Prologue.
Dancing, dancing, dancing...he could hear the piano in his head. One, two, three. Tap. Tap. Tap.
A voice carrying a soft melody broke through the air. Maybe it was his imagination. Or maybe it was Bea. He couldn't hear very well - the wind was in his ears, blocking out all the sound with harsh chaos. The sunlight felt warm on his cheeks; it was dawn, and it wasn't glaring.
The distinct dull thunk of the bell. Three times. It was three in the afternoon. Their hands were joined together. It was like last week, only Cousin Lisa was getting married.
They were jumping off a roof.
"What if this isn't going to work?" The wind whispered in their ears. "What if you fall? What if you die?" He stared down at his feet. They were balanced on top of red tiles; red brick for roof tiles. When he brushed his foot along the surface, it made a harsh sound. He suddenly felt alone.
"Let's fly, Isaac. Let's...fly..."
Her voice sounded distant. Her skin was cold. He could feel the iciness creep up where their hands touched. He didn't want to think about it. He looked at her. Her eyes were closed. She was also trying not think of the consequences, he knew. He just knew.
"Isaac, if we fly...will they still call us insane? Will they?"
A hiss of a word came out through his lips - and then, he forgot what it was. The sun was bright. So bright. He didn't want to leave this world...but flight was such a delicious thought...
So delicious, he could almost taste it.
"Bea..."
"Isaac..."
They glanced at each other. The ground didn't seem so far away now - he could see the certainty in her dark brown eyes. He knew her...he knew his older sister. Didn't he? Of course he trusted her. Their hands grasped at each other more firmly. And then...
...they stepped out, hand in hand, eyes closed to the danger...
The bell rang out again. Four times, he counted.
And then, darkness.
