"Greg!" Morgan called out, her voice carrying over the howling wind. "Look at me!"
Greg's wild, crazed eyes found Morgan, and for a moment, time seemed to slow down. The pure hatred and madness in his gaze sent a shiver down her spine, but she forced herself to hold his stare, refusing to back down.
"Let her go," Morgan demanded, hoping to appeal to whatever shred of humanity might still exist within him. "You don't have to do this."
"Stay back!" Greg snarled, tightening his grip on Sarah's arm. "Or I'll throw her off right now!"
Morgan's mind raced, searching for a way to save Sarah without putting her in further danger. She needed to keep Greg talking, to give her an opening to act. Taking a deep breath, she willed herself to remain calm as she continued to inch closer.
"Talk to me, Greg," she said softly, trying to make a connection with him. "Tell me what's going on inside your head."
"Stay out of my head!" Greg screamed, his voice cracking with the strain of his emotions. "You don't know anything about me!"
Morgan knew she was walking a thin line between saving Sarah and pushing Greg over the edge. But with each step she took closer to them, she felt more certain that this was a risk she had to take. Inside her chest, her heart pounded furiously, but she refused to let fear control her. She had come too far to give up now.
"Greg, listen to me," Morgan called out, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. "You're surrounded. There's nowhere for you to go. Let Sarah go, and we can work this out."
The wildness in Greg's eyes seemed to flicker for a moment, as if considering the possibility. Morgan could see the sweat on his brow, glistening beneath the fading light. Desperation clung to him like a second skin.
"Alright," he said slowly, his voice trembling. "I'll let her go, but only if you promise me one thing."
"Name it," Morgan replied, trying to keep her tone neutral.
"Promise me you won't try anything," Greg demanded, his grip on Sarah tightening. "If I see you move, I'll drop her right now."
"Okay, okay," Morgan agreed, her mind racing with the implications of her promise. She knew she couldn't let Greg walk away from this, but she had to save Sarah first. "I promise not to make any moves. Just let her go."
"Swear it," Greg hissed, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"I swear," Morgan responded, forcing herself to lock eyes with him, even as she mentally prepared herself for the necessary deception.
"Alright," Greg said, his voice barely audible over the roar of the helicopter blades above them. He pulled Sarah back from the edge, just slightly, enough that her screams turned into gasps for air. "Now, stay where you are. Don't come any closer."
Morgan froze, her muscles tensing at the sudden command. Her instincts screamed for her to act, to rush in and save Sarah before it was too late. But she knew she couldn't risk it, not yet. She needed to wait for the perfect moment, one where she could save Sarah without endangering her further.
As she stood there, her entire being focused on the scene before her, Morgan couldn't help but think of all that had led her here. The pain, the loss, the betrayal – it all culminated in this one moment. And she knew, with absolute certainty, that she would do whatever it took to save Sarah and put an end to Greg's reign of terror.
"Greg," Morgan called out, striving to keep her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. "I know what your mother did to you."
"Then you know nothing," he spat, gripping Sarah more tightly. Her choked sobs punctuated the tense silence between them.
Clutching at straws to stall for time, Morgan thought desperately about ways to keep him talking. "Your past... all those women who left you, didn't they?" she ventured, watching his jaw clench and unclench.
"Shut up," he snarled, but she could see a flicker in his eyes that told her she was getting to him. She needed to push further, to unravel him enough so that she could seize the opportunity to act.
"Couldn't bring yourself to do it, could you? To end your own life?" she asked softly, her eyes never leaving his face. "You were afraid to die alone, Greg."
He barked a laugh, the sound harsh and bitter on his lips. "You think I'm afraid of dying? Hell, I've been terrified of the water my whole life. And yet here I am, standing on the edge of this godforsaken cliff." His gaze shifted briefly to the churning waters below.
"Is that why you drown them?" Morgan asked, her mind racing as she tried to piece together the puzzle of his twisted psyche. "To feel what it's like, without actually facing your fear?"
"Something like that," he admitted with a twisted smile, the glint in his eyes speaking of a deep-rooted madness. "Each time I watch them struggle, gasp for air... It's like I'm experiencing it through them."
Morgan felt a chill run down her spine as she absorbed his words, the cold calculation behind them. This man was beyond redemption, she realized, and she had to find a way to stop him before more innocent lives were lost.
"Is this the last time, Greg?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the roar of the helicopter blades above them. "Will Sarah be your final victim?"
"Maybe," he mused, his eyes flickering between her and Sarah. "Or maybe she's just the beginning."
Morgan gritted her teeth, her hands balling into fists at her sides as she fought to maintain control. She had to act soon before it was too late - but how? What could she do that wouldn't put Sarah in even greater danger?
"Enough talk," Greg snarled suddenly, his patience clearly wearing thin. "This ends now."
As Morgan watched helplessly, her mind racing for a solution, she knew the time for action was upon her. One way or another, this nightmare had to end - tonight.
