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Beyond the Bottom the choice of darkness
---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
Beyond the Bottom Shadows closing in
---Chapter 15Jamal paced back and forth in his room, the documents Evelyn had slipped him spread out across his desk. The word “Controlled Assets” glared up at him from the first page, and his mind raced as he tried to piece together the full picture. Evelyn, a detective working undercover, had risked everything to get this information to him.Now she was in danger.A sharp knock on the door startled him. Jamal quickly swept the papers into a drawer and called out, “Come in.”His mom peeked her head through the door. “Dinner’s ready, Jamal. You’ve been in here all day.”“Thanks, Mom. I’ll be down in a bit,” he replied, forcing a smile.As soon as she left, he pulled the documents back out and grabbed his phone. Rachel and Alex needed to see this.---Later that evening, Jamal, Rachel, and Alex gathered in the back corner of the local café. The place was nearly empty, the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of cups providing the perfect cover for their discussion.“These papers
Beyond the Bottom The Missing piece
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
Beyond the Bottom The weight of consequences
Chapter 17Jamal pulled into a secluded clearing far from the lab and shut off the engine. The car fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of its occupants. Evelyn sat in the backseat, her head resting against the window, her face illuminated by the faint glow of a nearby streetlamp.“You okay?” Rachel asked, turning around to look at her.Evelyn nodded weakly, though her eyes were dark with exhaustion. “I’ll live. Thanks to you.”“You’re welcome,” Jamal said. “But we need answers—now.”Evelyn sighed, closing her eyes briefly. “I know. Just… give me a moment.”“We don’t have time,” Rachel snapped, her voice sharper than intended. “That alarm wasn’t just a warning—it’s a signal. They’ll be looking for us.”“She’s right,” Alex added. “We’re sitting ducks here.”Jamal nodded, putting the car back in gear. “We’ll head to my place. It’s safer, and we can regroup there.”---Jamal’s parents were asleep when they slipped into the house through the back door. The group gathered in the basem
Beyond the Bottom the move that changes all
--- 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
Beyond the Bottom The Heart Of the Beast
---Chapter 19The group moved quickly, staying in the shadows as they navigated the sterile, cold hallways of the facility. Evelyn led the way, her instincts sharp, while Rachel kept an eye on the laptop, making sure the security systems stayed offline. Alex, though hesitant, followed closely, his grip tight on his gear.Jamal’s heart raced, each step taking them deeper into enemy territory. The stakes were higher now. The evidence they needed could change everything—but only if they survived long enough to get it.“This way,” Evelyn whispered, pointing down a corridor that led to a set of steel doors. “The main lab should be beyond those doors.”Rachel nodded, glancing at her laptop. “I’ve got the security bypass working for now. But it’s only a matter of time before they realize we’ve been in here. We’ve got maybe fifteen minutes.”“Let’s make it count,” Jamal said, his voice low but firm.As they reached the steel doors, they found them locked, just as Evelyn had expected. But the
Beyond the Bottom Into The Storm
Chapter 20Jamal gripped the wheel, his knuckles white as the car roared down the dark road. The guards’ SUVs were relentless, their headlights piercing through the night like predators closing in on their prey.“We’re not going to make it!” Alex shouted from the backseat, his voice barely audible over the chaos.“We will,” Jamal growled, determination etched into his face. “Just hang on!”Evelyn, seated beside him, had her weapon ready, her sharp eyes scanning for an opening. Rachel, in the backseat, was furiously typing on her laptop, trying to disable any trackers or alerts.“Got it!” Rachel exclaimed. “I’ve scrambled their comms, but it won’t last long. We need to lose them!”Jamal nodded, his mind racing. The narrow road ahead opened up into a series of winding paths leading into the forest. It was risky, but it was their best shot at escape.He veered sharply to the right, the tires screeching as the car sped into the dense woods. The trees loomed like shadows, the terrain uneve
Beyond the Bottom A Turning Point
---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?”
