Chapter 94

The following morning, Amanda awoke to the first rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains. She turned to see Ron still asleep beside her, his face peaceful in the early morning glow. For a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the quiet, the sense of normalcy that their bedroom provided. But the weight of their conversation last night lingered in her mind.

She slid out of bed, careful not to wake Ron, and tiptoed to the window. As she looked out at the dew-covered grass, she couldn’t help but wonder what Ghost was worried about. Was it someone from their past? Something they had overlooked?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft buzz of her phone on the nightstand. Amanda picked it up, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the unknown number on the screen. For a second, she hesitated, her thumb hovering over the screen before she answered.

“Amanda,” a familiar voice said quietly, but it wasn’t Ghost.

“Lena?” Amanda’s breath caught in her throat. Lena was one of her oldest friends, someone she hadn’t heard from in years—not since everything went sideways.

“It’s me. I… I know it’s been a long time, but I didn’t know who else to call.” Lena’s voice was strained, thick with emotion.

Amanda’s mind raced. What could Lena possibly want after all this time? And why now, just when Ghost had reappeared? “Lena, what’s going on?”

Lena took a deep breath, and Amanda could almost see her friend closing her eyes, steeling herself to speak. “I’m in trouble, Amanda. It’s about Nathan.”

The mention of Nathan sent a jolt through Amanda. Nathan, Lena’s older brother, had been involved with them back when they were all younger, back when they thought they were invincible. But he had gone dark years ago, disappearing off the grid without a trace.

“What happened?” Amanda asked, her voice more urgent now.

“He’s back, Amanda. And he’s in deep with some dangerous people. I’m scared. I think they’re coming after me to get to him.”

Amanda’s grip tightened on the phone. “Where are you?”

“I’m in the city,” Lena whispered, barely audible. “I’m hiding, but I don’t know how long I can stay here. They know where I live.”

Amanda’s mind was already working, piecing together what this could mean. Ghost’s visit, Lena’s sudden reappearance, Nathan’s involvement with dangerous people—it was all connected, she was sure of it. “Stay put, Lena. Don’t move until I get to you. I’m coming.”

“Thank you, Amanda,” Lena breathed. “I didn’t know who else to turn to.”

As the call ended, Amanda stood there for a moment, the phone still in her hand. She knew what she had to do, but a part of her wished she didn’t. Ron was still asleep, blissfully unaware of the storm that was about to break over their lives.

She turned back to the bed, watching him for a moment longer before gently shaking his shoulder. “Ron, wake up,” she whispered. “We have to go. It’s Lena.”

Ron’s eyes blinked open, and he looked up at her with concern. “What’s going on?”

“She’s in trouble. It’s Nathan.”

Ron sat up, his expression hardening. He knew what that name meant, what it could mean for them now. “What do we do?”

“We go to her,” Amanda said firmly. “Whatever this is, it’s tied to what Ghost warned us about. We need to get to the bottom of it.”

Ron nodded, already moving to get dressed. “Let’s go.”

As they left their house, the shadows that Ghost’s visit had cast seemed to stretch longer, darker. But Amanda felt the light of her resolve burning brighter than ever. They would face this together, as they always had, and they would uncover the truth behind Nathan’s return—no matter what it cost them.
### Chapter 12: Shadows in the Light (Continued)

The drive into the city was tense, filled with the hum of the engine and the occasional glance exchanged between Amanda and Ron. The silence was thick, not with awkwardness, but with the weight of unspoken concerns. Amanda’s mind was racing, trying to connect the dots between Nathan’s sudden reappearance, Lena’s fear, and Ghost’s warning. Every second that passed only added to the urgency gnawing at her.

“What do you think he’s mixed up in?” Ron finally broke the silence, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Amanda shook her head, staring out the window at the blur of buildings as they sped by. “I don’t know, but if Lena’s this scared, it’s bad. Nathan’s always been reckless, but this sounds different. More dangerous.”

Ron’s jaw tightened. “If they’re after Lena to get to Nathan, then we’re walking into something big. We need to be prepared.”

“We are,” Amanda replied, though her voice was more for herself than Ron. She was trying to convince herself that they could handle whatever was coming. “We’ve been through worse.”

Ron glanced at her, his expression softening for a moment. “Yeah, we have. But let’s not underestimate this.”

The city skyline loomed ahead, a mixture of steel and glass reaching into the overcast sky. The closer they got to Lena’s location, the more Amanda felt the knots in her stomach tighten. They had a plan, but there were too many unknowns. Too many variables that could turn everything upside down.

Ron pulled into a side street, parking a few blocks away from the address Lena had given them. It was a rundown neighborhood, the kind where people minded their own business and windows were barred shut. As they stepped out of the car, Amanda scanned the area, her senses heightened. They couldn’t afford to be caught off guard.

“Let’s keep this quiet,” Ron said, his voice low as they approached the building. “If they’re watching her, we don’t want to tip them off.”

Amanda nodded, leading the way up the cracked steps to Lena’s apartment. The building was old, the kind where every footstep echoed, and the air smelled faintly of mildew. As they reached the door, Amanda paused, listening. There was a faint rustling inside, like someone moving quietly. She knocked softly, three times.

After a moment, the door opened a crack, and Amanda saw Lena’s face peering through the gap. Her friend’s eyes were wide with fear, and her skin was pale, almost sickly. “Amanda,” Lena whispered, her voice trembling. “Thank God.”

“Let us in,” Amanda urged, glancing around the hallway. “We need to talk.”

Lena hesitated before opening the door fully, and Amanda and Ron slipped inside. The apartment was small and sparsely furnished, with blinds drawn tightly against the daylight. A duffel bag sat on the couch, half-packed, as if Lena had been preparing to flee at a moment’s notice.

“What’s going on, Lena?” Amanda asked, her voice soft but firm. “Tell us everything.”

Lena took a shaky breath and began to speak, her words tumbling out in a rush. “Nathan… he got involved with some bad people. Really bad. They’re into all kinds of illegal stuff—guns, drugs, you name it. I didn’t know at first, but then he started asking me for money, for places to hide things.”

She looked up at Amanda, tears welling in her eyes. “I tried to help him, but now they think I’m part of it. They’ve been watching me, following me. I’m so scared, Amanda. I don’t know what to do.”

Amanda’s heart ached for her friend, but her mind was already working, strategizing. “We’re going to help you, Lena. But first, we need to know everything Nathan’s told you. Every detail.”

Lena nodded, wiping her eyes. “I’ll tell you everything. Just… don’t leave me alone in this.”

“You’re not alone,” Ron said firmly, his voice steady and reassuring. “We’re going to figure this out. Together.”

As Lena began to recount her story in more detail, Amanda exchanged a glance with Ron. The shadows they were about to face were darker than they’d anticipated, but their resolve was stronger. Whatever lay ahead, they would confront it as a team, just as they always had.