It was December 25, 2007, and Omar was returning from a date. As he opened the door, he felt something strange and entered the house. Omar noticed small signs on the wall, realizing they were indicators of eavesdropping. Despite more than 20 barely visible signs, he proceeded to his room. There, he observed subtle rearrangements, but nonchalantly remarked, "What a great day," deciding to grab his laptop and play games with friends.
Omar left his house and headed to his friend Augustus's place. "Black Hacker, how much longer will you continue this?" Augustus inquired. At that moment, Omar messaged his brother: "Hello, I'll stay at my friend's house for 2 days to play some games. Please take care of my room and yourself :)." Augustus read the message, and Black Hacker responded, "That's not great. Alright, we won't continue, but now I'm suspicious of Omar."
Undeterred, Omar proceeded to his friend's house, engaging in various games. The following day, he visited an internet bar, creating a website on the dark web for scamming people. To his surprise, he received an email with a photo of his website, accompanied by a message threatening to expose him unless he killed Black Hacker within five days. Distraught, Omar wondered how he had been discovered so easily.
Desperate, Omar sent another message, receiving a photo of information linking the website to him. Panicking, he contemplated how to handle the situation. His only option seemed to be to confront Black Hacker. Unsure of how to proceed, Omar spent a sleepless night at his friend's house.
The next day, Omar went to the Cyber Crime Division (C.C.D.) to meet Black Hacker. After a brief wait, Black Hacker joined him in his office. Omar, feigning composure, disclosed the threat against his family and showed the USB with the incriminating conversations. They read the messages together, prompting Black Hacker to ask three questions: What was he asked to do, did he kill Black Hacker, and why did he reveal this if it jeopardized his family?
Omar, fabricating distress, revealed the sinister plot, claiming ignorance about the supposed murder. Black Hacker, deep in thought, pressed for details. Omar continued his act, asserting that the stalker still pursued him until December 30.
Black Hacker, skeptical, fetched water for Omar. As the conversation progressed, Omar excused himself to the bathroom, secretly reveling in his manipulations. Returning to Black Hacker, Omar was shocked to find him surrounded by armed individuals. Unfazed, Black Hacker assured Omar of his safety.
Outside, Omar met two women, Anna and Elara, introduced by Black Hacker. They would covertly protect him. Anna, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, and Elara, with a formidable Special Forces background, pledged their commitment to Omar's safety.
Alone again, Omar reunited with his family. His brother, Augustus, embraced him, questioning why he hadn't shared the threat. Omar, emotionally drained, deferred to Black Hacker for an explanation.
Omar's father advised him to stay with his mother without disclosing the incident. Handing Omar $50, his father left for the C.C.D. with Augustus. Inside the house, Omar discovered a note in the soup left by his father, playfully asking him to rate the cooking skills.
Later, Omar visited his mother in the hospital, who knew about the situation. Relieved that Omar wasn't a criminal, she shared the surveillance at home. Over dinner, they discussed the hypothetical scenario of Omar being a criminal, with his mother stating she would disown him.
Feeling guilty, Omar questioned the severity of his mother's response. She reassured him, and they went to sleep, Omar opting to rest on a chair. After a long time, he found solace, having endured a tumultuous day."
Omar was leisurely strolling around the artificial lake in Tirana, finding solace in the early morning tranquility. The clock had just struck 6 am, and the sun had yet to fully rise, casting a captivating glow on the sky. The air was crisp and pure, with joggers and exercisers dotting the landscape around the artificial lake. As Omar meandered, attempting to escape his thoughts, he noticed someone seemingly tailing him. Alert to the situation, Omar decided to head home to prepare for the last day of school.
Upon reaching school, he realized the mysterious figure was still shadowing him. "Who are you?" inquired Omar. Drawing closer, the stranger revealed a face that seemed oddly familiar – it was Mr. Stranger, marked by a burn. Panic set in for Omar, who attempted to flee, but Mr. Stranger caught up. Accusing Omar of being a murderer, Mr. Stranger taunted him, referring to himself as a "monster." Suddenly, Black Hacker and another person appeared, overhearing the conversation and promptly arresting Omar.
Awakening drenched in sweat and traumatized, Omar found himself haunted by the nightmare.
"At 4 a.m., Omar's mother lay in peaceful slumber, the room cloaked in darkness. Stirring, Omar glanced at his phone, its soft glow illuminating the silent room. A call had come in, and he stepped outside, answering the unknown number.
"Omar, it's me, Black Hacker. Don't save this number; I'll delete it. Come to C.C.D. Your father and I have devised a plan to tackle your predicament," came Black Hacker's urgent voice. Omar wasted no time and headed to the Cyber Crime Division.
Upon arrival, he found his brother Augustus waiting. "Move quickly; we're aiming for efficiency," Augustus instructed. Together, they entered Black Hacker's room, initially finding it deserted. Omar voiced his concern, to which Augustus calmly replied, "Be patient." Augustus approached a large picture, revealing a hidden door. A tunnel awaited them, and as Augustus flicked on a light, they hurriedly advanced, unlocking the next door.
To their surprise, the room beyond held not only Black Hacker but also Omar's father, the Minister of Police, the leader of the Special Forces, and several members from the elite unit Omar had glimpsed the day before. Completing the assembly were Anna and Elara, the two women Omar had met previously.
"Now that everyone is present, let me outline the plan to apprehend this criminal," declared Black Hacker. He continued, "Omar, you have no idea of the magnitude of trouble you're in. The man stalking you, intending to murder me, is a National Hacker and an infamous assassin. It's time to strategize.