Ryley's mind reeled, trying to process the magnitude of the revelation. The room spun around him, and his grip tightened on Sean's arm, seeking solace in the touch of the man he thought he knew. His voice cracked with anguish as he forced the words out, "How... how could he do such a thing? To kill an innocent survivor?"
The answer hung heavy in the air, a cloud of darkness engulfing the room, suffocating any remnants of hope. Sean's voice, barely audible, unveiled the sinister truth that had been concealed for far too long. "He told me... he had to make the choice to protect me. He had to burn the bus to make it look like it was exploding after hitting the abyss, and that he killed the only survivor... because he feared that she would try to extort us for hush money."
