ARIA

The red dot on the tablet screen pulsed like a warning heartbeat. Blink. Blink. Blink.

"Maya!" I shouted at the screen, my composure cracking. "Shut it down! They're bypassing the firewall!"

"I'm trying!" Maya’s voice was tight with panic, the sound of her fingers flying across her mechanical keyboard echoing through the speakers. "This isn't a standard trace, Aria. This is military-grade decryption. Whoever this is, they aren't looking for money. They're looking for you."

I watched the progress bar on the screen. 78%... 82%...

If it hit 100%, they would have everything. My real birth certificate. The hospital records from the burn unit. The photos of my face...