That evening, I stood on the roof of the safe house watching the sun set over Silvercrest. The city glowed in the fading light, thousands of people going about their lives completely unaware that reality-controlling entities had just issued ultimatums that could end with mass casualties.
Footsteps on the stairs behind me. Adrian emerged onto the roof, looking as tired as I felt.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked.
"Didn't try. Too much to think about."
He joined me at the edge, looking out over the city. "Elena asked me what I'd choose if the three options were the only real possibilities. If there was no fourth option, no way to fight back. Which would I pick."
"What did you tell her?"
"That I'd pick death. Quick and clean. Better than re-education or betrayal." He glanced at me. "What would you choose?"
I considered it honestly. "Probably the same. If the only choices were surrender, die as scripted, or let my family be killed, I'd take the solo death. At least then it's only me."
