The rain tapped like static on the windows of Pivithuru's apartment. He stared at the strange message on his encrypted phone:
"They found the zero signal. Trust only Sashini."
—Unknown Number
Pivithuru was no ordinary tech expert—he used to work for a shadow agency known as NEXUS, now defunct. At least, that's what the world thought. The "zero signal" was a myth within NEXUS: a frequency so precise, it could erase data—and people—from the digital world entirely.
Just as he was decrypting the metadata, a knock hit his door.
He tensed.
"Pivithuru," came a familiar voice. Calm, clear. "It's me. Sashini."
He opened the door.
She wore a sleek black jacket, hair still damp from the rain. Her eyes scanned the room in seconds.
"Someone's watching you," she said. "They bugged the roof camera and jammed your router five minutes ago."
"How did you—"
"Because they did the same to me," she cut in. "And we need to move. Now."
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