To Fall is to Die

Chapter Twenty (Lydia)

Once that girl fell, everything stopped. That horrible Andrew left with Liliana and her group, all of them hurrying forward on their path. Lydia watched them go with a scowl on her face.

Why did I ever trust that boy? She thought. He had been sided with Liliana all along. It was all a ploy and I fell for it.

Lydia guided Faze along, following Isa as they set off on their own path. She felt bad for her friend; he had been close to that young girl. He seemed stunned, his eyes wide and terrified. There was no mercy here. She had learned that a long time ago.

Even now, she could see her father's face as he told her that she would compete in the Cup. He had been desperate, they all had. He made money in the Black Market, true, but all of it vanished so quickly and she knew as to where. That's why she had to make this money. Not for college, for him.

Lydia squared her shoulders and continued to walk, her arm still twined around Faze's waist. She didn't notice him look over at her, still lost in her own thoughts. That voice which had always been so loud in her mind was quieter for the moment, not panicking. Whatever happened, happened. One foot in front of the other. One step at a time. That was how you do it. That was how you did life. You kept your head down and hoped that the world would look you over.

It was only when she heard Isa's gasp that she looked up.

There, shinning in gold in the distance, the bell tower. Gold edged doors and a gleaming silver bell. A quiet beauty hung around it. The silent death that can kill when you aren't watching.

Entranced, Isa broke into a run, Faze snapping out of his reverie and following her. Lydia stayed put where she was, her gaze traveling over the tower. Something didn't seem right. How could it be so easy?

"Guys. Guys, this isn't right!" Lydia shouted after her friends as she ran after them. Both didn't seem to hear her, still intent on their goal. "They wouldn't just only have our path intersect here! That's too easy! People died to get this far!"

Faze hesitated and looked back, slowing down the slightest bit. Isa glared and tugged at his arm. "I told you to trust me," she hissed. "Do so now."

A look of horror crossed Faze's face, and he started to put more of his weight on Isa. What was this all about? Why did he look so alarmed? Lydia's throat suddenly felt dry as she looked between them and the tower. Couldn't they see it? Weren't they all supposed to trust each other?

Isa was too far gone. It was to Faze that she turned her appeals to now. "Faze...when have I ever betrayed you? Listen to me now...this isn't right."

Faze stepped away from Isa and for a moment, Lydia thought that she had convinced him, but her heart sank when he shook his head. "I'm sorry Lydia. I'm not giving up this chance for my freedom."

Isa tugged on Faze's arm again, her icy gaze meeting Lydia's. "So, are you coming, Lydia? The Cup can be won with two contestants."

"I....I..." Lydia looked between her friends and the tower, torn. Faze wasn't meeting her eyes, but she noticed how Isa's arm had found its way around his waist, taking the spot she had left. "I can't."

"Then this is goodbye." Isa pulled Faze forward, and together they broke into a run, heading towards the gold edged tower that they believed carried their fortunes.

I can't let them do this. I can't let them kill themselves for this stupid trap. She thought, looking down at the path beneath her feet.

Team Cyclone had been torn apart by the winds, but she knew how to ride them. Lydia pulled out her feather charm from where it rested underneath her shirt and against her chest. A feather was carried by the wind, yet it landed gracefully, like a dancer.

Pretending that the very shoes on her feet had wings, Lydia chased after her two friends, intent on saving their lives.