The Shadows Within

Chapter 25

**Ashley's POV**

I stood outside the building, watching as the scene unfolded before me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Dantae, the man I had come to care for, was dead.

I felt a pang of guilt and regret. I should have been there sooner. I should have stopped Scar from getting to him.

But it was too late now. Dantae was gone, and I was left with the bitter taste of failure in my mouth.

I looked around, trying to process what had just happened. Alexander was trying to comfort Shameka, who was clearly devastated. Rachel was holding her close, trying to offer what little comfort she could.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward, trying to push through my emotions. "What happened?" I asked Alexander, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alexander's eyes were haunted. "Scar... he shot him," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

I felt a surge of anger and grief. This wasn't supposed to happen. We were supposed to be safe.

I turned back to Shameka, who was still crying uncontrollably. I reached out and took her hand, trying to offer what little comfort I could.

"We're so sorry," I said, my voice shaking with emotion.

Shameka looked up at me, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. "Why?" she whispered. "Why did this happen again?"

**Lilith's POV**

I watched from across the street, my eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before me. Dantae was dead.

A part of me felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. He had been a constant thorn in my side for so long, always getting in the way of what I wanted.

But another part of me felt... something else. A pang of guilt maybe? A twinge of regret?

I pushed the feeling aside. It didn't matter now. Dantae was gone, and that was all that mattered.

I turned away from the scene, disappearing into the shadows once more.

**Jessica's POV**

I stood at the edge of the crowd, watching as the scene unfolded before me. I couldn't believe it. Dantae was dead.

A part of me felt numb. I had grown up watching him fight for what he believed in, and now he was gone.

But another part of me felt... angry? Confused?

Why did this have to happen? Why did we have to lose someone we loved again?

I looked around at the faces around me - Alexander's grief-stricken expression, Shameka's tears-stained cheeks... And I knew that we would get through this together.

We would mourn our loss and keep fighting for what was right.

**Dantae's POV**

I opened my eyes to find myself in a place that wasn't quite here. A place that wasn't quite there.

I looked around, trying to make sense of what was happening. But everything was hazy and unclear.

And then I saw Shameka's face above me, her eyes filled with tears.

"Dantae?" she whispered.

I tried to speak, but my voice was barely audible. "Shameka..." I whispered back.

She leaned in close, her lips brushing against my ear. "Don't leave me," she whispered.

And then everything went black again.

*To Be Continued...*