"You’re running out of time," she said, her breathing uneven. "Think about what you’re doing."

"I am thinking," Collin snapped. "For the first time, I’m thinking clearly."

Anna shook her head slightly, wincing at the pain.

"No... you’re panicking."

His grip tightened painfully.

"Shut up!"

But she didn’t.

"You’ve lost," she continued, her voice steady despite everything. "That’s why you’re here. That’s why you’re dragging me with you."

Collin stopped.

For a moment.

Just a moment.

They stood near the edge now—too close.

The drop below stretched into darkness.

Anna could feel the emptiness behind her.

The danger.

But she didn’t look away from him.

"You were always going to lose," she said quietly.

Something flickered in Collin’s eyes.

Rage.

"And yet..." Anna added, her lips curving faintly despite the situation, "...you still think you’re in control."

That was it.

Collin snapped.

"You think this is a game?!" he roared, shaking her violently. "You think you’ve won?!"

Anna didn’t flinch.

"Look around you," she said softly. "This is what losing looks like."

The sirens were almost upon them now.

Lights flickered through the distance.

Shadows moved.

"Drop the weapon!"

A commanding voice rang out.

"Release her immediately!"

Collin’s breathing grew erratic.

His eyes darted toward the approaching figures—then back to Anna.

"You did this," he said, his voice trembling with fury. "You and your precious truths."

Anna shook her head faintly.

"No," she said. "You did this."

The words hit harder than anything else.

For a split second he faltered, and in that moment, Anna moved.

She twisted sharply, using what little strength she had left to push against him.

Collin staggered back half a step, caught off guard.

"Anna!" a distant voice—Daniel’s—echoed through the chaos.

But Collin recovered quickly.

Too quickly.

"You’re not getting away!" he snarled, grabbing her again—this time harsher, more desperate.

The gun pressed back against her temple.

"Everyone stay back!" he shouted toward the approaching officers. "Or she dies!"

The police halted.

Tension thickened the air.

Daniel stood at the front, his gaze locked onto Anna—sharp, calculating, but filled with restrained fear.

"Collin," Daniel said, his voice controlled. "Think this through. There’s no escape from here."

Collin laughed again, but there was no humor in it.

"Escape?" he repeated. "Who said anything about escaping?"

Anna’s breath hitched. The meaning behind his words settled in.

"No..." she whispered.

Collin leaned closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

"If I fall..." he murmured, "you fall with me."

The wind picked up again, stronger this time. The edge loomed just inches away.

Behind them stood the authority. Ahead of them—nothingness.

Anna’s heart pounded while her mind raced.

She couldn’t let this end here.

Not like this. Not with him deciding everything.

She closed her eyes for a brief second. Then opened them again—clear, determined. And in a voice steadier than before, she said—

"You already killed me once, remember?"

Collin froze. Just for a second.

But Anna saw it—the flicker in his eyes. Not rage. Not madness.

Recognition. Doubt. And that was all she needed.

"You already killed me once, remember?" Anna repeated, her voice low but steady, cutting through the chaos like a blade.

The wind howled around them, carrying the distant shouts of the police. Flashing lights painted the scene in red and blue, but Anna’s world had narrowed down to one thing—

Collin.

His grip on her arm tightened, but the gun pressed against her temple wavered... just slightly.

"You said it yourself," she continued, her breathing uneven but her mind sharp. "You pushed me. You watched me fall."

Collin’s jaw clenched. "Shut up."

"But I didn’t die the way you wanted," she added, her lips curving faintly. "And I’m still standing in front of you."

"Enough!" he snapped, but his voice lacked the earlier conviction.

Anna leaned in closer despite the danger, her eyes locking onto his.

"If you shoot me now... if you throw me off this cliff..." she whispered, "what does that make you?"

His grip faltered.

"A winner?" she tilted her head slightly. "Or just a man repeating the same mistake because he’s too afraid to face the consequences?"

Collin’s breathing grew heavier. Behind him, boots crunched against gravel.

Closer.

"Don’t come any closer!" he barked suddenly, his voice rising again as he pointed the gun outward for a second.

That second, Anna moved. With whatever strength she had left, she slammed her elbow hard into his side.

Collin grunted, the air knocked out of him as his stance broke.

Before he could recover, Anna twisted sharply, grabbing his wrist with both hands and forcing it away from her head.

The gun fired. A loud crack split the air—but the bullet went wide.

"Now!" Daniel’s voice roared.

The officers surged forward, causing Collin to panick.

"Get off me!" he snarled, trying to yank his hand free, but Anna held on—desperation fueling her strength.

"You’re not getting away again!" she shouted, her voice raw. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Collin struggled violently, trying to push her aside, but his balance was already compromised. His foot slipped slightly against the loose gravel near the edge.

For a split second fear flashed across his face. Real fear.

Anna saw it, but she didn’t let go.

"You’ve lost, Collin," she said, her voice quieter now but firm. "It’s over."

"No!" he roared, raising the gun again—but this time, his hand was shaking.

Too late.

An officer lunged forward, grabbing his arm and twisting it back.

The gun slipped from his grip, clattering onto the ground.

Another officer tackled him from the side, forcing him down onto his knees.

Collin thrashed wildly.

"Let go of me!" he shouted, his voice filled with fury and desperation. "You have no idea who you’re dealing with!"

But no one listened.

Within seconds, more officers surrounded him, pinning him down completely.

Cold metal cuffs snapped around his wrists slowing Collin’s struggles until it finally stopped.

His chest heaved as he lifted his head slightly, his gaze locking onto Anna.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then he laughed.

Soft. Broken.

"This isn’t the end," he muttered.

Anna didn’t respond immediately.

She stood there, swaying slightly, her strength finally giving in now that the danger had passed.

Daniel rushed forward, catching her before she could fall.

"Anna," he said urgently, his voice tight with concern. "Are you alright?"

She nodded faintly, though her vision blurred again.

"I’m... fine," she whispered, slowing shifting her eyes past on him and to Collin.

This time, there was no fear in her gaze.

No anger. Just certainty.

"Yes," she said quietly, meeting his eyes one last time. "It is over...Dad."

Collin’s expression stilled, but he said nothing more as the officers pulled him to his feet.

The sirens continued to echo in the background.

But for the first time the storm had settled.

And the truth... had finally won.