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“Jani, whatever they promised you, it’s not worth this,” I plead, trying to reach the person I once knew. However, our enmity has clouded the memories of camaraderie we once shared. “We can still fix this and stop this madness.”
She laughs mockingly, the sound grating and bitter. “Fix this? Oh, Charlotte, you’re so naïve. This is far bigger than you can imagine, and nothing can stop it now.”
Every fiber of my being urges me to fight back, to protect Milo and bring Jani to justice for her treachery, but the gun at my temple tightens the grip of fear around my heart, igniting the rivalry that has always simmered between us.
“Let Milo go. He’s just a child,” I implore, my voice dripping with resentment.
Jani’s eyes flicker for a moment, a second of hesitation, as if she’s caught between her loyalty to this malevolent cause and a shred of the friendship we once had, but then the determination to prove her loyalty to our enemy reasserts itself.
“I’m sorry, Charlotte,” she murmurs, her finger tightening on the trigger, a cruel reminder of how far apart we’ve drifted.
In that breathless moment, time seems to slow. I gather every ounce of strength and training, fueled by a rivalry that has burned for years, and with a swift, unexpected move, I disarm her. The gun clatters to the ground, leaving us to stare at each other in a twisted dance of rivals. Tension hangs heavily between us, suffocating and bitter.
I’m not sure who moves first, but in the next breath, I tackle her against the wall. Her head slams against the flimsy partition, and it shudders as if struggling to bear witness to the clash of old friends turned into bitter enemies.
I feel Jani struggling beneath me, her body writhing as she gasps for breath. I have the upper hand, but I know it won’t last long. Her eyes lock with mine, and in that moment, I see the same determination burning within her that has been driving me all these years.
For a second, doubt gnaws at me. Is this what my life has become? A relentless struggle against someone who was once my friend, someone I trusted with everything? But then I remember Milo’s face—the innocent, trusting eyes that deserve a better world. I remember the promise I made to myself to protect him, no matter the cost.
With fierce determination, I bring my fist down on Jani’s face. Her head snaps back, and blood spurts from her nose. The sickening sound of her bones breaking echoes through the room as she screams in agony. The sound feels like a twisted victory, a reminder of the lengths we are willing to go to in this rivalry turned war.
Through it all, I can’t shake the feeling of sadness that permeates everything. This isn’t how things were supposed to end. Jani and I were supposed to grow old together and raise our children side by side, but now, all of that is gone.
As Jani struggles beneath me, I feel my resolve faltering. Maybe there’s still a way out of this mess. Maybe we could find a way to fix things before it’s too late.
Then, in a swift movement, Jani reaches for a knife hidden in her boot and plunges it into my side.
I cry out in pain, feeling the sharp blade tear through my flesh. Blood gushes out, staining our clothes as Jani pulls back and stares at me with a twisted smile of triumph.
“You see, Charlotte? You can’t win,” she hisses, twisting the knife deeper into my side. She withdraws the knife with malicious glee. “You’re weak and pathetic. You always have been.”
I refuse to give up. Every fiber of my being screams for me to keep fighting, to keep pushing forward no matter what.
With a surge of strength I didn’t know I had, I manage to grab Jani’s wrist and twist it until she drops the knife. Then, with a brutal resolve fueled by pain and anger, I push her away from me and stumble to my feet.
The pain is excruciating, searing through my side as blood pours from the wound. My vision blurs, but my will remains unbroken. Each step is a battle, but Milo’s face flashes before my eyes, injecting me with purpose.
Jani watches me, her triumph now mingled with a hint of fear. The bitter rivalry between us has escalated into a battle for survival.
“You underestimated me, Jani,” I rasp out, clutching my bleeding side, refusing to let the pain diminish my spirit. “I won’t let you destroy everything.”
I stagger toward her, my body aching, and for a moment, she falters, a flicker of doubt crossing her eyes. The weight of years of friendship and rivalry bears down on us, but she regains her composure, squaring her shoulders and readying herself for the fight.
With the last of my strength, I lunge at her, my fist connecting with her jaw. She stumbles back, momentarily stunned, giving me the opening I need. I push forward, fueled by the love for my family and the need to protect what remains.
Our contention has become a war, and I’ll fight until the end for Milo, the life we were meant to have, and for the hope that friendship might someday triumph over this darkness.
Blood drips down my side, but I refuse to let the pain slow me down. Instead, I lunge at Jani again, throwing everything I have into each punch and kick.
We fight for what feels like hours. Our bodies collide with bone crushing force as we exchange blow after blow. Blood coats the floor around us as the rain outside continues to beat against the roof like an apocalyptic drumbeat, growing more intense by the moment.
I can feel my body tiring, the blood loss making my sight waver and spin. My heartbeat slams against my chest, each thud a reminder of my waning strength.
I need to get my gun.
Jani comes at me, her hands closing around my throat, squeezing the life out of me. Panic surges through my veins, but I muster every ounce of remaining energy. I drive my hands up and under hers, then slam them down, forcing her forward. As she moves, I headbutt her, causing her to stagger backward.
It’s the opening I need to grab the gun in my holster. Moving as fast as I can, I load it and aim it at her head. Blood pours down her face, and her pupils dilate as she stares at me, pushing off the wall.
