Chapter 17 - The Shadows Attack!

The afternoon sun filtered through the windows of the school hallway, casting long shadows as Helena and Selena walked side by side, heading toward the exit.

The day had been uneventful by all appearances—lectures, group work, and the normalcy of school life that almost made them forget the danger lurking beyond the walls.

But Helena had sensed something. A prickling unease had followed her all day, as though the air itself had grown heavier. She glanced at Selena, whose face remained calm, but Helena knew her sister well enough to sense that Selena was on edge too.

They pushed open the doors, stepping into the cool afternoon breeze. The quietness of the day seemed unnatural, almost eerie. Usually, there would be other students loitering around, but today the courtyard was empty, the silence unnerving.

"We should get home," Helena muttered, casting a wary glance around them.

Selena nodded, but before they could take more than a few steps, a dark van screeched to a halt on the far side of the road. The doors swung open, and several men in black suits, their faces obscured by masks, stepped out with swift precision. Helena's heart pounded as they began to approach.

Selena grabbed her arm. "Helena, run."

Helena's mind froze, but her body acted on instinct. She ran, her pulse racing, but the men were fast, closing in from all directions. Selena stayed close, her sharp eyes scanning the area.

They sprinted toward an alleyway, hoping to escape the broad streets, but the attackers were prepared. Another group appeared at the alley's entrance, boxing them in.

Helena's chest tightened with panic as the men closed in. There was no way out.

Selena stood tall, her body tense, her fists clenched. "Stay behind me."

"Selena, what are we going to do?" Helena whispered, her voice trembling.

"Trust me." Selena's eyes gleamed with the calm of someone who had been in danger far too many times before. 

She raised her hand to touch her left wrist, there's an ordinary looking wooden bracelet on her left wrist, this is the secret weapon she managed to get from Luther, though she dared not reveal more movement in the open.

Staying alert the entire time, Selena readied herself to counter any attack coming from them.

Suddenly, the men lunged forward, but before they could reach the sisters, a figure dropped from above, landing between the girls and their attackers with the grace of a shadow.

Helena blinked in shock. It was one of Selena's underground contacts—a tall man clad in black, his face partially obscured by a hood. Without a word, he struck out at the nearest attacker, moving so fast Helena barely saw him.

In an instant, several more figures emerged from the shadows, joining the fight. They were dressed similarly, silent and deadly, cutting off the attackers before they could lay a hand on the sisters.

The sound of fists meeting flesh echoed in the alleyway, but the battle was swift and efficient. Selena's underground allies moved like ghosts, disabling the men without leaving a trace.

Helena clutched Selena's arm, her mind spinning as the last of the attackers fell unconscious at their feet.

"Who—who are they?" Helena gasped, still shaking from the close call.

"They're my insurance," Selena replied, her voice low but steady. "People I've been working with… people who owe me favors."

Helena looked around in disbelief. These were the people Selena had turned to—the ones she had been relying on in secret. The realization made her stomach churn. Selena had been walking a tightrope of danger for far longer than she had ever imagined.

The hooded man who had saved them approached Selena, nodding briefly in acknowledgment. "You're lucky we were nearby. They've stepped up their game."

Selena nodded grimly. "It won't be the last time, I'm sure." She turned to Helena. "We need to leave, now."

Helena barely registered the words as they moved quickly through the alley, leaving the unconscious men behind. The fear still clung to her like a second skin, but her mind was racing with questions.

As they rounded another corner, Selena stopped suddenly, turning to face Helena. "You can't tell anyone about this. Not Jay, not Mr. Carson, no one."

Helena stared at her sister, her emotions swirling in a mix of fear, anger, and confusion. "Selena, this is insane. They tried to kill us! And you—who are these people? How can you keep getting deeper into this?"

Selena's expression hardened. "I'm doing this for us, Helena. For Father. I can't stop now."

Helena shook her head, her voice trembling with desperation. "But at what cost, Selena? What if next time they don't just try to scare us? What if they succeed?"

Selena looked away, her jaw clenched. "I'll just need to be careful."

"You call that careful? They ambushed us right after school! What happens when they come for you again, and no one is there to save you?" Helena's voice cracked with emotion. "I can't lose you too."

Selena's gaze softened for just a moment, the hardened mask slipping away to reveal the deep pain she carried beneath her fierce determination. "I'm not going to let them win, Helena. I won't let them destroy our family."

Helena's eyes filled with tears, the weight of everything crashing down on her. She had always admired Selena's strength, but now that strength was pulling them both into a world they couldn't control.

Before Helena could respond, the hooded man approached again. "We should move quickly. More of them could be on their way."

Selena nodded. "Thank you. I owe you for this."

The man shrugged. "You've paid your dues. But be careful. The Black Market Boss doesn't take kindly to people poking around his business. He'll keep coming."

Helena shuddered at the words, feeling the cold weight of them settle into her bones. They were in too deep now.

As they hurried through the maze of back alleys, Helena's mind raced. This was only the beginning. The Black Market wouldn't stop until they had what they wanted, and now, more than ever, Helena realized they were playing a game they didn't fully understand.

But one thing was clear. They would have to fight back—together.