Riley’s POV
For a mont, they just stared at .
Wendy’s lips parted slightly like she wanted to speak, but no words ca out. Daphne’s grip tightened, her shoulders stiff, her eyes fixed on like she was trying to asure sothing she couldn’t understand.
"You’ve lost your mind," Wendy said.
Her voice ca out strained, but she tried to keep it steady.
I didn’t answer her.
"Fight ," I said instead.
I flicked my wrist and threw the knife toward them. It landed between them with a sharp sound that cut through the silence.
"You can even shift if you like," I added. "Pick it up. Use it and co at ."
They both looked down at the blade, then at each other.
No more hesitation.
Daphne bent quickly, grabbed the knife, and straightened in one smooth motion. Her eyes t Wendy’s. A silent agreent passed between them.
Then they moved. Both at once.
Daphne ca straight at , fast, her arm already drawn back. Wendy circled slightly, trying to flank , trying to trap between them.
I stood my ground as Daphne lunged.
The blade ca forward, aid directly at my chest.
I moved at the last second.
My body shifted just enough to avoid the strike, and her arm kept going with the force she had already committed.
The knife didn’t stop. It drove straight into Wendy’s side.
The sound that ca out of her was sharp and broken.
She froze, her body stiff as the blade sank deep into her. Her eyes widened as she looked down, disbelief spreading across her face.
Daphne’s grip loosened instantly.
"Wendy-" she said, her voice cracking.
Wendy’s hand flew to the handle. She pulled it out with a shaky movent, and blood followed imdiately, spilling down her side and dripping onto the floor.
She staggered, her balance failing.
I stepped in.
My foot drove into Daphne’s side before she could recover. The impact knocked her off balance completely, and she went down hard, the knife slipping from her hand again as she hit the ground.
She rolled once and tried to push herself up, but I didn’t give her the chance.
I turned back to Wendy.
She was still standing, barely, her hand pressed tightly against her wound, her breathing uneven and shallow.
She saw coming and tried to step back, but her legs didn’t respond the way she needed them to.
I reached her and struck her across the face.
The impact sent her sideways, and she hit the ground hard. This ti she didn’t get up imdiately.
Behind , I heard Daphne move again.
I turned just as she grabbed the knife from the floor and rushed once more, anger replacing hesitation now.
She swung at without thinking.
I caught her wrist mid-motion.
Her strength wasn’t enough.
The blade stopped inches from .
"Let go!" she snapped, trying to force her arm forward.
I twisted her wrist sharply and the knife slipped from her hand again, clattering to the ground.
Before she could react, I drove my knee into her stomach.
The air left her in a harsh gasp, and her body folded forward.
I shoved her away. She fell back, landing heavily on the floor, her body struggling to respond.
I stepped forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her up just enough to strike.
My fist connected with her face.
Once.
And her head snapped to the side.
I did it again.
Blood appeared at her lip.
A third ti.
Her body lost strength, and she collapsed back to the ground, her movents slowing.
Wendy let out a strained sound behind .
I turned again.
She was trying to get up, her hand still pressed against her side, blood soaking through her fingers.
Her breathing was heavy and every movent looked like it cost her effort, but she refused to stay down.
I walked toward her.
She looked up at , fear clear now in her eyes.
"Stay back," she said, but her voice lacked force.
I didn’t stop. I grabbed her arm and pulled her up.
She cried out as the movent pulled at her wound, her body tensing against the pain.
"You should have stayed down," I said.
She tried to pull away, but her strength wasn’t enough.
I drove my elbow into her shoulder.
Her body jerked, and a cry broke out of her. I followed with a strike to her ribs.
She gasped sharply, her knees buckling under her.
I released her.
She dropped to the floor again, her body unable to hold itself up any longer.
Daphne groaned behind , trying to move, but she was slower now, her strength fading.
I stepped back and looked at both of them.
Wendy lay on her side, clutching her wound, her breathing shallow.
Daphne pushed herself onto her hands, struggling to get up, her face bruised, her movents unsteady.
Neither of them looked ready to stop.
That was enough.
I walked forward again, closing the distance between us, my steps asured and controlled.
They both saw .
Wendy tried to shift her position, forcing herself up onto one knee despite the blood still running from her side. Daphne managed to get one foot under her, using it to push herself upright, though her balance wavered.
They looked at each other briefly. No words passed between them this ti.
They already understood. They were going to try again.
I didn’t rush them.
I stood there, watching as they forced their bodies to respond, watching as pain slowed them but didn’t stop them.
Daphne moved first again.
She lunged, slower than before but still determined, her hand reaching for the knife on the floor as she moved.
I stepped forward instead, my foot ca down on the knife before she could reach it.
The blade slid slightly under the pressure, stopping her hand just short of it.
She looked up at .
I didn’t give her ti to react.
I drove my hand into her shoulder and pushed her back down.
She hit the ground hard again, the impact forcing the air out of her.
Wendy tried to use that mont to get up fully, but her body gave out halfway.
I turned to her and closed the distance in two steps.
She raised her hand weakly, trying to block, but it didn’t stop .
I grabbed her wrist and twisted it just enough to break her balance again.
She dropped back down with a strained cry.
I released her and stepped back once more.
They were both on the ground now.
Breathing hard. Bleeding. Still trying.
I looked at them for a mont, taking in their state, the way they struggled, the way they refused to give up even when their bodies were already failing.
Then I spoke. "Get up," I said.
My voice was direct, leaving no room for refusal.
They didn’t move imdiately.
Their bodies hesitated, caught between pain and the effort it would take to rise again.
I stepped closer, my presence enough to push them further.
"I said get up," I repeated.
The words carried more weight this ti.
Daphne forced her hands against the floor and pushed herself up again, her movents slower now, her strength fading but not gone. Wendy followed, using one hand to support herself while the other stayed pressed against her side, trying to hold the bleeding back.
They stood up barely.
I looked at both of them, then let my gaze settle.
"Shift and fight , both of you"
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