The night exploded into chaos.
Gunshots cracked through the air, sharp and deafening, echoing off the stone walls of the lighthouse. I screamed as Riyan shoved me down, his body instantly shielding mine.
"Stay down!" he roared.
Arjun stumbled backward, clutching his side as a bullet grazed past him and hit the stone behind.
"They weren't supposed to be this fast!" Arjun shouted desperately. "They cut off every escape route—"
Another shot rang out.
Riyan cursed under his breath.
"Move!" he barked at Arjun. "Behind the lighthouse—now!"
But before Arjun could take another step, a voice boomed from the darkness.
"ARJUN MALHOTRA!"
Floodlights snapped on.
Blinding white light tore through the night, pinning us in place.
"Come out slowly," the voice commanded. "You don't belong here anymore."
I could hear boots crunching over gravel.
More than five.
Maybe ten.
Arjun's breathing turned ragged.
"They'll kill you both," he whispered. "This was my mistake."
"No," Riyan snapped, fury blazing. "This ends tonight."
He raised his arm, ready to fight a battle we couldn't win.
And that's when I understood something terrifyingly clear.
They weren't here for me.
They weren't even here for Riyan.
They were here for Arjun.
And they would destroy everything to erase him again.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
If I stayed hidden…
Riyan would die protecting us.
If Arjun ran…
He'd be hunted forever.
There was only one move left.
And it was mine.
Before Riyan could stop me, I stood up.
"AARVI, NO—!" he shouted.
I stepped into the light.
Every gun snapped toward me instantly.
"Stop!" I screamed, my voice tearing through the night. "Don't shoot!"
The men froze.
Confused.
I raised my hands slowly.
"You want Arjun Malhotra," I said loudly, forcing my shaking legs to hold. "I'll tell you where he is."
Riyan's voice cracked behind me.
"Aarvi—what are you doing?!"
Arjun stared at me in horror.
"No," he whispered. "Don't—"
I didn't look back.
Because if I did, I would break.
"I'll cooperate," I continued, my voice steadier than I felt. "But you let them go."
The man with the gun laughed.
"You think you're in a position to negotiate?"
I took a step forward.
"You don't want witnesses," I said. "You don't want Riyan Malhotra dead in the open. You don't want police, media, or questions."
Silence.
The guns wavered slightly.
I had their attention.
"Take me," I said quietly. "I'm the reason this started anyway. The scapegoat, remember?"
Riyan surged forward.
"I swear to god—"
"Riyan," I said sharply without turning, "if you move, they'll shoot you."
He froze.
My chest ached painfully.
"This ends with me," I said softly. "It always has."
The man in charge studied me for a long moment.
Then he smiled.
"A brave girl," he said. "Or a stupid one."
He raised his hand.
"Lower your weapons," he ordered his men. "She's coming with us."
Riyan lost it.
"YOU TOUCH HER AND I'LL—"
Arjun grabbed his arm desperately.
"Bhai, stop!" he pleaded. "She's saving us."
I turned back then—just for a second.
"Riyan," I whispered, tears finally spilling, "you promised to protect me."
His face was shattered.
"I am protecting you," he said hoarsely.
"No," I whispered. "You're protecting Arjun."
I forced a small smile.
"Let me do this."
The men grabbed my arms.
Riyan lunged—
Arjun held him back with everything he had.
"AARVI!" Riyan screamed.
I looked at him one last time.
"Find the proof," I said. "End this."
Then they dragged me away.
The last thing I heard before the car door slammed shut—
was Riyan's scream tearing the night apart.
And for the first time…
I wasn't the girl being protected.
I was the one who stepped into the darkness—
so the truth could survive.