Tonight I watched my wife fling her body over a cliff into the ocean. I didn’t cry. I didn’t even bother to look at her body. I wanted to, but I couldn’t. This way of living has left me heartless and for that I am thankful. Otherwise I would have to face the atrocities I have been party to.
—The journal of Isaac Ryland
The adrenaline from seeing Mia jump off the edge was enough for Andrew to rip free of his ropes. His body fell forward and he caught himself on the stone before pushing his legs up and running toward the edge. The only noise Andrew could hear was the sound of his own heartbeat. He leaned over and thought he might faint. Hanging only a foot down was Riley. She was holding on to the side of the building somehow and grabbing on to her back was Mia, her red dress hanging in the wind. Andrew wanted to reach out a hand for her, but Mia shook her head no.
Andrew’s hearing returned and the sound of Grant’s laughter flowed through the air. Mia had promised him everything would be okay. Andrew had not known her plan, but he had to trust her, and that seemed to mean playing the part.
“I didn’t think she had it in her,” Grant said.
Andrew started moving toward Grant. The other man’s laughter stopped and he raised his weapon at Andrew.
“I promised to let you live and I will,” Grant said. “If you attack me and I shoot you in self-defense, that does not mean I did not keep my word.”
Andrew stopped moving and held his hands up. He had to get that weapon away from Grant. Andrew started to act like he would if Mia were actually dead and there was nobody to attack. He dropped to his knees and brought his hands to his eyes, faking tears.
“I hope that you live a long life,” Grant said. “And think about her every day for the rest of your life.”
“It was over,” Andrew said. “You didn’t have to kill her.”
“But I wanted to,” Grant said.
“You’re a dead man anyway,” Andrew said.
“I don’t think so,” Grant said. “The Registry is destroyed, but my reputation is only tarnished. With Mia dead I can explain my side of the story. How I was desperately in love with her and never wished any harm on her. How the grand commander was forcing me to wed his daughter, so I had to kill him to stop the wedding. How I ran out of my wedding to find her and tell her we could lead the new order together. I am the grand commander, after all.”
“Liar,” Andrew said.
“Who cares?” Grant asked.
“You can’t lead the people,” Andrew said.
“Why not? Mia did tonight, and she was just a stupid little girl.”
The other man walked closer to Andrew. He was going to check out Mia’s body. Andrew had to act now. He waited until Grant was right at the edge.
“Mia has something you will never have,” Andrew said.
“What’s that?” Grant asked.
Andrew watched as Grant looked over the edge. There was no way he didn’t notice Mia hanging there.
Within a second Andrew leapt onto Grant, not giving the man a chance to react. He reached for Grant’s wrist and forced him downward.
“Friends,” Mia said.
Andrew watched as she let go of Riley with one hand and used it to grip Grant’s shirt, pulling him over. Andrew pushed Grant’s legs and looked down as the man let out a scream, plummeting toward the ground.
Without waiting another second, Andrew grabbed on to Mia’s free arm. She let go of Riley and Andrew pulled her back up and over the side. They landed on the top of the roof and Mia put her arms around Andrew’s neck.
“It’s over.”
He wasn’t sure if he was asking or telling.