....and then a hand came out of nowhere, grabbing the collar of her shirt and pushing her back. Isa thrashed and kicked until her assailant was forced to let go. She spun around and faced the attacker, her eyes going wide.
It was Lydia. The girl was sweating, but determination shimmered in her eyes. Her hands were also blistered, but less so. She was standing by the top of the crystal ladder. Isa felt rage rise within her as she looked into the face of the girl that had always seemed to question her every move and take all the attention.
"What are you doing?" Isa scowled, reaching towards the bell again. Lydia batted her hand away, still panting from her climb.
"I'm stopping you from making the worst decision of your life." Lydia struggled to pull something out of her pocket, but it appeared to be stuck. Growling but unable to look at it for fear of Isa ringing the bell, Lydia continued to pull.
It could have been anything in that pocket. A poison. A dagger. A charm. Isa tried to find a way around Lydia, but the other girl was blocking her off. "Why do you have to be this way?" she hissed. "This is my reward, I got here first."
"Can't you see?" Another tug and something black peeked through the pocket. "This can't possibly be the real tower."
Isa hesitated, her gaze still on the bell. If it was all a trick, what would happen if she touched it? Would she burst into flames or would her hand pass through it? But was she really willing to give up all her hopes of winning? Even though she couldn't see her sister, she knew that Becca was watching, waiting for her sister to come home victorious. She glared back down at Lydia.
"I'm done with you," Isa hissed, moving her leg and hitting Lydia's knee.
Lydia's mouth formed into a round 'o' as she started to fall backwards. She hadn't been watching Isa's legs, only her hands. Her mistake. The crystal ladder was right behind her, as was the bell, but she missed both entirely. She fell backwards into the gap in the platform, a scream tearing itself from her mouth.
Horrified at what she had done, Isa looked behind herself, only to see Faze pulling himself to the top of the ladder just to witness Lydia disappearing from view.
To fall was to die.
YOU ARE READING
To Fall is to Die
FantasyEvery year, several teenagers come together to compete in the Cup challenge, an obstacle course in the clouds. While each of their stories are different, all of them are after the same things: fame and fortune. But the origins of the Cup seem to be...
