Challenge Accepted

1

It's Y/N's second year at college. You're majoring in computer science, which is kind of a breeze. You've always been good at hacking and coding, even entering in some online challenges or discord groups. That's why it's no surprise when your mom sends you a link to a facebook post.

At first glance it seems kind of sketchy. But seeing as it's the end of the year, this will give you something to do all of summer vacation. You shoot your mom a quick 'thanks' and pull out your laptop, finding the post and clicking on the link.

Hello. Embedded into this picture is an important piece of information for your journey. Good luck.
-Anonymous

'Ooo creepy...'
You quickly begin to visually scan the picture and sigh to yourself...This is gonna be hard. Clicking away, you take one glance at your clock, 11:30 PM. Sine you don't have class tomorrow, staying up a little won't hurt...right?

12:30 AM
Still nothing.

1:45 AM
You're two coffees in...still nothing...

2:50 AM
Maybe something?
2:55
It was nothing....

4:00 AM
Actually...You could be on to something...

6:00 AM
Four coffees in...So far no ones cracked it on any of the reddit pages or discord servers you've tuned in on the past few hours. But, you might have a link?

9:00 AM
Definitely a link.

You pause, copying the link into your search bar.
*click*
The screen is black for a second, and you start to worry. Had you been scammed into killing your computer? Just as you begin to power off your router white letters appear on your screen.

Loading....

This takes about thirty minutes, which were also spent worrying. And then....

Congratulations. You have passed stage one of this multi-stage challenge. If you'd like to continue, find what's hidden in this photo image. Good luck.

-Anonymous

You stare at the screen in front of you. Yes, it is a challenge. But, the first one nearly took you a whole night. Half mad, half intrigued, you decide to let it rest for tonight. If no ones solved it by tomorrow, you'll keep going.

You groan before laying down in your small bed, letting the mountain of exhaustion take you to sleep.