All Chapters of ECHOES OF DECEPTION: Chapter 11 - Chapter 12

The shadows of the vault appeared to draw nearer, encircling Alexander like a suffocating shroud. The ominous silence following the video feed was deafening. His mind raced as the face on the screen burned into his memory, a face he had trusted, a voice he once relied on.Mason was the first to speak, breaking the heavy stillness. “Alexander, we need to get out of here. If they know we’re in the vault”“They already knew,” Isabella interrupted, her voice trembling but steady. “That was a warning. Whoever’s behind this wanted you to see them.”Alexander’s eyes stood fixed on the empty screen. His jaw tightened, and his fists clenched firmly at his sides. “This was not merely a caution,” he stated icily. “This was a declaration of war.”Mason moved closer, his hand still resting on his weapon. “Then we’re sitting ducks. Let’s move before”Footsteps reverberated from the hallway beyond the vault. Loud, intentional footsteps that intensified with every second.“They’ve arrived,” Isabella