Edge of the Dark

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Razor’s Edge

The world tilted on its axis. Ethan's vision swam as he staggered back, clutching his side where blood poured from the wound. The pain was unbearable, a white-hot flare that seemed to spread through his entire body, yet he fought to stay upright. He couldn't afford to fall now. Not now. Not when everything was on the line.

The shot had come from behind him, fired by one of Saville's men. Ethan didn't know which one — he didn't have time to figure it out. All that mattered was getting to safety, or at least buying enough time for Lila to escape.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he fought to steady himself, but his knees buckled beneath him. He took a half-step, his body lurching forward, before his legs gave out completely, sending him crashing to the ground.

Saville's voice echoed in the dimly lit warehouse, calm and mocking. "You always were reckless, Ethan. You never understood the rules of the game."

Ethan's eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of hope. There was none. He was trapped. The only way out was through the man in front of him. But even with the gun still clutched in his trembling hand, he knew his chances were slim.

Saville took a step forward, his boots echoing off the concrete floor, deliberate and slow. "You were never meant to win this. But I'll give you credit — you've been entertaining. It's a shame it has to end like this."

Ethan's head spun, but he forced himself to focus. He could feel the blood seeping through his shirt, each breath becoming harder to take. His mind raced, calculating the odds, weighing the choices. There had to be something — some way out.

Lila was still here. He didn't know where she was, but he couldn't let her fall into Saville's hands. Not after everything they had been through.

Saville raised his gun. The barrel gleamed in the half-light, deadly and unforgiving.

"Say goodbye, detective," Saville sneered, his finger tightening on the trigger.

But just as he was about to pull the shot, the sound of a gunshot rang out — different from the sharp crack of Saville's weapon. The bullet whizzed through the air, striking the gun in Saville's hand. The impact sent the weapon spinning out of his grasp and into the darkness.

Saville's eyes widened, his face contorting with disbelief. He spun around, searching for the source of the shot, but all he found was an empty space.

Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged — dark, swift, and precise. A woman.

Lila.

Her eyes locked onto Saville, her expression cold and unflinching. She didn't hesitate. In one smooth motion, she raised her own gun, aiming directly at Saville's chest.

"Don't even think about it," Lila said, her voice steady, despite the chaos that surrounded them.

Saville snarled, his hands raised in mock surrender. "You've made a mistake, Lila. You don't know what you're dealing with."

"Don't I?" she replied, her finger hovering over the trigger. "You've been playing a game, Saville. And now, the game's over."

Ethan's head swam as he tried to rise, but the wound in his side sent waves of agony through his body. He couldn't fight it anymore. His vision blurred once again, and the world around him seemed to darken. His heart hammered in his chest, but he was running out of time. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

But then, just as everything seemed to be slipping away, a voice cut through the haze.

"Ava."

It was Lila's voice, sharp, clear, demanding.

Ethan turned his head slightly, trying to make sense of the words. What was happening? What had Lila just said?

Ava Dawson.

Through his fogged vision, he saw her now — Ava, stepping from the shadows. Her calm demeanor was in stark contrast to the chaos of the situation, her expression unreadable. In her hand, she held a gun, its barrel trained on Saville.

"Ava..." Ethan breathed, the name feeling foreign on his lips.

Ava didn't look at him. Her gaze remained fixed on Saville, her lips curling into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "You didn't think you were the only one with secrets, did you, Saville?"

The words hung in the air, charged with unspoken meaning. The tension was thick, suffocating. Saville's jaw tightened, his face darkening as he realized what was happening. His carefully constructed world, his control over the game, was slipping away.

"I've been playing my own game," Ava continued, her voice low and dangerous. "And now it's your turn to lose."

Saville opened his mouth to retort, but before he could speak, the air was filled with the deafening sound of gunfire. Lila's shot came first, followed by Ava's, each one deliberate, precise.

But neither bullet hit Saville.

Instead, they struck the men surrounding him — two of Saville's guards crumpled to the floor, their weapons falling uselessly at their sides. The third man lunged toward Lila, but before he could get close, Ava fired again, the bullet hitting him square in the chest.

Saville stood there, frozen, his expression a mix of shock and rage. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks: he had been betrayed. His empire was crumbling.

"You think you've won?" Saville spat, his eyes wild. "You're all fools. You have no idea what you've gotten yourselves into."

The words hung in the air, chilling and final. But they didn't matter anymore.

Ava stepped forward, her eyes cold as steel. "You're finished, Saville."

And with that, the game was over.