Four Years Ago
The old laptop made a soft click as Kendrick closed it and glanced over his shoulder, checking the hallway. The coast was clear. Levy had just left for school, and their mom was on duty at the Diamond Public Hospital. It was the perfect time.
He darted across the living room, barefoot and careful not to make any noise, and slipped into his bedroom. As soon as the door shut, he locked it. The curtains were drawn. He took a deep breath, then sat in front of his desktop setup, more advanced and private than the family computer in the other room.
With practiced fingers, Kendrick booted up the system and launched a program.The Archive. He entered his credentials. A soft beep welcomed him back.
A notification flashed on the screen:
LEVEL 3 STATUS UNLOCKED
Access to Level 3 files granted.
