The tension in the room was palpable, a thick, suffocating weight that settled over them the moment Jonah stepped through the door. His face was grim, eyes dark with urgency, as he locked onto Asher and Ethan, the two of them seated at the edge of their desks, already in mid-conversation.
“We’ve got a situation,” Jonah announced, cutting through whatever they were discussing. His voice was clipped, each word precise and deliberate. “There’s been a shooting. A large building, filled with civilians. The reports are coming in fast, but it’s chaos over there.”
Ethan immediately sat up straighter, his gaze sharpening. “What kind of building?”
Jonah glanced at him, then shifted his attention back to Asher. “It’s a multi-story commercial building downtown. Offices, shops, you name it. Gunmen opened fire a few minutes ago—security footage is still being reviewed, but it’s bad. Multiple shooters. Civilians trapped inside.”
Asher cursed under his breath. He didn’t waste time with questions. His mind was already working, piecing together a plan before anyone had fully grasped the severity of the situation.
“We’ll split up when we get there,” Asher said, his voice firm as he pulled on his jacket. “I’ll take point, track down the shooters. Ethan, you focus on getting the civilians out. We don’t need to engage unless it’s absolutely necessary. The priority is safety.”
Ethan nodded, standing up as well. His heart was already racing, a familiar adrenaline pumping through his veins. He wasn’t new to high-stakes situations like this, but each time felt different. The stakes were always higher when innocent lives were on the line.
Asher grabbed his gear, turning to Jonah. “Anything else we need to know before we head out?”
Jonah’s brow furrowed as he sifted through the rapid influx of information on his tablet. “There’s one thing—some of the initial reports mention potential hostages. It’s not confirmed yet, but it’s worth keeping in mind. If they’re holding people, that changes the dynamic. We can’t go in guns blazing.”
“Understood,” Asher said curtly, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. “Let’s move.”
---
The city lights blurred as the two of them sped through the streets, sirens blaring in the background as they approached the scene. The rain had picked up again, droplets streaking across the windshield like lines of static interference. The tension in the car was almost unbearable, a heavy silence hanging between them as they neared their destination.
Ethan glanced over at Asher, noting the way his hands gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly. It was subtle, but it told him everything he needed to know.
Asher wasn’t just focused—he was angry.
“Stick to the plan, alright?” Asher said, breaking the silence as they pulled to a stop just outside the perimeter. The police had already cordoned off the area, barricades in place to keep civilians away. “No heroics, no going off script. We’re not here to play cowboy. Get the people out, and I’ll handle the rest.”
Ethan nodded, though he could feel the unease settling in his gut. “I get it. But if things go sideways…”
Asher’s jaw tightened. “They won’t. I won’t let them.”
With that, the two of them slipped out of the car, quickly blending into the organized chaos that had already unfolded around the building. Officers were coordinating with SWAT, and the area was flooded with flashing lights, radios crackling with rapid instructions. The scene was frantic, but there was an order to it—a system designed to handle disaster.
But inside the building? That was anyone’s guess.
They exchanged one last look before heading inside.
---
The moment they stepped into the building, the atmosphere shifted. The fluorescent lights flickered ominously, casting long, eerie shadows across the empty lobby. It was too quiet, the kind of quiet that made your skin prickle and your senses go on high alert.
Asher gave a quick nod toward the upper levels. “I’ll head up. You start from here, get anyone you find to the exits. Stay sharp.”
Ethan nodded, already scanning the area. His heartbeat thrummed in his ears as he watched Asher disappear up the stairs, moving with the kind of purpose that came from years of experience. Ethan took a deep breath, steeling himself.
He was on his own now.
---
Zane hadn’t planned on coming.
He knew it wasn’t his place. Knew it was a risk, and Rhea had already warned him more than once about getting too involved. But when the news had broken, and he’d heard the building was full of civilians—with Ethan heading in—he hadn’t been able to stop himself.
He’d slipped out without anyone noticing, blending into the shadows as he’d done a hundred times before. Now, hidden in the crowd outside the barricades, he watched as Ethan and Asher disappeared into the building, his heart hammering in his chest.
Just keep your distance, he reminded himself. You’re not here to interfere. Just… to watch. To make sure he’s okay.
But even as he thought it, Zane’s instincts told him this was going to be more complicated than that. Something was off. He could feel it in his bones.
And as the minutes ticked by, his unease only deepened.
---
Inside the building, Ethan moved quickly, his footsteps echoing off the tiled floors as he made his way through the lower levels. The air was thick with the smell of dust and faint smoke, and the occasional sound of distant gunfire made his pulse quicken.
He found the first group of civilians huddled in a conference room on the third floor—terrified, wide-eyed people who clutched their phones and each other like lifelines. Ethan spoke quickly, his voice calm but urgent, guiding them toward the emergency exits.
“Stay low,” he instructed, keeping his tone steady. “Move quickly, but stay quiet. You’ll be safe once you’re outside.”
One by one, the group began to file out, following Ethan’s lead as they hurried toward the exits. He kept an eye on them, making sure none of them panicked, making sure they all stayed together.
But as he turned to check the hallway behind him, a sinking feeling settled in his gut.
Something wasn’t right.
The sound of gunfire was closer now—too close.
And then, suddenly, the silence shattered. Gunshots rang out from somewhere deeper in the building, followed by screams that sent a chill down Ethan’s spine.
Without thinking, he bolted toward the sound, his mind racing. The civilians were already heading to safety—but someone else wasn’t. Someone was still trapped in the chaos.
---
And in the shadows, Zane
followed, his every step mirroring Ethan’s.
This time, he wouldn’t stay hidden for long.
YOU ARE READING
Chasing Shadows
Teen Fiction"Chasing Shadows" is a tale of darkness, obsession, and unexpected desire. Zane, a calculating villain with a vendetta against the city's beloved hero, Asher, finds his meticulously crafted world disrupted by an unexpected presence-Ethan, the hero's...