Latest Chapter
The Turning point
Chapter 110 Jamal Davenport sat at his desk, his fingers drumming against the wood as he waited for the call. This was it. The meeting with the university board would determine whether Skilbridge could survive ByteEdge’s onslaught or be crushed under corporate pressure.The room was tense. Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and Evan sat around him, their eyes locked on the laptop screen.“You sure they’ll go for it?” Ethan asked.Jamal exhaled. “They don’t just want a scholarship. They want something sustainable. And that’s what we’re offering.”The laptop screen lit up with an incoming call. Jamal straightened his posture and clicked accept.“Mr. Davenport,” the university administrator’s voice came through, steady but unreadable. “We’ve reviewed your proposal.”The tension in the room thickened.“And?” Jamal asked, keeping his tone professional.The administrator paused. “The board is impressed. Your career development pipeline is innovative, and we believe it could provide real value to our studen
The War for Dominance
Chapter 109 Jamal Davenport had always known that running a startup wouldn’t be easy, but this was a full-on war. ByteEdge wasn’t just moving aggressively; they were dominating.Their latest move—securing exclusive deals with two universities—was a brutal blow. Skilbridge was fighting against a corporate giant with deep pockets and powerful connections. If they didn’t strike back fast, they’d be buried before they even had a chance to grow.As soon as Jamal ended the call with Ethan, he headed straight for their dorm. Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and Evan were already waiting inside, tension thick in the air.“We need a new plan,” Leah said, arms crossed. “ByteEdge isn’t playing fair.”Jamal dropped his bag onto the chair and ran a hand through his hair. “We knew this would happen. We just didn’t expect them to move this fast.”“They’re leveraging money,” Ethan muttered. “Universities can’t say no to a fat check.”“But that’s their weakness,” Zoe said, adjusting her glasses. “They’re focusing o
Battling for Survival
Chapter 108 Jamal Davenport had faced challenges before—balancing Skilbridge with university, securing funding, and dealing with relentless coursework. But this? This was different.ByteEdge was a monster, a competitor with deep pockets and industry influence. If Skilbridge didn’t act fast, they’d be crushed before they even got a chance to thrive.The emergency meeting in Jamal’s dorm had ended with a plan, but now came the hard part—execution.By the next morning, Skilbridge’s team was already in motion. Ethan was coding new features, Zoe was reaching out to student organizations, and Evan—true to his word—was spreading the word across campus.Leah, on the other hand, had taken control of the marketing strategy.“We need to hit every major university event,” she told Jamal as they walked through the campus courtyard. “Tech fairs, career expos, student meet-ups—anything that gets people talking about Skilbridge.”Jamal nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. His inbox was full of emails
Pressure Building
Chapter 107 Jamal Davenport had thought securing an investor would be the hardest part of the journey. He was wrong.With the ink barely dry on the contract, the real challenge began—balancing Skilbridge, university, and life. Columbus University was unforgiving; professors didn’t care about his startup, deadlines didn’t wait for board meetings, and exams loomed like an unstoppable storm.It was just past midnight, and Jamal sat hunched over his laptop in the student lounge, eyes scanning Skilbridge’s latest analytics report. The numbers weren’t bad, but they weren’t great either. Growth had to be faster if they were going to meet Langford’s targets.“Still at it?” Leah’s voice cut through the quiet.Jamal looked up to see her standing by the vending machine, a bottle of water in hand. She wore an oversized hoodie and sweatpants—her unofficial study attire.“I have to be,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. “If these numbers don’t improve, Langford might start thinking we aren’t worth
The Waiting Game
Chapter 106 The days that followed were agonizing. Patience had never been Jamal Davenport’s strong suit, and now, with everything on the line, waiting for a response from Langford and Hayes felt like torture. The uncertainty gnawed at him, making it impossible to focus on anything else.He sat in the student lounge at Columbus University, his phone in his hand, refreshing his emails for what felt like the hundredth time. Nothing. Leah sat beside him, flipping through her notes, while Ethan and Zoe occupied the opposite couch, discussing an upcoming project.“You’re going to burn a hole through that screen if you keep staring at it,” Leah muttered, not looking up.Jamal exhaled sharply. “What if they back out? What if they decide Skilbridge isn’t worth the risk?”Leah sighed and closed her notebook. “Jamal, you need to breathe. We presented the best possible pitch. If they’re interested, they’ll call. If they’re not… we’ll find another way.”“You say that like we have a backup plan.”
