THE 30 DAYS Remastered

3 SHOTS FIRED

The gunshot rang out, a deafening explosion that seemed to freeze time. The echo bounced off the walls, reverberating in Lucy's ears as if it were the tolling of a bell, signaling her end. Her body, paralyzed by pain and fear, slumped against the cold, hard surface beneath her. She felt the weight of her life pressing down on her, forcing memories to the surface with brutal clarity.

Images flooded her mind, each one vivid and raw. She saw herself as a fragile, terrified eight-year-old, her small hand clutching a phone as she called the police to report the unthinkable—her father had killed her mother in a drunken rage. The policemen who arrived were supposed to help, but instead, they turned her nightmare into something darker. They violated her trust, her innocence, leaving scars that never truly healed.

The memory shifted, and she was back in that sterile, unfamiliar room, her new home after being adopted by Mr. Stark. The warmth of Michael and Caroline Stark had been her solace, their kindness a balm to her wounded soul. But even that sanctuary was torn away. She recalled the night the orphans turned against them, the terror in Michael and Caroline's eyes as the children they cared for became their executioners. Lucy had been thrown from the car window of that bridge, the cold wind whipping against her skin before she plunged into the icy water below. The impact was sharp, stealing her breath, and as she sank, she thought that might be the end.

But it wasn't. She had survived then, and now, as the world around her seemed to blur into a dark void, she wondered if she would survive again.

A voice pierced through the fog of her mind. Faint at first, a distant echo. "Lucy... Lucy... LUCY!" The urgency in the tone pulled her from the depths of unconsciousness. Her eyes fluttered open, the world around her a swirl of distorted shapes and shadows. Slowly, her vision sharpened, and she saw him—Jake. His face was etched with worry, his hands shaking as he gently cupped her face. He was calling her name over and over, as if his sheer will could keep her anchored to the world.

Her gaze drifted past him, her mind still struggling to catch up. On the floor, the masked man lay motionless, blood seeping from a gaping wound in his head, forming a dark pool that crept across the floor. The sight sent a jolt through her, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe. Was it over? Had he finally been stopped?

Jake's voice trembled as he spoke again, his words barely registering in her dazed state. "Lucy, stay with me. Please, stay with me."

The warmth of his hand against her cheek was a stark contrast to the cold fear gripping her heart. She blinked, forcing her mind to focus. Her lips moved, but the words were a whisper. "Jake... what happened?"

"You're okay," Jake reassured her, though his voice was thick with emotion. "You're safe now."

Safe. The word echoed in her mind, a fragile hope blooming amidst the chaos. She wasn't sure if she could believe it yet, but for the first time in what felt like an eternity, the weight on her chest began to lift......

Meanwhile a loud gunshot echoed around the sea, the sound reverberating off the cliffs and disappearing into the vast expanse of water. Zack stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the ground, tears streaming down his face, mingling with the blood dripping from his wounded hand. His mind spiraled back to memories that once brought him joy but now only deepened his sorrow.

He saw her, his daughter, her laughter filling the air as he gave her piggyback rides through the garden every Friday. Her tiny arms wrapped around his neck, her giggles a melody that lightened his heart. Another memory flashed—the day he taught her how to cook. She had been so eager, so full of life, spilling a bowl of wheat flour all over herself. They had both laughed until their sides hurt, the kitchen a mess but their hearts full.