All Chapters of Heart of stone: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The sun had fully dipped below the horizon by the time May and James returned to the cabin. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the quiet of the woods was broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and distant hoot of an owl. Inside, the cabin was dimly lit, shadows flickering softly across the rough-hewn walls. They had agreed to keep a low profile, knowing that any misstep could lead to discovery—and danger.May sat on the edge of the worn wooden bed, her mind racing. The day’s revelations had left her battered with questions and fears. James, sitting across from her, looked exhausted but determined. The events of the past twenty-four hours had changed everything—her perception of him, her understanding of the threat, and her own role in this dangerous game.“Do you really think Alex can find something concrete?” May asked quietly, breaking the silence.James nodded slowly. “He’s good at what he does. If anyone can uncover the truth, it’s him. But it’s g

May clutched the USB drive in her hand as she retraced her steps through the silent woods, the weight of its contents pressing down on her like a physical burden. The encounter at the warehouse had left her reeling, the stranger’s words echoing in her mind, a mix of warning and promise. She felt a surge of adrenaline, a potent cocktail of fear and determination, propelling her forward.Back at the cabin, James was waiting; he was pacing anxiously. In the dim light, long, distorted shadows fell across his face, showing the concern that seemed to be etched into every line. He looked up as she entered, his eyes searching hers."What happened? Are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.May nodded, holding up the USB key. "I met him. He gave me this. He says it has everything we need."James' eyes widened in curiosity as he took the drive, turning it over in his hand. "What did he say? Who is he?""He wouldn't say much, but he warned me. He said the people we're up against a

Dawn bled into morning, painting the rough-hewn walls of the cabin in a soft, pale light. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and the lingering metallic tang of blood. May moved with a quiet, almost frantic energy, her movements precise and deliberate as she cared for James.He was still weak, his face pale and drawn, but his eyes were clear, and he was lucid. He watched her, his gaze filled with a mixture of gratitude and concern."You don't have to do this," he said, his voice raspy. "You should rest."May didn't look up. She was carefully cleaning the edges of his wound, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I'm fine," she said, her voice tight. "Just let me take care of you."Guilt gnawed at her, a constant, nagging ache in her chest. If it weren't for her, if she hadn't been so determined to uncover the truth, James wouldn't be lying here, wounded and vulnerable."It's my fault," she whispered, the words barely audible.James reached out and gently took her hand, his fi

The air in the cramped hideout crackled with nervous energy. The only light came from the laptop screen, illuminating Alex’s focused face and May’s tense expression. The silence was broken only by the rhythmic tapping of Alex’s fingers on the keyboard, each keystroke a step further into the digital labyrinth of Lilion Corp’s servers. “Firewall down,” Alex muttered, his eyes glued to the screen. “But they’ve got a sophisticated intrusion detection system. I’m bypassing it now.” May watched the lines of code scroll past, her heart pounding in her chest. She had set up a series of monitoring programs, acting as a digital lookout, scanning for any signs of intrusion or counterattack. “I’m seeing something,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “A spike in network activity. Someone’s onto us.” Alex’s fingers flew across the keyboard, his movements becoming even more frantic. “I’m almost in,” he said, his voice strained. “Just need to bypass this last layer of encryption.” Sudde

The flickering screen of the old television set cast an eerie light across the cramped confines of the safe house. Static crackled between news segments, a constant reminder of their isolation. May was listlessly flipping through channels, searching for any hint of information, any clue that might help them navigate the treacherous waters they were in.Suddenly, a familiar face filled the screen. It was Malory, James's ex-fiancée, her eyes red and swollen, her voice trembling with feigned emotion."Breaking News," the chyron read. "Malory Stratford Announces Lilion Corp Bankruptcy, Takes Interim Control."May froze, her hand hovering over the remote. She stared at the screen, her heart pounding in her chest."…in light of recent events," Malory was saying, her voice cracking with manufactured grief, "it is with a heavy heart that I must announce the bankruptcy of Lilion Corporation. The allegations of financial impropriety, coupled with James's… unfortunate demise, have left the compa