Author's Note: Super, super short update, sorry!

There are 2 things I'm really horrible at doing: writing endings, and writing good endings (both chapter and story endings). The goal this summer is to fix both problems. (I'm actually horrible at lots of things, but those 2 are the focus right now.) Every story I post this summer already has the ending written, but I need your help in improving them. If the chapter or story ending feels too abrupt, unfinished, etc, please let me know. I need constructive feedback!

Also, thanks to those of you who decided to try an untested author's first story! I appreciate the reviews and follows and am looking forward to hearing more from you!

7 years earlier

Steve crouched behind the large tree at the edge of the property and surveyed the dilapidated shack of a house ahead of him. All quiet. Just a truck parked on the gravel out front. The main road was hidden behind him in the trees. There was no sign of movement inside the house, but the owner of the gas station down the street had identified Carlo Gutierrez as the suspect and Steve was taking no chances. The man had killed two people already. Danny and Steve had found his car by accident while following up on a lead and had tailed him here. There was no doubt in either of their minds that they needed to take him now: Gutierrez was preparing to flee the island and it would take at least 40 minutes for any reinforcements to reach this remote part of Oahu.

Steve glanced again at the map of the area on his cell phone. There was just one building at the end of the gravel drive with dense jungle surrounding it and the steep ridge hovering nearby. Much to Danny's displeasure, they hadn't called for backup, Steve insisting that they didn't have enough time. "You're my backup, Danny," Steve had thrown the familiar line at him before flashing a quick grin and disappearing into the dense foliage on the south side of the house. Danny had sighed, rolled his eyes, and worked his way around to the north.

Now Steve crouched behind a stand of banyan trees at the edge of the clearing and waited for his partner's signal. "You ready, partner?" he asked softly into the com.

"Almost there."

Steve could hear twigs and branches snapping over the piece in his ear and winced. "Can you be a little louder, Danny? I don't think he hears you yet." He was only partially jesting.

"Can you call for real backup for once?"

Steve grinned and slid his gun out of the holster in preparation for Danny's signal. "Only when I need it."

Danny mumbled something incoherent and continued his violent crashing through the edge of the forest. Steve waited tensely, eyes on the house in case Gutierrez heard his partner and decided to investigate. "Ok, I'm ready."

Steve nodded. "On my mark. 3… 2…"

He heard a noise overhead and looked up.

"What the…"

Then everything went black.