Racing Against Time
Chapter 105 Jamal Davenport sat at the head of the table in Leah’s apartment, surrounded by his closest allies—Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and even Evan, who had surprisingly decided to stick around. Their expressions were serious, their gazes fixed on the documents and laptop screens before them. The weight of saving Skilbridge rested on their shoulders, and there was no room for hesitation.“We don’t have time to waste,” Jamal began, his voice steady but firm. “If we’re going to rebrand Skilbridge and attract investors, we need a full plan in motion by the end of the week.”Leah tapped her pen against the table. “That’s ambitious, but necessary. What’s our first step?”Jamal took a deep breath, knowing the next part would be the most difficult. “We need a pitch that sells Skilbridge as a must-have investment. Not just another start-up struggling to survive, but a company with real potential.”Ethan leaned forward. “We need success stories. Testimonials. Something that proves Skilbridge isn’t
Between Two Fires
Chapter 104 Jamal Davenport left Calloway’s office with his mind racing. The weight of Skilbridge’s financial troubles pressed heavily on his shoulders, and now, with Calloway talking about potential layoffs and budget cuts, things were spiraling out of control faster than he had anticipated.As he stepped outside, the crisp afternoon air did little to clear his head. He glanced at his phone—messages from Leah, Ethan, and Zoe filled his notifications. They were probably waiting to hear about the meeting. But right now, he needed a moment to himself.He sat on a nearby bench, elbows resting on his knees as he took a deep breath. This wasn’t just about Skilbridge anymore. It was about his future. If Skilbridge collapsed, all the time, effort, and sacrifices he had made would be for nothing. He had fought too hard to let that happen.His phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Ethan:Ethan: Yo, how did it go? We’re in the library if you need to talk.Jamal hesitated, then t
The Pressure Is On
Chapter 103 Jamal Davenport walked out of the café with Leah, Zoe, Ethan, and Evan, his mind spinning from the conversation they'd just had. No matter how much support he had, the weight on his shoulders never seemed to ease. Between Skilbridge’s growing complications, university deadlines, and Milo’s constant scheming, he felt stretched thin.The cold night air hit him as they stepped onto the campus sidewalk. Streetlights cast long shadows over the pavement, and students milled about in groups—some heading to late-night study sessions, others just enjoying a break from the academic grind."You sure you’re good, Jamal?" Leah asked, nudging his shoulder. "You’ve got that ‘thinking too hard’ face on again."Jamal exhaled. "Just processing everything. Calloway, the research project, the finance issues… It’s a lot.""You’re not alone in this," Zoe reminded him. "We’re handling Milo together, and now that we’re working at Skilbridge too, that should lighten your load a little.""Hopefull
Tensions Unraveling
Chapter 102Jamal sat at his desk, staring blankly at his laptop screen. The glowing display reflected an overwhelming pile of assignments, project deadlines, and unread emails from his professors. His mind buzzed with numbers, business projections, and the ever-present tension surrounding Skilbridge. Balancing university and the company was getting harder with each passing day.The latest email was from Professor Simmons, reminding the class about the upcoming research presentation. Another was from the student finance office, notifying him about tuition deadlines. It was ironic—he was handling millions in investments for Skilbridge, yet he still had to worry about university payments like any other student.With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. His phone vibrated, snapping him out of his thoughts. Leah.Leah: Hey, you alive? We’re at the café. You need caffeine. And maybe an intervention.Jamal exhaled a chuckle, already knowing she wouldn’t take no for an a
