Elijah stood his ground, watching every micro-expression on Madeline’s face.
The guests had gone silent. Even the wind felt gone.
Charles took one step toward the aircraft.
CHARLES:
“If there’s nothing inside… we leave together.”
Madeline forced a smile.
MADELINE:
“Of course. Let’s end this madness.”
But her hand trembled as she reached for his arm.
Elijah shouted again.
ELIJAH:
“STOP! Don’t touch the door!”
Too late.
Charles opened the side hatch.
Inside—clean leather seats, polished metal, and beneath them… a faint blinking light.
Beep… beep… beep…
Madeline’s face drained completely.
CHARLES (whispering):
“…Madeline?”
She stepped backward.
Slowly.
MADELINE:
“I didn’t want it to go this far.”
Gasps erupted.
Elijah stepped forward, voice steady.
ELIJAH:
“You were never supposed to survive it.”
A sharp silence.
Charles turned—
But Madeline was already running.
And the countdown inside the helicopter suddenly changed rhythm.
FASTER.
