Chapter 19: Twin Shadows
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Cap-Haïtien's uneven streets, but Peterson had other shadows on his mind—two in particular. Amanda and Miranda. Ever since Miranda's confrontation, his chest had been tight with worry. Now Amanda was acting strange too. She wasn't accusing, not like Miranda does, but her silence was sharp, and watchful.
Peterson sat in a small corner of the schoolyard, pretending to flip through his math book. His eyes darted between the page and the gate Wilkens mentioned. Jean-Daniel leaned against the wall behind him, trying to act casual. Wilkens sat nearby, sketching in his notebook who knows what maybe more idea or blueprints for Peterson.
"We got a problem, and it bothers me" Peterson whispered.
Jean-Daniel arched an eyebrow. "You mean aside from the DED gang attack, glowing magic symbols, and our very real risk of possession?"
Peterson shook his head. "its about My sisters again."
"Still on your trail?"
"I think so, i mean yes . Miranda is already suspicious. And Amanda is.. too quiet. I feel like she knows something the way way she's been acting lately."
Wilkens looked up from his sketches. "Maybe they're just worried about you."
"Or maybe," Jean-Daniel added, "they're about to walk into something they can't handle."
They all stayed silence after that, lost in their thoughts.
---
That night, Peterson's suspicions were confirmed.
He'd been on patrol with Jean-Daniel, checking on a stash Isso had ordered them to guard. The spot is a crumbling building half-swallowed by weeds and it was quiet. Way Too quiet.
Then he heard a whisper somewhere behind them. Not from the medallion this time.
"Peterson!"
His heart dropped.
He spun around and saw them.
Amanda and Miranda, crouched behind a broken wall.
"What are you doing here?!" he hissed.
"well, We followed you," Amanda said.
"Are you two freaking insane?!"
Miranda scowled. "No. So far as I'm concerned You're the one sneaking around with criminals."
Jean-Daniel appeared beside him, hand already on the hilt of his machete crafted by Peterson.
"Bro what are you doing ! You brought your sisters?" he muttered.
"No! Are you crazy !? They followed us."
Jean-Daniel cursed. " Dang it !! We need to leave. Now."
Too late.
Figures emerged from the alley. Scarred faces. They were holding bats and machetes .
Bega led them.
He pointed. "Grab the girls."
---
Chaos exploded. Peterson lunged forward, fury in his veins. Jean-Daniel tackled one thug, fists flying. Wilkens appeared behind them, hurling a rock with surprising accuracy.
Amanda screamed as two gang members grabbed her arms.
"Let her go!" Peterson roared, summoning a skeleton. It burst from the ground, tackling one attacker.
Miranda kicked and bit, but Bega caught her by the collar.
"You think you can spy on us?" he growled.
Peterson charged, but another gang member tackled him. He hit the ground hard.
"Jean!" he shouted.
Jean-Daniel was already bleeding from the side. "its Too many of them!"
Bega raised Amanda and Miranda like a trophy. "You want them back? Come and get them. "
Then they vanished into the shadows.
Peterson tried to rise, but the world tilted. His strength was drained. The medallion pulsed.
"This is bad They took them," Wilkens gasped.
Peterson's hands shook. "We're getting them back no matter what. "
Jean-Daniel wiped blood from his lip. "Yes man Whatever it takes."
Wilkens stared at the place the girls had vanished. "Even if it kills us right?"
Peterson met his gaze. "That's correct.. Especially if it does."
The rescue mission for Amanda and Miranda had begun.
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