The Shadows Within

Chapter 14

**Matthew's POV**

I felt a cold, calculating sense of dread as Ashley told me what had happened. Shana and Shameka were gone, taken by those masked men.

I scanned the area, my eyes searching for any sign of them. But they were nowhere to be found.

My mind racing with scenarios and possibilities, I turned to the others. "We need to find them," I said, my voice firm.

Ashley nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "We have to get them back."

I nodded, already thinking several steps ahead. "We'll split up and search. See if we can find any leads."

I handed out tasks to each of the others. "Jessica, check the cameras around here. See if you can find any footage of what happened. Ashley, canvass the area and see if anyone saw anything suspicious. Lilith, if you're able, try to give us a description of the guys who took them."

As they dispersed, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. "Rachel?" I said, my voice low and urgent.

"What's going on?" she asked, her tone immediate.

"Shana and Shameka are missing," I said. "They were taken by some guys in masks. I need your help."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Rachel spoke up. "I'm on it. I'll meet you at the rendezvous point in 20 minutes."

I hung up the phone and turned back to the others. "Rachel is on her way," I said. "We'll regroup at the rendezvous point and come up with a plan."

As we waited, I couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out for Shana and Shameka. And that we were running out of options.

**To be continued...**