The smell of burgers and fries wafted through the air as Jet and Aria sat quietly in the shadows near the back entrance of the Mystic Grill. They watched their mother, Elena, laughing with her friends through the large glass windows. It was surreal seeing her like this—carefree, happy, and blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in the shadows.
“Look at her,” Aria whispered, her voice a mix of awe and panic. “She has no idea what’s coming.”
Jet tugged on her sleeve, pulling her attention away. “Aria, we can’t stay here gawking. The Hunters are moving in.”
She nodded, glancing around the alley. Her sharp eyes caught movement in the distance—three figures stepping out of the shadows, their weapons glinting faintly in the dim light.
“They’re here,” she whispered, her heart pounding.
Jet clenched his jaw. “Okay. We need to lead them away from the Grill. If they get close to her…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but Aria didn’t need him to.
“Let’s move,” she said, determination hardening her voice.
---
The Diversion
The twins crept along the side of the building, staying out of sight. Jet grabbed a trash can lid and hurled it down an alleyway, the metallic clang echoing loudly.
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“Over there!” one of the Hunters barked, his voice low and sharp.
The group turned their attention toward the sound, their movements precise and coordinated. Jet and Aria exchanged a glance, then took off into the shadows, careful to stay just within earshot of their pursuers.
“Keep your pace steady,” Jet murmured as they sprinted through the darkened streets. “We need to keep them interested.”
“Don’t worry,” Aria replied. “They’ll follow us. They want us more than anything.”
---
The Woods
Their plan worked. The Hunters followed them away from the Grill and into the dense woods surrounding Mystic Falls. Jet and Aria stopped in a small clearing, catching their breath as they prepared for the inevitable confrontation.
“They’re close,” Aria said, her heightened senses picking up the faint rustling of leaves.
Jet nodded, his fists clenched. “Good. Let’s end this.”
Moments later, the first Hunter emerged from the shadows, his crossbow aimed directly at Jet.
“There they are!” the man shouted, signaling to the others.
Jet moved like lightning, dodging the bolt with ease. He closed the distance between himself and the Hunter in a split second, disarming him with a swift strike.
Aria took on the second Hunter, her movements a blur as she ducked under his swing and delivered a precise kick to his chest, sending him crashing into a tree.
---
The Fight Intensifies
The remaining Hunters regrouped, their weapons gleaming in the moonlight. They formed a tight circle around the twins, their expressions cold and calculating.
“You think you can protect her?” one of them sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “We’ll find her. We always do.”
Jet smirked, his confidence unshaken. “Not tonight, you won’t.”
He lunged forward, his speed disorienting the nearest Hunter. Before the man could react, Jet delivered a devastating punch, sending him sprawling.
Aria spun gracefully, dodging a dagger and countering with a sharp elbow to her attacker’s jaw. She grabbed his weapon midair, flipping it in her hand before throwing it into a tree with pinpoint accuracy.
The fight was brutal and fast-paced, the twins working seamlessly together. Despite their smaller numbers, they overwhelmed the Hunters with their speed and precision, each move calculated and deadly.
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The Aftermath
The last Hunter fell to the ground, unconscious but alive. Jet and Aria stood in the clearing, their breathing heavy but controlled.
Aria wiped a strand of hair from her face, glancing at Jet. “That was too close.”
Jet nodded, scanning the area for any lingering threats. “Yeah. But we kept her safe. That’s all that matters.”
“We can’t keep doing this,” Aria said, her voice tinged with frustration. “If they figure out where she lives, or catch her alone—”
“They won’t,” Jet interrupted. “We’ll make sure of it.”
Unbeknownst to them, a pair of glowing eyes watched from the shadows, a low growl rumbling in the darkness. The Hunters weren’t working alone.
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