Behind me, Dad's voice floated over lazily. "Hey, don't run out of frame. There aren't any cameras over there…"
The wind was too loud, and my head was foggy. I didn't catch what he said at all. All I heard was the sound of urgent footsteps coming up fast behind me.
I ran all the way to the edge of the cliff. Loose gravel crumbled under my sneakers and rattled down into a bottomless black void. Behind me were the bloody jaws of the wolves. Several dark figures were already crouched low, ready to pounce.
I glanced back. The whole pack was behind me now, which meant Dad was safe. I hurled the branch in my hand hard at the wolves, then squeezed my eyes shut and jumped.
As I hurtled through the air, there was nothing in my ears but the roar of the wind. The last thought that flashed through my mind was that at least Dad was safe. If this jump was all it took for him to live, then it was worth it.
…
When I opened my eyes again, my body felt light as a feather.
I looked down and saw… another me, lying twisted among the rocks. One leg was bent at a grotesque angle, and my school uniform had been shredded by branches.
Blood soaked into the stream beneath me, turning the water before the current slowly washed it away.
Was I dead? Was this what the world looked like after one died?
Before I could even process the whole thing, a deafening roar exploded from the top of the cliff. Blinding white searchlights snapped on, turning the mountaintop bright as day.
I floated upward for a closer look and was dumbfounded.
A helicopter was slowly descending. Its spinning blades whipped the trees so hard they bent and shook. A group of people in camouflage uniforms rushed out.
The "vicious wolves" that had wanted to tear me apart just moments ago were suddenly having their heads pulled off.
Under the fake wolf heads were people in motion-capture suits, plus a few highly trained shepherd dogs that were now lying on the ground, wagging their tails like happy pets.
"Cut! Perfect!"
Dad stepped out from between the rocks, casually brushing dirt off his clothes and straightening his rumpled collar. There was no trace of his earlier madness and terror.
The director hurried over with a flattering smile, offering him a glass of champagne. "Mr. Locke, that performance was top-tier. The livestream just broke 300 million views! Everyone's calling this the family drama of the year!"
Dad took the champagne, raised it slightly toward the camera, and took an elegant sip. On his face was the expression I knew best—that calm smile that made it clear everything was under control.
"Emma's acting was way too real," he said with a chuckle. "I almost bought it myself. That final jump was especially full of emotion."
He turned toward the edge of the cliff and shouted, "Okay, Emma, you can stop hiding now! The props team has already packed up, and the holograms are off. Come on up. I had them get your favorite black forest cake ready!"
I hovered in midair, staring at that blinding smile on his face. All I felt was absurdity. Utter absurdity.
So, there were no loan sharks, no bankruptcy, and no threats. Even the wolves were fake.
The crew started taking apart the set, hauling all those so-called dangerous props back onto the helicopter.
Someone asked in a low voice, "Mr. Smith, why isn't Ms. Locke back yet? I just saw her jump off the cliff. Is she…"
Dad waved a hand, cutting him off with an easy, confident look. "Relax. There's a whole layer of safety nets and air cushions down there. I just saw the crew go down. Emma is definitely hiding down there waiting for me to go praise her. It's one of her little tricks to make me feel bad for her."
He turned back to the camera, to the countless viewers still watching the livestream, and said, "Kids these days are just too soft. If you don't give them a real lesson once in a while, they'll never grow up. See how we managed to force out her potential this time?"