"Greg, please," Morgan pleaded, her voice barely a whisper as she took a slow, calculated step forward. "You don't have to do this."
"Stay back!" he warned, his grip on Sarah tightening as the terrified girl sobbed uncontrollably. The wind whipped around them, drowning out the sound of the approaching chopper that was just close enough to make out its searchlight, casting eerie shadows across the rocky landscape.
Morgan's heart raced as she racked her brain for something - anything - that could save Sarah. She knew time was running out as Greg's eyes darted wildly between her and the edge of the cliff. This was it - her last chance to make a difference.
"Think about what you're doing, Greg," she said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her insides. "Is this really how you want your story to end?"
"Enough!" he screamed, the madness in his eyes flaring dangerously. "I won't listen to your lies anymore!"
And with a guttural snarl, Greg pushed Sarah off the cliff.
"NO!" Morgan cried out, lunging forward in a desperate attempt to reach for the falling girl. But it was too late - Sarah was already plummeting towards the dark, unforgiving waters below.
The world seemed to move in slow motion as Morgan stared in horror at the empty space where Sarah had once stood. Her mind refused to accept what had just happened, even as the cold reality of it seeped into her bones.
Then, suddenly, the silence was shattered by the crack of a gunshot. The shot fired off from the chopper above, an officer managing to hit Greg squarely in the shoulder. He staggered backward, a look of shock and pain etched onto his gaunt features as blood began to stain his shirt.
Morgan snapped back to reality, her instincts kicking into overdrive. This was her moment - her opportunity to end this, once and for all.
Morgan's heart pounded in her chest as she sprinted past Greg, his agonized groans barely registering in her ears. All that mattered now was reaching Sarah before it was too late. Without a moment's hesitation, she leaped off the cliff and plunged into the icy waters below.
The chilling embrace of the lake enveloped Morgan as she broke through the surface. Her lungs screamed for air, but she couldn't afford to waste even a second. Gritting her teeth against the numbing cold, she pushed herself deeper, diving towards the sinking figure of Sarah.
Morgan's fingers grasped at the water, propelling her closer and closer to the girl. She could see Sarah's wide eyes staring back at her, terror etched across her young face. The rope binding her ankle trailed behind her like a sinister snake, dragging her helplessly toward the abyss below.
Finally, she reached Sarah, her hands closing around the girl's arm. With a quick nod of reassurance, Morgan whipped out her knife, its blade glinting ominously beneath the water's surface. She maneuvered herself beneath Sarah, the weight of the girl pressing down on her as she positioned the blade against the thick rope.
Morgan internally urged herself forward, feeling the strain of holding her breath. Her lungs begged for oxygen, but she couldn't allow herself to give in. Not yet.
She sawed at the rope, her fingers numb from the cold and adrenaline coursing through her veins. Each stroke felt like an eternity, but finally, she could feel the rope beginning to fray. One final push, and the razor-sharp blade sliced through the last of the fibers.
She gave Sarah a forceful shove towards the surface, praying that the girl would find the strength to swim up on her own.
As Morgan propelled herself upward, her thoughts turned back to Greg. He was wounded and cornered, but she knew he was far from defeated. She couldn't let her guard down yet - not until Greg was safely behind bars, and Sarah was out of harm's way.
Almost there, she repeated in her head like a mantra, her lungs burning with the need for air. "Just a little bit more."
Just as Morgan began her ascent, she caught a glimpse of Greg plunging into the water, blood trailing from his shoulder. His eyes locked onto hers, a man driven by obsession and rage, determined to finish what he had started.
Greg lunged at her, his long fingers stretching out like claws, desperate to bring her down. Morgan evaded his grasp, her training kicking in despite the weight of the water and exhaustion threatening to consume her.
Greg's desperation only grew. He swiped at her again, managing to grab hold of her ankle. Morgan felt herself pulled downward, the air in her lungs rapidly diminishing. She kicked at his hand, adrenaline fueling her strength, but Greg held on tight.
With one last push, she wrenched herself free from his grip, sending Greg spiraling further down into the murky depths. The fury in his eyes quickly turned into panic as he realized the truth behind her words - he couldn't swim, and his body was too weak to fight the current.
"Help...me," Greg mouthed silently, looking up at her with a mixture of fear and regret. Morgan hesitated for a moment, torn between the desire to save him and the knowledge that he had brought this upon himself.
But she couldn't bring herself to watch him drown. With one final glance toward the surface, hoping Sarah had reached it safely, Morgan made her decision and dove deeper into the darkness, reaching for Greg's outstretched hand.
But Greg only stared back at her, his eyes filled with bitterness and resignation.
With one final push, Greg managed to break free from her grasp, his body sinking deeper and deeper into the darkness.
Morgan’s heart ached with a mixture of relief and sorrow as she watched him disappear. In the end, he had chosen his own fate - and there was nothing more she could do for him.
She kicked toward the surface, the weight of everything that had happened crashing down upon her. But even in the midst of her grief and exhaustion, Morgan knew that she had done everything she could.
The nightmare was finally over.