The Astral Hacker (Cryptopunk Revolution Book 1) Brian Terenna (best novels to read to improve english txt) 📖

front of me. His massive fist crashes into my face. I drop to the ground, my legs weak, my will gone.

Someone lies next to me, unmoving, her face blurred in my memory. I cry uncontrollably. The Archfiend demands that I stop, but I can’t. He slams me down with a clawed fist, then pours noxious liquid down my throat. I gag and swallow big gulps of the stuff. I gasp for air until oblivion takes me.

I force my mind back to the present to see Astrid and Yumi sitting on a chair in the corner of the room. Yumi pokes her and Astrid giggles. They gaze into each other’s eyes and then lean in for a slow kiss.

Awww. That’s awesome for them. I can’t help but be a little jealous, though.

I walk down the hall and peek inside Alexander’s room to see him standing at a desk and cleaning a disassembled rifle. The smell of gun oil envelops me immediately. Next to the rifle, lies his father’s gold medal, four toasted rolls, and a handful of butter packets.

That’s where all those rolls go. I guess he doesn’t want to eat the meal that Brandon made. “Hungry?” I ask.

He twists around with a grin. “Hey, Sprite. You know I’m Italian. I’m used to heaping plates of pasta and unlimited garlic bread. I’m going to waste away here.”

“Looks like it’s already happening,” I say. “You’re so thin.”

“How about you?”

I shrug. It’s true.

“I’m not thin anyway, I’m lithe.” He grabs the bottom of his shirt and pulls it over his six-pack abs.

“Whoa, whoa. I believe you,” I say, putting my hands up. Diablo, I guess I was underestimating him. Of course, I can’t tell him that. That would go right to his head. “So…are you nervous?”

“About what?”

“Everything. Our attempt to expose Xyphotech, other missions we might have to go on, the battle to save America.”

“Having second thoughts?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No…I’m committed. Just cautious.”

“As long as I’m around, there are no risks. A real boss protects his friends.”

“Yite,” I say under my breath.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” But I do doubt him. He couldn’t protect me at Xyphotech. If it weren’t for Sunny, we’d all be dead. “Thank you for what you did for Sunny. It means a lot to me.”

“It seemed like the right thing to do. I always stand up to injustice.” His intense eyes meet mine. “I’m glad you’re staying. Your skills are unlike anything I’ve seen.”

I smile at the praise.

The scar on his cheek draws my attention again. I wonder where he got that. It must be something tragic because I know he’d tell me if it was good. I think of my own scar. Hopefully, it’s not something like that.

“I am still worried, though,” I say.

“You’re a legendary hacker. Combined with my shooting skills and brilliant tactics, we can take back America and be heroes.”

Fae Luna, the Legendary Hacker. I imagine the praise I’d get. People would love me…finally. Then I’d be free to game and finish my foster care program, assuming I don’t die. I look up and examine Alexander. There’s something about him. Sure, he’s brash, but I certainly admire his confidence and sense of morality.

  CHAPTER 14

∶ NO GMO’S FOR US ∶

I drop down into a pushup, then launch up to my feet and into the air. “Twenty,” I say between breaths.

“Well done,” says Astrid. “Just continue to use your full range of motion, and you’ll make progress faster.”

I pull at my sweat-soaked tank top, feeling uncomfortable. “Thanks for the tips,” I say with a smile. I’ve never had so many people in my life trying to help me. It’s strange.

Astrid pushes at Alexander’s shoulder. “Alexander might be the best shot, but he’s got nothing on me in the lifting department.”

Alexander feigns a hurt look. “Might be the best shot?”

Astrid shakes her head. “Fine. You’re the best shot. But you need to be more serious.”

“When this is over, I’ll be a serious Olympian with ten golds to my name, but you’ll have to accept me for now.”

She shakes her head and grabs a barbell filled with weights, then explodes upwards, lifting the bar over her head in a series of reps.

Yumi walks over to watch.

Alexander raises his eyebrows at her. “Is that what you’re going to do to me if I don’t get serious?”

Yumi giggles.

Astrid shoves him with a slight smile. “You always bounce back, Alexander.”

“You’ve noticed how resilient I am.”

“Yite,” I say with a smirk.

“You keep saying that. What does it mean?” he asks.

I shrug. “Nothing.”

“Fae, you should eat dinner with Yumi and me tonight. Us girls need to stick together,” says Astrid. “Tell Naveha to come too.”

A twinge of nervousness hits me. I’ve never socialized with a group. But it could be nice. “Sure.”

“Enough chit chat. Let’s get back to our workout,” says Alexander. “Run ten more laps.”

I sigh, but knowing how important running is, I set off. My arms pump as I sprint down the shooting range to the target at the back. Then I dart back to the end of the room, my hair bouncing with each stride.

When I first started training, I slowed way down after just three sprints. Now, even after the rest of my workout, my legs propel me forward just as fast on the tenth lap.

“You’re much faster than when we started,” says Alexander.

Astrid lowers her barbell from another set. “You’re the fastest sprinter I’ve seen.”

“And somehow you do it with those short legs,” says Alexander, with a wink. “You should come to the food distribution center with Astrid, Americus, and me.”

I squint at him.

“It will be perfectly safe,” he says as if reading my mind. “Especially since I’m going to