Preface: The Game Begins"I am that Raven Delia, torn from the world too soon.
11:11—I need a wish, but not from heaven.
Safe haven enough, I've had enough."
The air was thick with tension in the sterile hospital room. Maeve Donovan lay quietly, her eyes sharp despite the exhaustion etched on her face. Spencer Reid sat beside her, the weight of the case pressing down on him like the heavy silence between them.
Maeve's hands trembled as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper—a delicate origami crane. She offered it to Reid with a faint, hopeful smile.
"I made this while I was waiting," she said softly. "It helped me keep my mind busy."
Reid took the crane carefully, unfolding it beneath the table. Inside was a note, written in precise, deliberate handwriting. It was a message wrapped in a puzzle—a cry for help disguised as a cipher.
The Cipher InstructionsSometimes, the only way out is to pair up and move together.
Take the word—start at the ends and work inward, making four pairs.
For each pair, turn the letters into their numbers (A=1, Z=26).
Add the numbers in each pair. If the sum is more than 26, subtract 26.
Turn those numbers back into letters.
Use the chessboard mapping:
U becomes N
G becomes U
X becomes N
U becomes Z
If you find NUNZ, you'll know I'm not safe, and there's more behind the game.
—M
Reid's mind raced as he followed the instructions on a scrap of paper:
Z (26) + U (21) = 47 → 47 - 26 = 21 → U
G (7) + Z (26) = 33 → 33 - 26 = 7 → G
W (23) + A (1) = 24 → X
N (14) + G (7) = 21 → U
Then, applying the chessboard shift:
U → N
G → U
X → N
U → Z
The final word: NUNZ.
His eyes met Maeve's, understanding dawning. This was no ordinary cipher. It was a warning—a signal that the game was far from over, and that Maeve was caught in a trap far deeper than anyone had imagined.
What You Will DiscoverThis book unravels the intricate layers of this cryptic game, weaving together the art of cipher-breaking, psychological warfare, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Through the lens of the Layered Bacon-Zero Cipher (LBZC) and the Infinite Flower Model, you will journey into a world where every move counts, and every letter hides a story.
Prepare to decode, to question, and to follow the breadcrumbs left by a mind playing chess with fate itself. The path ahead is complex, but with patience and insight, the pieces will fall into place.
Welcome to the game.