---Chapter 21The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of Lincoln High as students bustled in the hallways, their voices mingling in a chaotic chorus of chatter. Jamal stood at his locker, his thoughts far removed from the mundane conversations around him. Though life at school seemed to carry on as usual, the weight of recent events lingered like a shadow over him.Rachel appeared by his side, her usual sharp demeanor softened by a rare look of relief. “It’s official. Marcus’s family is done—for now, at least. Evelyn handed over the files to the authorities last night.”Jamal turned to her, his brows furrowing. “What about the lab? The experiments?”“They’ve shut it down. The police raided the place early this morning,” Rachel said, crossing her arms. “Evelyn told me they’re still piecing everything together, but the evidence was solid enough to launch a full-scale investigation.”Alex approached, holding a tray of cafeteria food. “So, does that mean we can finally relax?”

Chapter 23The following morning, Jamal found himself standing in front of his mirror, adjusting the collar of his shirt. Life felt strange now—quieter, almost too quiet. With Marcus and his family handed over to the police, the weight of that drama was temporarily lifted. But Rachel’s words from the day before lingered in his mind: Be prepared—for anything.As he grabbed his backpack, his phone buzzed with a notification. It was a text from Alex:“Meet you in the library at lunch. Got something to show you.”Jamal frowned but didn’t reply. Lately, it seemed like every corner of his life was becoming a mystery.---Walking through the hallways of Lincoln High, Jamal realized how much he’d been missing. Groups of students gathered around lockers, gossiping about the latest trends, relationships, and weekend plans. For them, life was simple. For him? Not so much.“Jamal!”He turned to see Jasmine jogging toward him, her curly hair bouncing with every step.“You’re not going to disappear

---Chapter 25Jamal arrived at school the next morning with a renewed sense of purpose. For the first time in weeks, he felt like he was building something for himself, something that didn’t revolve around survival or conflict. The Entrepreneurship Club meeting had planted a seed of inspiration, and now his mind buzzed with possibilities.But school had a way of keeping his ambitions in check. As he walked into homeroom, Mr. Hendricks, their history teacher, was already scribbling notes on the board.“Good morning, everyone. Hope you’re ready for a pop quiz,” he announced, his tone far too chipper for such unwelcome news.The collective groan from the class was loud enough to rival a jet engine. Jamal shot a glance at Alex, who mouthed, "Are you serious?" Jamal just shook his head and pulled out a pencil.By the time the quiz was over, Jamal’s brain felt like it had been wrung out like a wet cloth.--At lunch, Jamal scanned the cafeteria, his tray in hand. Rachel was waving him over

---Chapter 27:Jamal’s morning began like any other—half-asleep as he trudged into Lincoln High, coffee in hand. But today, the air seemed heavier, charged with anticipation. The pitch competition was just days away, and the thought of presenting in front of the judges loomed over him.As he approached his locker, Rachel was already waiting for him.“Morning,” she said, her tone casual but her expression serious.“Hey,” Jamal replied, opening his locker. “What’s up?”Rachel glanced around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping. “You have a minute? I wanted to talk about something.”Jamal sighed, leaning against the locker. “Go ahead.”Rachel hesitated, then lowered her voice. “Look, I know you’ve been busy with the club and everything, but I feel like you’re shutting some of us out.”Jamal blinked, caught off guard. “Shutting you out? What do you mean?”“I mean,” Rachel said, folding her arms, “you’re always with Zoe now. And that’s fine—I get it, you’re working on the competition. But i

Chapter 29The applause still rang in Jamal's ears as he and Zoe stepped off the stage, their silver trophy gleaming under the auditorium lights. The second-place finish was a big achievement, yet a small sting of disappointment lingered in the back of Jamal’s mind.“Second place, huh?” Zoe said, nudging him playfully as they walked back to their table. “Not too shabby.”“Yeah,” Jamal replied, forcing a smile. “Not bad at all.”Zoe studied him for a moment. “You wanted first, didn’t you?”Jamal shrugged. “I mean, yeah. Who wouldn’t? But hey, we did great. And this is just the beginning, right?”“Exactly,” Zoe said, her tone firm. “SkillBridge is bigger than one competition. And let’s be real, we’re walking out of here with a trophy and a ton of new contacts. That’s a win in my book.”Jamal nodded, her optimism infectious.---After the ceremony, the judges invited the top three teams to mingle. Jamal and Zoe seized the opportunity, approaching one of the judges who had asked the tough