It didn't take long.
By nightfall, the headlines changed tone.
No more "mystery."
No more "flying suspect."
Now it was:
DOMESTIC THREAT.
POSSIBLE TERROR ACTIVITY.
ARMED RESPONSE DEPLOYED.
Cypriana sat on the edge of the unfinished high-rise, watching the city below glow like nothing had changed.
Andrew stood behind her, listening to a police frequency he'd ripped from another scanner.
His eyes were focused.
Sharp.
Calculating.
"They're bringing in drones," he said quietly.
Cypriana turned.
"Drones?"
He nodded once.
"Military-grade. Unmanned. Armed."
Her stomach dropped.
"They can't just—"
"They can," Andrew interrupted calmly.
"They will."
As if summoned by the words—
A faint hum began in the distance.
Mechanical.
Low.
Growing louder.
Cypriana's pulse quickened.
Andrew stepped to the edge of the building.
The night sky flickered with blinking red lights.
Three drones.
Triangular.
Silent except for the electric hum.
Hovering at a distance.
Watching.
Cypriana whispered—
"They're pointing at us."
Andrew's jaw tightened.
"They're targeting."
A bright beam locked onto Andrew's chest.
Another onto Cypriana.
Her breath hitched.
"Andrew—"
The first missile fired.
The sky screamed.
Andrew reacted instantly—
The missile stopped midair.
Hovering inches from his face.
The heat from it burned the air.
Cypriana stared in horror.
Andrew's eyes darkened.
"They think I'm a weapon."
The second missile fired.
Cypriana gasped—
It was coming for her.
She lifted her hands instinctively—
The missile jerked violently sideways.
Slamming into an empty building in a deafening explosion.
Glass shattered.
Flames erupted.
People screamed below.
Her heart pounded so hard she thought she'd black out.
Andrew's breathing turned heavy.
"They're escalating."
The third drone opened fire.
Machine gun bursts slicing through the air.
Concrete around them exploded.
Cypriana ducked.
Andrew didn't.
His eyes were cold.
He lifted both hands.
The bullets froze midair.
Hundreds of them.
Hanging like a metallic storm.
The drones hesitated.
Recalculating.
Andrew whispered—
"You want a war?"
His hands clenched.
The frozen bullets shot back toward the drones like a swarm.
Metal tore through machinery.
Two drones exploded in midair.
The third tried to retreat.
Andrew's gaze locked onto it.
His voice was almost calm.
"No."
He crushed it mid-flight.
It imploded like a soda can.
Debris rained down over the city.
Cypriana stared at him.
Her breath shaking.
"They were going to kill us."
Andrew nodded once.
"Yes."
She whispered—
"So you killed them."
Andrew looked at her.
"They weren't people."
Silence.
Smoke rose in the distance.
Sirens screamed louder now.
Andrew stepped closer to her.
His voice softened slightly.
"This is what I meant."
Cypriana's throat tightened.
"They're going to send more."
Andrew nodded.
"Good."
Her eyes widened.
"Good?"
Andrew's expression was terrifyingly composed.
"They're proving my point."
The world didn't want them free.
It wanted them contained.
Destroyed.
Andrew's voice dropped lower.
"They'll stop if they're afraid."
Cypriana whispered—
"They're already afraid."
Andrew shook his head.
"Not enough."
Her heart pounded.
"Andrew…"
He stepped closer.
"Tonight, they tried to execute us."
She swallowed hard.
"Yes."
His eyes bored into hers.
"So we respond."
Her stomach twisted.
"How?"
Andrew looked down at the city.
At the police cars gathering.
At the flashing red and blue lights like insects.
His voice became colder.
"They shot at you."
Cypriana flinched.
Andrew's jaw tightened.
"They don't get to walk away."
Her breath caught.
"They're just following orders."
Andrew's voice sharpened.
"Exactly."
The word hit heavy.
Cypriana felt the shift.
This wasn't defense anymore.
This was retaliation.
Andrew stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"They need to understand what it feels like."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"You already said that."
Andrew nodded.
"And you agreed."
Silence.
Did she?
Cypriana looked down at her hands.
They were still shaking.
But something else was there now.
Something darker.
They tried to kill her.
They aimed a missile at her.
The fear twisted into anger.
Andrew watched her carefully.
He could see it.
The change.
Her voice came out thin.
"What are you asking me to do?"
Andrew's eyes were steady.
"Help me."
Her heart pounded violently.
"Help you how?"
Andrew pointed toward the main police command truck below.
A massive armored vehicle coordinating the operation.
"They're running the response from there."
Cypriana's breath faltered.
"You want to destroy it."
Andrew shook his head slightly.
"Disable it."
A beat.
"And send a message."
Her pulse roared in her ears.
"If we do that…"
"They won't fire again."
Silence.
Sirens wailed.
Helicopters circled from a distance, too afraid to approach.
Andrew stepped close enough that she could feel the heat of him.
"They tried to kill you."
The words sank deep.
Cypriana whispered—
"I know."
Andrew's voice softened.
"I won't let them."
Her chest ached.
She looked down at the command truck.
Officers running around it.
Talking into radios.
Looking terrified.
Human.
But dangerous.
She closed her eyes briefly.
Matt's voice echoed in her head.
If he asks you to hurt someone… don't.
Her eyes opened.
Andrew was watching her.
Waiting.
Cypriana lifted into the air slowly.
Andrew followed.
They hovered above the command truck.
The officers below looked up.
One of them screamed—
"THEY'RE ABOVE US!"
Cypriana's heart pounded.
Andrew's voice was calm.
"Just the engine."
She nodded faintly.
Her hands lifted.
The armored truck trembled.
Metal groaned.
Andrew added his force.
Together—
They ripped the engine block straight out of the vehicle.
It tore free in a shower of sparks.
Officers scrambled away.
Screaming.
Cypriana's breathing was ragged.
Andrew lifted the engine higher.
Then crushed it.
Metal folding inward violently.
Dropping uselessly to the pavement.
The command center went dark.
Radios died.
Screens flickered out.
Silence fell.
Andrew's voice boomed across the street.
"Stand down."
No one moved.
No one fired.
Because now they understood.
Cypriana hovered beside him.
Her heart hammering.
Andrew turned to her slowly.
His eyes searching.
"You didn't hesitate."
She swallowed.
"No."
He nodded.
"Good."
And for the first time—
Cypriana didn't feel scared.
She felt powerful.
Across town—
Matt watched the live footage.
His face went pale.
"She's not being forced."
Steve whispered—
"No."
Matt's jaw tightened.
"She's choosing."
Silence.
Steve swallowed.
"What if we can't bring her back?"
Matt stared at the screen.
At the girl floating beside the monster.
"We don't stop trying."