Rudolf jumped at the pounding on his office entrance. It was aggressive and urgent, rattling a hanging smoky coat off the door.

“Father, I need to talk to you.”

Rudolf unlocked the door, and Vora began tearing the room apart. He was momentarily afraid at her irrationality, then took a fatherish air.

“What are you doing? What’s wrong?”

“Darcie’s going to get saved. That’s what’s wrong! She just wired me. Telling me how wonderful it was and how her family felt. I know she’s not happy.” Vora banged her chest. “I’ll get her out of it. I won’t allow my best friend to die.”

"Darcie's being saved. That's a lot to take in, but are you sure she's not happy? Maybe it is what she wants?”

The office door was sealed shut.

“What are you on about? You, of all people. Aren’t you opposed to this? You’re the bloody leader of the Dowsers. You’re against heaven, the Bell, and everything else. Shouldn’t you be all for stopping this? Even more so, it's my best friend and a girl you've shared dinner with many times."

“I don't want Darcie to die either; that’s not what I'm saying. I can't force people to break their beliefs, just as much as you can't."

"That's moronic. If you ."

“Would you tear down your mother then for her beliefs? I’ve never swayed her after all these years because it makes her happy and content. There's so many times I've wanted to, but thats the sacrifice we make. All Dowsers make.” After Vora’s silence, Rudolf said, “Think on it before being irrational. You know how this world is. No one has ever stopped a saving in history. The bell always drops, no matter what..."

Vora breathed quickly and sat. “If she wants to go, then I'll leave it be for her sake. But if Darcie doesn't wish to be burned alive: I’ll stop it.”

“You don’t have your magic anymore. What do you hope to do?”

“I want a Fallite weapon.”

“Vora, I won’t—”

“Let me risk my life? Like Aunt Elsa or Uncle Crowdon? You know what I’ve already done. I don’t need my powers.”

Rudolf sighed and unlocked a part of the wall. “Don't let people mourn two lives." He pulled out a glowing knife. "You know, Nigel created nearly all the Fallite weapons. Brilliant inventor. My best friend. I wish I could have stopped him or taken his place. I would have died for him.” Rudolf flipped the knife and handed the handle to Vora. “That knife is a bit special, as everything he’s made." As Vora firmly gripped it, Rudolf shook his head. "I'm a terrible father."

Vora tackled him and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re the best.”

***

Vora left her room the day of Darcie's saving, planning to talk to her one last time and get her out of this horrible event. When Vora stepped outside, Maive stood on the sidewalk, facing Vora with a determined face.

"Vora. I ask you: please, do not interfere with the saving," Maive stated firmly yet politely. "It's not your place, nor anyone else's, to do so."

“You too, then?” Vora muttered. “How do you know what I’m going to do?”

"Because I know you, inside and out. You're going to try and stop it."

“I’m not letting her die today.”

“A saving is not death. The Burning Bell has chosen her to go to heaven. Do you wish to strip that from her? Your friend?”

“She’s my best friend, and I’m not going to let her die!” Vora explained bluntly.

“And you’re my best friend, and I won’t let you die!” Maive screeched, then a rough, deep cough followed. “I love Darcie, but I was never able to tell her everything. I confide in you. It’s always been that way. I’m conflicted as well. I know it hurts, but we must push that aside. Don’t assume your good intentions are what’s right for Darcie.”

"And is this what she wants?" Vora spread her arm. After a long pause and much hesitation in Maive's body language, Vora repeatedly slowly and firmly, "Is this what she truly wants?”

Tears streamed down Maive’s cheeks. “Y-Yes….”

***

The night the Maiden came, Darcie sat outside on the porch, watching the livestock either sleep or mess around in the night. The farm dogs sat beside her, enjoying belly rubs and waiting for a predator to take the wrong step.

“Me? Goin' to heaven. Ain't that something…” She lifted the dog’s ear and removed some gunk. It whined and squealed a bit but was far more comfortable after it was done. “How lucky. I just graduated, and I don’t have to wait for nothin’. Straight to the top.”

Stolen story; please report.

Darcie suddenly stood, startling the dogs and causing them to tumble and run away. She entered the house, went to the kitchen, and reached for the candlestick phone. Her fingers hesitated as she muttered, “She ain't awake….”

When Darcie walked away, the phone blared as if it heard her. She swiftly returned, cleared her through, fixed her overall strap, and picked up the receiver.

An overly proper voice came from the speaker. “Hello. Is… Is Darcie there?”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“I see. That’s wonderful.”

“Yeah, it’s a banger being in my kitchen,” Darcie replied after an awkward pause. She smirked, and miles away, Maive did too. “What do you need? Shouldn't your face be against a fluffy, pricy pillow?”

“I just wanted to congratulate you again on your saving. I'm happy that you get to go to heaven. Nobody is more deserving.”

“I can name a few more worthy,” Darcie said softly. She turned to the window to see black and a few lights out in the fields. “I only wished I could have stayed around a tink longer. Guess I'll be getting a head start on you,” Darcie laughed awkwardly. “Don’t chase after me too quickly, though. Promise me that.”

“I promise.”

“So, what are you going to do when I'm gone? I expect you'll open that shop of yours and work on some HCs. Find someone who’s nice and settle down. It won’t hurt my—”

“I love you, Darcie! Just you… I love you.”

