It all started on a regular Wednesday.
I was in math class, halfway through a test, staring at a question about multiplying decimals. My brain was already fried. Then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, which was weird because I always turn it off during school.
Buzz. Buzz. Bzzzzzz.
I pulled it out from under the desk, thinking it was Mia texting me about lunch, but nope. The screen was black… except for one word, flashing, and in bold, red letters:
RUN!
I didn’t understand. What kind of text was that? Was this some type of joke?
I whispered, “Mia, is this you?”
Suddenly, the phone answered out loud.
“No, this isn’t Mia. And you need to leave the classroom. Now.”
I dropped the phone. Like straight up flung it. It clattered on the floor, and my teacher turned around.
“Everything ok, Nora?” she asked.
“Uh … yeah,” I said. “Just dropped my calculator.”
She nodded and went back to grading. I picked up my phone. The screen now said:
Your teacher isn’t who you think she is. Trust me.
Okay, what?! Either I was being pranked by a hacker, or I was losing my mind. Before I could think, the fire alarm went off. The whole class jumped up, grabbing their things. Everyone ran into the hallway, and my phone buzzed again.
Go left. Not out the front. Head for the science lab. Fast.
And for some reason, I listened. Maybe I was curious. Maybe I was just done with math. I ran past everyone, turned left, and darted into the science lab.
It was dark and empty. My phone buzzed again.
Under the counter. There’s a trapdoor. Open it.
“A what now?” I muttered, but sure enough, when I looked under the counter, there was a square piece of floor with a small mental handle. I pulled it open. A tunnel stretched below.
“What is this? A spy base?” I whispered.
The phone buzzed again. You’ve just stepped into something big, Nora. You’ve been chosen.
“Chosen for what?”
To join the Tech Watch. An elite team of teens who stop dangerous tech before it spreads.
“Okay…” I said slowly, “This sounds like a movie.”
Good, the phone replied. Because your real life is about to get way more exciting.
