon Eni!” Lucia said, wrapping her into a thick, comforting hug. Eniola held on tighter before everyone piled up against her in one backed away after an awkward moment, sensing bittersweetness hanging between them.

Jay had given her space but stayed next, giving a shy smile, hands in his pockets. “I’ll see you in a few days, okay? When it’s your birthday.”

“How will you ever survive?” Eniola joked, glancing at the line forming to board the plane but lingering, wanting to stay close to her friends, to Jay, as long as she could.

“I’ve done it for the last 16 years,” Iris said from the back.

“I’ll survive knowing that you’ll be in my arms again soon,” he whispered before he moved closer and kissed her. It began softly, sweetly. But as it deepened, she grabbed his face, and he wrapped an arm around her. He pulled away, only to whisper in her ear. “And on my lips.” She quietly giggled.

“If you keep that up, we’re going to miss our flight,” Iris called from the front before Eniola turned to see all of them smiling at them. Heat immediately seeped through her cheeks.

They pulled away and exchanged smiles before Jay walked away with the rest of her friends. “Bye.”

“Bye,” Eniola said as she waved, as they stepped away from the seating area and the security droids scanned them. The terminal doors slid open for them, and they all walked inside the plane.

Eniola kept their eyes on the door for an abnormal amount of time until she forced herself to sit back down again. It’s okay; she thought to herself. I’ll see them on my birthday.

She passed time by scrolling through her phone, swiping through articles and messages about the upcoming SCOPE championships in Seoul in a couple of days. So many people had been streaming pre-game updates and predictions on who would win and who would host. Some said Howie would come back, but Eniola wasn’t sure. Howie had once again gone off the grid to put her full attention on making SCOPE better. There were even some people trying to locate Howie, including Lucia.

Eniola could hardly wait, feeling the excitement burst through her like it was blood in her veins. She still had to pinch herself until it went red because it was such a faraway dream. Almost a year ago, Eniola had to sneak around and create elaborate schemes to go to the SCOPE matches, but soon she was going to be flying to Seoul to represent the US free and in the open.

Eniola didn’t know how to feel about her parent’s sudden 180 from saying ‘SCOPE is bad!’ to trying to contact her all the time. It wasn’t like that when they disowned her at the hospital. They were clear and adamant that she was no longer welcome in their home.

Eniola was so wrapped up in the million thoughts that ran through her head that she barely noticed the stranger who sat next to her. Eniola turned to get a better view and immediately her throat closed.

This stranger was undecidedly handsome. He looked to be a tall and stocky guy who didn’t look older than 25, maybe. His golden-blond hair was shaved on all sides except on the top, which was tied up into a short bun. He looked out of place, but not negatively. It’s like he called all the attention to him. What was especially striking were his abnormally bright-blue eyes that seem to be permanently analyzing Eniola.

“Hey,” Eniola got out.

“Hey,” he replied in a deep British accent that made her shiver. His gaze lingered on her. Eniola eyed him right back and noticed he didn’t have a bag with him. In fact, he didn’t seem to have anything with him. He was just simply sitting there.

“Do I know you?” he asked.

“I was actually just going to ask that,” Eniola replied.

Something about him seemed familiar. Not like they were acquaintances, but Eniola could have actually sworn she’d seen him somewhere.

“You’re that girl from Rogue?” he asked, looking at her with a smile that would have made any girl fall over. He was pretty. Very.

“That’s me,” Eniola said, returning the smile and turning towards him. “It’s nice to meet you. I always like meeting fans.”

“You’re actually my favourite member,” he admitted.

He suddenly sat up straight and swept his gaze around the terminal, as if looking for something or someone. Or had caught someone watching him. Eniola raised an eyebrow.

His foot began tapping loudly on the ground, and his gaze trained back to Eniola. He shot his hand out and touched her phone. Eniola recoiled; eyes wide. Was this guy a thief?

“What’s your deal?” Eniola asked, annoyed. “Why are you acting so weird?”

“You’re about to find out,” he said, before looking around once again. “Bye.”

He stood up fast, which would’ve made the average person get transcendental vertigo and then took off running fast.

Eniola gasped as a glitch rocked the world and he seemed frozen mid-stride before it stopped, and Kain took off bolting.

“Attention, we have delayed all flights 1 hour because of unprecedented circumstances,” the automated voice over the PA system said. “Please stand by.”

Groans erupted from many around her, and Eniola joined those who gave angry shouts. She slumped back into her seat until a sudden thought made her immediately sit back up again.

Her friends had just gotten on a flight. Eniola’s heart began palpitating as she reached for her phone again with shaky hands.

