and claws. It catches me on the back of my hand with its beak, tearing the skin open. I grimace in pain,
remembering the last time I had done this to Lyra. “Apologize!” my mother had ordered. “Sorry,” I whisper.
The vulture’s gaze locks with mine. “I’m sorry!” I repeat more forcefully. My sister lets me go. The ground
rushes up to meet me. I feel a sharp pain in the back of my head, and I am in the cold of unconsciousness before
I can even open my mouth to scream.
I’m lying on a hospital bed when I wake up. Apparently, somebody has sewn up the back of my head
when I was unconscious. People ask what happened, but to be honest, I can’t remember most of it. And I don’t
want to.
The medics only smiled and said it was my concussion and that it would come back to me in sooner or
later. Then I was left alone. I slept, and when I woke, my father was standing by my bed with a birdcage under
his arm. “I finally got you a bird! Now you can’t bug me anymore!” A bird? I think woozily. I don’t remember
ever wanting a bird. But I mumble a quick “ Thanks,” and he leaves. I take a look at the bird. It’s small, jet
black with amber eyes. Knowing eyes. “Hello,” I say. It gives a little chirp and shuffles around in its cage.
Suddenly, I see a hand undoing the latch on he cage, and realize it’s mine. The bird, suddenly spotting its chance
for freedom, darts out of the cage and out the window. I feel a pang of sadness as the little girl slips away from
me. “Goodbye,” I whisper as the bird spirals up into the sky.
Epilogue
The prophet felt lonely now that Lyra was gone. She’d found her standing by a dead body, looking
very sorry for herself. “Hello,” Lyra had said. “Hello. You look miserable,” She had replied. “Well, I just died,”
Lyra had said, rolling her eyes. “Why don’t you fly with me?” she had offered. Being Lyra, she said yes without
a moment’s hesitation. As they flew, they got to know each other. They had become quite close. Now Lyra was
gone, but at least she was happy. Now it was the prophet’s turn.
She flew over the Great Wall, tracing its route. One more trip, she thought to herself.
One more trip, then I can join Lyra. Join the emperor. Join everyone else.
She closed her eyes, letting herself glide through the air one last time.
* * *