“Let her go, Lyra! This is your last chance to surrender!” Adrian shouted from behind the pillar, gun raised, eyes locked on the pistol in Lyra’s shaking hand.

“One more step and I’ll shoot her!” Lyra screamed, her arm trembling as she pulled Vania tighter into her unhinged grip.

Vania tried to stay calm. Cold sweat dripped down her temple, but her gaze remained sharp.

“You don’t want to do this, Lyra. This isn’t who you are.”

“You don’t know who I really am, Vania. You only saw the sweet side of me back then. But now? I’m someone the world destroyed—the world you stole from me!”

Lyra’s grip tightened...