A quiet moment she walks away from Jace in Chapter 2. She turns a corner and stops. The city hums around her, but in her head-silence. Then: memories
Her hand trembles as she presses it to her chest, like her heart is trying to claw it's way out. She leans against a brick wall, eyes closed.
Then without warning-
A FLASHBACK
Two years in the future. 2027. A rooftop.
Rain pounds the ground the sky's on fire-orange smoke-choked. Sirens screams like ghost in the distance
Aria is holding Jace. Blood stains his shirt. It spreads under her fingertips
Aria: No, no, no- Jace stay with me please stay-
Jace: "your crying" he says his voice soft
Aria: if course I'm crying idiot.
Jace: Smiles. Even now he is trying to make her laugh.
Then...He goes still
Time stops.
The world forgets how to move.
She screamed. She begged. She broke
And she made a choice
Back in the present (2025)
Aria opens her eyes. Her smile is gone now. Her breathing shallow. She pulls a small device from her pocket- no bigger than a coin. It flickers a faint blue showing a count down.
Aria: "Attempt 97." She whispered to herself "Ninety-seven times and he always dies."
She stands up facing the mirror and fixing her hair making a practiced smile.
Aria: smile just smile. Thats what he loves the most.
Aria: "this time will be different..." She lies to herself." It has to be."