Chapter 10 - The Final Flight
Ethan did not hesitate for a single fraction of a second.
He threw his body directly into the line of fire as Celeste pulled the trigger.
A searing pain ripped through his left shoulder as the bullet struck him.
He ignored the agonizing pain and tackled Celeste violently to the rusted metal deck.
The gun flew from her hand and splashed into the dark, freezing harbor water outside.
Ethan pinned her to the ground and struck her once, knocking her completely unconscious.
He lay heavily on the floor, clutching his bleeding shoulder as Sophie climbed down the ladder.
His brave daughter ran into his arms, crying tears of absolute relief.
The sound of wailing sirens suddenly pierced the quiet harbor air.
Sarah had successfully found the authorities and brought them directly to the shipyard.
Dozens of heavily armed police officers swarmed the ship and arrested the unconscious criminals.
Paramedics rushed in and quickly bandaged Ethan's shoulder before loading him onto a stretcher.
Six months later, the terrifying nightmare was finally a distant memory.
Celeste and Richard were sentenced to life in a maximum-security federal prison.
Ethan and Sophie had moved to a beautiful, sunlit house in a quiet coastal town.
They were incredibly happy, safe, and ready to start a completely new chapter of their lives.
Ethan stood in the living room, unpacking the very last cardboard box from their move.
He pulled out Sophie's favorite stuffed bear and noticed a strange lump inside the stitching.
He carefully opened the seam and pulled out a small, sealed envelope.
The handwriting on the envelope belonged unmistakably to his late wife, Clara.
May you like
He tore it open and read the single, chilling sentence written inside.
It read, "Ethan, do not trust the police, because the people who hired Celeste are still watching you."