Unlocking her phone, her brow furrowed. It had opened to her contacts, but with a name and number, she didn’t recognize.

Kain Harrison.

Who was that? She didn’t remember adding this person to her contacts. Eniola searched her memory but came back empty-handed. Or empty-headed. That didn’t matter right now, though. She had to check on her friends.

As she swiped at the screen, it froze. She tapped a couple of times, but it went blank.

Eniola noticed grumbles from those around her and she looked up to see the wide eyes or frustrated expressions as they all stared at or tried to figure out what was going on with their devices. Even more troubling was all the screens about them had gone blank, too. Pandemonium swept the room.

Eniola looked back at her screen, which wasn’t blank anymore, except a guy in front of a black screen replaced it. Eniola looked around again. It was on everyone’s screen, and the guy had taken even the holo-boards, keeping track of flights over.

Eniola looked and realized this wasn’t just some guy.

Her eyes widened with analysis, and realization dropped on her. It was the guy who was just talking to her. Eniola looked around again as the guy did, searching for him through the crowd with delirious eyes and heavy breaths, but despite it, she couldn’t see anything.

The guy gave a simultaneously smug and devious grin as he began talking. Eniola leaned in. “Hello, people of Nevada. Sorry to interrupt. I have important news concerning the man you call the governor of your state, Chris Schneider.”

The face of a man Eniola didn’t recognize filled the screen. His tired gray eyes and sagging skin made him look like he was here before the internet was.

The screen flipped through images of huge jets, fancy auto-cars, and an enormous house that looked like it could span across an entire city. These didn’t look like professional photos. They had a blurry and grainy look that made them seem like they were rushed. “What just crossed the screen was evidence of the lifestyle of luxury he’s been enjoying, living above his pay grade. And you want to know how?”

He paused, smirking at the camera. Pictures flicked by. Lines of individuals outside food pantries, grimy people along equally grimy streets. “These are the conditions the people he supposedly represents in this state live in. Most are homeless and uneducated. According to our research and adding up the statistics, Chris here has been stealing tax money from you.”

Eniola looked at everyone, who all wore expressions of shock on their faces. Eniola turned her gaze back to the screen, and now it was clear who this guy was.

Kain Harrison. The world’s most notorious fugitive and cyberterrorist. Heat rose in Eniola’s chest and she realized. She was just talking to him.

He had popped up last November in various countries, exposing governments and stealing from them to save the less fortunate. As far as Eniola knew, they had tried apprehending him, but he was too quick and too anonymous for them to pinpoint him.

Eniola was so wrapped in her thoughts she didn’t notice goosebumps prickled onto her skin. She just met the world’s most wanted fugitive and talked to him so casually.

The video was just like a silent noise in the air until it was abruptly cut off and transitioned into a quick blur of photos that vaguely revealed him. Above it was a bold red text that switched between “Wanted” and “Have you seen this man?”

Eniola stared at his picture, and the compulsion to tell someone hung heavy on her. She had his number, a link to him. She opened up her contacts again, and it was still there, but soon after, a message pinged at her.

Kain: For the good of the people, keep this between the two of us.

He had a point. Despite what Kain had done, Chris was still guilty, so both of them were in the wrong, but then a bitter taste of spite started rising in her. Kain thought he was some saviour meant to fix the world. Eniola had to do something.

She got up from her seat, but a shocking pain shot through her wrist. She sat back down abruptly and whimpered. Another message pinged on her phone.

Kain: Sorry about that :(. I won’t do it again, but seriously you can’t tell.

Eniola’s eyes widened before they switched between her wrist and her phone? How did he do that? It seemed like her mind froze in its place. Kain touched her phone before he took off, and that somehow transmitted the number and this weird shock.

What did he want with her, and why her? Was he just messing with her? Did he do this to other unsuspecting civilians before he committed another crime? Eniola couldn’t think, as her mouth was permanently unhinged. She kept quiet for the rest of the time.

◣

Eniola stepped out of the autocar, rolling her gigantic bag across the grainy pathway to her new house before stopping in front of the doors.

It was like they could sense her because they slid open immediately at the sight of May and Olu.

“Welcome home, winner!” they both said at the same time with huge smiles, before they both crushed her into warm hugs. Eniola sunk in the warmth of her brother and May before they pulled her into the house.

Their house didn’t have rooms or walls downstairs, so everything was in one huge white foyer containing a kitchen, living room, and dining room all in one. Eniola loved the way it looked and its unique look. Stepping into her home, feeling the crisp smell and the atmosphere. No matter what she saw in New York, this would always be her new home.

“There is my gamer!” Olu said, hugging her briefly again. “I missed you so much. I can’t believe you won! Actually, I could believe it because you’re so good.”