Darcie covered the receiver to silence her sniffling. She collected herself and exhaled. “I know.”

***

The Church of the Burning Bell of O'Landra was packed with people shoulder to shoulder. Everyone was dressed semi-formal or formally with suits, dresses, hats, flowers, ties, and coats. Darcie knew many people through family and had won over many others with her down-to-earth personality, but the ones that mattered most were Vora and her parents, Maive and Albeit.

The gray-haired girl stood with her family, waiting for the ceremony to start, waiting for the Chimes to emerge from the back curtains. When Darcie hoped they'd never come, Maiden Sympha slipped her large, curvy body through the hanging silk clothes.

“Approach, Darcie Jane Krow,” the Maiden requested.

As Darcie took her side by the Maiden, everyone prayed, “I thank the Burning Bell for its light, warmth, and love.”

“Today, we celebrate and witness the saving of Darcie Krow. She's been chosen by the Burning Bell to join him in heaven. A wonderous honor that I wish could happen to all of you.”

Darcie took a hard look at her family, as it was the last. Her mother and father were busy and didn't always have time for her, making her independent and thoughtful.

Her eight brothers forced her to be strong and energetic. When her sister moved out, she took her role in being a second mother to them. She was someone who nagged them, gave advice, showed empathy, and helped when rock bottom was hit.

Then there was her elder sister. They didn't always get along, but they had a strong connection. Troublemakers when they were younger and respectable people when they were older. A role model and a friend.

“...you may now enter the center, dear,” the Maiden repeated to the woman whose mind had wandered.

Darcie stood in the center of the atrium and looked up. She could see the blue sky and a growing glint from the clouds. She returned and looked at Vora.

She and Vora had been friends forever. They would do everything fun together. They would fight sometimes, but, in the end, they had each other's backs. When they were preteens, Darcie would envy her friend's beauty and charm. She appeared to get everything she wanted without working for it. But when they became teenagers, Darcie had skills Vora could never obtain. They balanced each other out.

Darcie peered up again. The descending bell was much closer. She could see the

fire inside it, and her body temperature rose. She had a last look at the crowd aimed specifically at Maive.

Maive was a shy girl who came from wealth and someone Darcie would have never imagined being associated with, let alone dating. Fair, thin, and pretty. Proper, polite, and careful.

When Maive confessed her feelings to Darcie, she didn't know how to respond. She gave her a shot and was able to return Maive's feelings. Their time together was short but wonderful.

The bell stopped its descent and dangled several feet above Darcie. Its heat licked her cheeks, and a pressure built in Darcie's ribcage. It was becoming more extensive and wanted to burst and explode. The attendants began to pray softly, whispers filling the church.

“Let the holy flames take you up high,” the Maiden said ceremoniously.

Darcie lurched forward and screamed, “I don't want to go! I don't want to leave!” The church muted the prayers, and there were gasps and hands-to-mouths. Darcie's screams were joined by spit. “I want to stay here! I want to be with you! With all of you!”

***

At Darcie’s cry, Vora pulled the knife strapped to her leg and pushed her way through the people. She would get Darcie out, and they would flee. They would hide where no one could find them. Bell's reached be damned.

The one to be saved dashed away from the bell and the atrium. Desperation powered her legs, and she aimed for her family. She hadn’t gotten far, though. Symbols of light appeared on the floor beneath the bell, and brass chains shot from them and bound Darcie. She was retracted back under the bell.

“I know it can be frightening, but heaven is the paradise humans deserve. I swear by that,” Maiden Sympha comforted.

Vora nearly broke from the crowd, by Maive got in her way and held her back with all her strength. Maive's steroidal treatment overpowered Vora's now-normal strength.

“Get out of my way. I’m getting her out of here. I don’t care what you say.”

“I can’t let you do that.” Maive held tighter, her face wrinkled from strain. “I won’t let you.”

“If you don't let me go and get out of my way, I'll hate you until the day you die.”

“Hate me then!” Maive began sobbing. “Hate me forever, as long as I won’t lose you, too. Please, stop, Vora. I can’t lose another friend. I can’t.”

As Vora tried to peel Maive off her, she saw Darcie’s defeated, cold eyes as she stopped struggling to escape the chains. The last thing Vora heard from her friend before the bell crashed was a faint, “I don't want to go….”

***

Vora had remained silent for days now. She’d finished packing the remainder of her things from her room. The only things left were the bed, the dresser, a lamp, the vanity mirror, and the cracked dull bell the Maiden gave her long ago. She closed the door and headed downstairs.

“Call every week,” Madeline demanded while hugging her daughter. “No, three times a week. No, every day.”

“She’s grown up now, Maddie. Leave her be for a while.” Rudolf had to wedge herself between the two to get his wife away. He hugged his daughter and whispered, “I promise you, this world will change. You'll never suffer a loss like this again.” He pulled away a bit and examined her face, rubbing the sides of her arms. “You’ll do great things. I think I agree with the once-a-week call.”

“Sure, Father. I love you.”

“I love you as well.”

“Love you, Vora,” Madeline added as her daughter slipped out the door.

Klev was outside, standing on his HC, trying to tie down a sizeable purple trunk to the back of his HC. Once he got it secure, he jumped down. “Ready?”

Vora swiftly hugged Klev and shoved her face into his chest. Slightly muffled, she replied, “Take me away from here.”