To Fall is to Die

Epilogue

Isa stood by her father's side, watching the two girls in the hospital beds. The faint whirring of the machines broke through the quiet. Breath. They were both breathing.

Her gaze passed over both of the girls, taking them in. One was a younger girl, the sickness that had haunted her so long gone and faded away. She was recovering, although slowly. The other girl was hugging a scrappy but strong stuffed tiger, her makeup still thick on her face. Her hair was dirty and tangled, but as always, the sea green strand shone through.

"You did well, Isa." She leaned against her father as he spoke, appreciating how he was there for her when she needed him most. "You made the right choice."

How was my choice the right one? Isa thought as she stepped away from her father and made her way over to the door. My choice hurt so many people.

She exited and found the boy waiting for her, just as he had said that he would. He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Is she alright?" Faze finally looked up as he asked Isa.

"Lydia will be fine." Isa kept walking and didn't look back at him. She heard his footsteps as he walked into the hospital room, back to the girl he cared about.

Isa kept on going down the hall, only stopping when she reached the entrance to the stairwell. A large window was set into the wall and she pressed her hand to it. Looking up, she could almost swear that she saw a bell tower peaking through the clouds.

Lydia had been right. Touching the bell had not brought her fortune, but instead brought them back to the start. She remembered suddenly finding herself on the starting line, the bell having just vanished as soon as she touched it. Faze had been the first one to regain his footing, hurrying towards the girl lying beside them. Lydia had fainted, but even though her lips were pale, breath still came from her mouth. She had been the only thing that Faze had seen. None of the others had found a bell tower, all of there paths had led back to the same plaza.

Even though Isa had been furious with all of them at the time, she still remembered the words that had come from Faze's mouth as he struggled to make Lydia breathe. A letter, a letter that Feivel had received himself. The whole Cup, everything about it had been a scam.

The Cup's reward had been given to them all, in secret, so that they would stay quiet about what they knew. Faze had accepted the terms right away, only wanting to get Lydia to a trained doctor. Lydia wouldn't have a choice when she woke up. For Isa, it had been more complicated.

She had gotten the money, the knowledge, and the wisdom. Isa pushed against the glass but still it would not give. It would never be enough.