Eniola could only smile at them. “Thanks, Olu, that means a lot.”

“I’m so proud of you!” May said excitedly before something small touched her legs. Eniola whipped back and smiled at Adeola, who was smiling brightly at her with all 8 of her teeth. She was now 10 months old and was now chubby and energetic. But what was even weirder was that she was now teetering on both legs and wobbling.

She was walking.

Eniola gasped, before sweeping her up into her arms as she laughed giddily. “When did you start walking?” she said in a baby voice, cooing at Adeola.

“A couple of days ago,” May said, stroking her cheek. How much had Eniola missed? New York was only 10 days long. Her heart swelled.

“Come on. I want to show you something,” May said, guiding her to the dining room table, smelling good with all of her favourite food. She put jollof rice, Eniola’s favourite, with some meat pies and chicken all together on decorative plates. It made her mouth water on the spot.

“You cooked a whole feast!” Eniola gushed.

“It was worth it,” she replied. “Now sit. We have to talk.” She took Adeola out from her arms and fastened her into the highchair as she made her baby noises before they all sat around the table.

“Tell us everything about New York,” Olu said, resting his face on his palms. It came spilling out. Eniola told them about meeting the teams from the other states, and how they won by mere milliseconds, the shopping rendezvous with Lucia and Iris and all the cool dates with Jay. She had burned every interesting sight into her memory and shared the images in vivid detail with them, then brought out her phone to show more photos. She then talked about all the fans and the recognition they’d gotten.

“Wow,” Olu said, stunned. “She’s getting so famous that I doubt she’s going to stay humble.”

“I’ll still remember you,” Eniola sighed. “I’ll always remember you guys.” Olu smiled at her.

“Did you guys hear about that Kain guy?” May suddenly asked.

Eniola froze in place, feeling her heart pick up. I didn’t just hear about him, I saw him, which is what Eniola would’ve said, but she said, “No.”

“The politician is getting arrested as we speak,” May said. It was true? Kain told the truth? “But the authorities were not happy with Kain. I heard he was last seen at the Las Vegas airport fleeing.”

“Why?” Eniola said with a fake waver in her voice, as she pretended to be scared. “Why was he there?”

“I can’t say,” May told her. “Did you see him?”

“I didn’t even know he was there. How would I see him?” Eniola said, wavering a bit.

It’s not like they would believe her or anything if she had a run-in with Kain, and got his number unironically.

“That’s weird, because-

Eniola turned back, but then felt frozen into the moment as the world blurred with colours. The glitch ended as quickly as it stopped. Suddenly, wails began echoing out from Adeola, and then Olu immediately took her in and shushed her.

“These damn glitches,” May groaned. “With the number of times they happen, surely someone must’ve figured it out.”

“I wonder where they come from,” Eniola said again, knowing that she and her friends were part of the reason the world experienced these glitches. Again, they wouldn’t believe her. “It fazes me.”

“I know,” May groaned. “Melo, we are done eating.” The blue house-droid ripped down the hallway at lightning speed and collected the dishes, before packing away the food even quicker.

“That update served us well,” Olu says, referring to the android.

Eniola thought of something random. “Mom and Dad have been messaging me.”

Both Olu and May froze and turned to her with curious expressions.

“That’s a step up from disownment,” Olu mumbled. “It doesn’t really matter, anyway. Maybe they have changed.”

“Maybe Eniola’s success changed them,” May countered. “There’s a difference.”

After dinner, Eniola went back to her room, but not before Olu caught her walking up the steps.

“How’s Jay?” Olu randomly asked, in a more serious yet aloof tone. Eniola wanted to tell him he could stop being all serious and suspicious.

“He’s fine,” Eniola said. “We’re fine too.”

“You know, since you’re a teenager, it’s normal for you to get urges and want to do stuff and-

Eniola’s cheeks heated immediately. “No! We are not having the conversation right now. Jay and I are fine.”

“Okay!” he said, laughing it off. “Hope you’re not being too fine,” Olu lingered on his words. “I don’t think Adeola is ready to have a cousin yet.”

Eniola wanted to sink into the ground. “Oh no, Olu! It’s not like that!”

He started laughing. “Ok!”

Eniola calmed for a bit, but still felt flustered. She and Jay were close, but not that close.

Eniola rushed up the stairs, preparing to take a long nap that would hopefully last a day or two. She set her phone down on her desk and kept one eye on it. What was next? Was Kain going to jump through the phone and tell her to be quiet about his sighting?

Eniola chuckled. He couldn’t jump through the phone. Only Paradox could. And more of a reason to ditch this phone and get a new one.