Chapter 10The room’s oppressive silence was broken only by the faint hum of the syringe in the man’s hand. Jamal, Alex, and Rachel sat bound to their chairs, their hearts pounding as Reginald’s cold gaze swept over them.“This isn’t just about you three,” Reginald began, his tone icy and authoritative. “You’ve meddled in affairs far beyond your comprehension. Now, you’ll face the consequences.”The man in the lab coat approached Jamal first, his movements deliberate. Jamal’s eyes darted to his friends, silently pleading for a plan.“Don’t you dare!” Rachel shouted, struggling against the ropes. “You can’t do this to us!”“Oh, but we can,” Victoria replied, her voice like silk. “And we will.”As the syringe neared Jamal’s arm, the door suddenly burst open.“Stop!” a commanding voice rang out.Everyone turned to see a woman in a sharp black suit standing in the doorway, her expression stern. Behind her stood two

---Chapter 12The next day at Lincoln High, the trio arrived earlier than usual. The whispers about Marcus’s family had intensified overnight, and even teachers seemed to be on edge. Jamal noticed Principal Hernandez standing near the entrance, speaking in hushed tones with a man in a suit—probably an investigator.“Looks like the school’s involved now,” Rachel murmured, following Jamal’s gaze.Alex shrugged. “Can’t say I’m surprised. Marcus’s parents have their hands in everything around here.”Jamal nodded, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The way Hernandez kept glancing toward the students made him uneasy. It wasn’t just about Marcus’s family. There was something more.---In their second period, English class, the trio sat near the back as Mr. Collins assigned an essay on “the pursuit of truth.” Jamal smirked at the irony but quickly turned his focus to the class. Midway through the lesson, a note slid onto his desk.“Library. 4 PM. Come alone.”Jamal gla

---Chapter 14The next day at Lincoln High felt different, as though the air itself carried a charge that made every glance sharper and every word heavier. Jamal could feel it the moment he walked through the front doors—like the walls had absorbed the tension from the murmurs and whispers swirling through the halls.Rachel and Alex were already waiting for him by his locker, their expressions a mix of worry and determination.“Did you check it yet?” Rachel asked, her voice low but insistent.Jamal shook his head, pulling his backpack closer. “Not here. Too many eyes.”Alex crossed his arms, leaning against the locker with an exaggerated casualness. “Good call. Feels like half the school is looking for an excuse to talk about us already.”“They’re not looking at us,” Rachel said sharply. “They’re looking for Marcus.”Jamal glanced around. She wasn’t wrong. The usual hum of chatter in the hallways was tinged with something sharper, and every conversation seemed to carry Marcus’s name

Chapter 16The following morning, Jamal heard his phone vibrating on the nightstand. Rachel's name appeared on the screen as he groggily picked it up."Good morning," he said in a raspy voice.Without introducing herself, Rachel stated, "We have a problem." "I believe someone has been following me, and Evelyn still has not shown up."Jamal sat up immediately. "What? "Are you sure?""I noticed the same black car outside my house both this morning and last night. It is not an accident.“All right,” Jamal said, attempting to think clearly. "We must convene and determine our course of action. Alex too.”“Already called him,” Rachel replied. “He’s on his way to the café.”“I’ll meet you there.”Jamal hung up, quickly dressed, and grabbed the USB drive from his desk. If they were being watched, they couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.---The café was busier than usual when Jamal arrived, but Rachel and Alex were seated in their usual corner. Rachel had her laptop open, her face a mix of

--- Chapter 18: The sun had barely risen when Jamal and his group set their plan into motion. With the weight of Evelyn’s knowledge guiding them, they spent the day gathering the necessary supplies: disguises, equipment, and every tool they’d need to infiltrate the second facility. As evening fell, the air grew thick with anticipation. They’d barely spoken since the plan had taken shape, each of them lost in their own thoughts, the gravity of what they were about to do hanging over them like a dark cloud. “Alright, everyone’s in position?” Evelyn asked, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Rachel, sitting at a nearby desk, scanned through the encrypted files on her laptop one last time. “Everything checks out. We’ll need to disable the security systems from the inside once we’re in. But I’ve got the plan for that.” Alex was checking the gear, his movements quick but careful. “I still don’t get why we need to go in through the back. Why not ju