The cold barrel of the gun hovers dangerously in Leah's direction, and my heart stops. The air is thick with uncertainty, the weight of every unspoken word hanging between us like a storm waiting to break. I can't tear my eyes away from the gunman's hand, the grip on the weapon unwavering, as if they are certain of their power over us all.
Leah stands motionless, her eyes distant, her lips pressed into a thin line. She doesn't seem scared—at least, not in the way I expect someone in her position to be. Her gaze flickers briefly to me, then back to the gunman, as if weighing her options.
I take a step toward her, my voice coming out in a near whisper. "Leah, what are you talking about? What's going on?"
Leah's expression falters for just a moment, a crack in the calm façade she's been holding. Then, with a deep breath, she finally speaks.
"You should have never gotten involved, Amara," she says, her voice soft but laced with an edge I've never heard before. "This was never meant to be your fight."
I blink, feeling the confusion flood back into my chest. "What do you mean? What fight? Why are you here?"
Leah's lips curl into a bitter smile, but there's no warmth in it—just cold, sharp edges. "You really don't know, do you?"
I look between her and Ethan, who stands frozen by my side, his expression unreadable. Jason's eyes gleam with amusement, as if watching the entire scene unfold is some twisted game to him. The gunman remains silent, their grip on the gun still unwavering.
The silence feels unbearable, as though the entire world is holding its breath.
Finally, Leah breaks it. "The truth is, Ethan and I have been part of something… bigger than you realize. Something we never meant for you to get caught up in."
I can feel my pulse quicken. "What do you mean? What are you involved in?"
Leah's eyes lock onto mine, her expression haunted. "It's not just about you and Ethan anymore, Amara. The choices we made, the paths we took, they've led us to this point. To the point where we don't have control anymore."
My heart races as a chill runs down my spine. "What do you mean? What's going to happen?"
Before Leah can answer, the gunman interrupts. "Enough talk. It's time to make a choice."
Leah flinches at the command but doesn't flinch away. Instead, she turns to face the gunman, her jaw set in defiance. "I've already made mine," she says, her voice steady now. "I'm in. And if you want to survive, you should make the same choice."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. In? What does that even mean? What kind of choice is this?
I turn to Ethan, my eyes wide with desperation. "Ethan, please. What's happening? What's the truth?"
He looks at me, but there's something different in his gaze now. A guarded expression, one I've never seen before.
"It's complicated, Amara," he says quietly. "But if you want to make it out of this alive, you have to choose."
I feel my heart race even faster. "Choose? What am I choosing?"
"You're choosing sides," Jason says with a smirk. "Either you're with us, or you're against us. Simple as that."
A heavy silence falls over the group. I can feel my pulse hammering in my ears, the weight of the decision looming over me like a dark cloud. Everything I thought I knew about Ethan, about Leah, and about this whole situation is crumbling, piece by piece.
I don't know what to believe anymore. But the truth is, there's no time left for hesitation.