Abir Khan's blood ran cold as Arisa's piercing scream echoed through the smoke and rising flames. Ignoring the warnings from Aryan behind him, Abir sprinted through the burning rubble like a madman. The only thing that mattered was reaching her.
"Arisa! Make a sound! I'm coming!" Abir roared.
When he reached her room, he saw three mafia commandos dragging her toward the hidden tunnels. The sapphire necklace Abir had given her was now a tightening noose in the struggle. Arisa fought desperately, but she was no match for their brute strength.
Abir's rifle was still hot. Without a second's hesitation, he opened fire. The first shot took down one guard, and the second ripped through another. But the third man pulled Arisa in front of him, pressing a gun to her temple.
"Drop it, Abir Khan!" the commando hissed. "Or her brains will be on the floor."
In that split second, a perfect sniper shot rang out from behind. Aryan's bullet struck the commando's hand, sending the gun flying. Arisa broke free and lunged toward Abir.
Abir pulled her into a crushing embrace. Arisa was sobbing, her body trembling with terror. But the relief was short-lived. The alarms were blaring—the mafia had successfully rigged the island's main core to explode.
"Abir! Get out of here!" Aryan shouted, running toward them. "They've hacked the system! This whole place is going to blow!"
Abir held Arisa tighter, looking at Aryan with a strangely calm smile. "Where is your chopper, Aryan? Take Arisa and leave. I have to finish this."
"No!" Arisa cried, clutching his shirt. "I'm not leaving without you! Abir, come with us!"
Abir's eyes held a finality that chilled Arisa to the bone. He knew that to wipe out the remaining invaders, he might have to sacrifice himself along with the island. Would he really let Arisa go forever, or would they emerge together from the ashes once more?
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