Chances of Fate

“The unpredictable nature of fate, the arbitrary and capricious consequences of chance.”

As the ninth day of the ninth month arrived, Lily couldn't shake the unease that settled over the town. The once-bustling streets were now deserted, and the usual chatter among the townspeople was replaced by whispers and wary glances. Lily, like everyone else in the town, knew what was coming - "The Chance of Fate."

Since as long as she could remember, the townspeople gathered in the town square on this day each year. It was a tradition that had been passed down for generations, its origins lost in the mists of time. No one knew exactly when or why it had started, but it was an event that was approached with both reverence and fear.

Lily joined the gathering in the town square, her heart pounding with anticipation and anxiety. The townspeople were huddled in small groups, casting cautious glances at one another. The air was thick with tension, and the atmosphere was eerie, with a sense of impending doom.

The town elder, an old woman named Mrs. Thompson, stepped forward, her face solemn. She carried a small wooden box, adorned with intricate carvings. She placed it on a makeshift pedestal, and the townspeople held their breath.

"The Chance of Fate begins," Mrs. Thompson announced, her voice carrying across the square. "May the odds be ever in your favor."

Lily watched as Mrs. Thompson opened the box, revealing nine identical slips of paper, each with a number from one to nine. The townspeople, young and old, approached the box one by one, drawing a slip of paper. Lily's palms were sweaty as she approached, reaching into the box and pulling out a slip.

Her heart sank as she unfolded the paper and saw the number nine. It was the same number she had drawn for the past three years. She felt a knot of dread in her stomach as she realized what it meant.

The town elder nodded solemnly as she surveyed the slips of paper. "The Chosen One," she announced, pointing at Lily.

Lily's heart raced as she realized the weight of her fate. The townspeople exchanged nervous glances, but no one spoke up. It was the way it had always been, and no one dared to challenge it.

As night fell, Lily was escorted to the edge of town, where a clearing awaited. The townspeople followed in silence, their faces somber. Lily stood in the center of the clearing, surrounded by the townspeople.

Mrs. Thompson lit a torch and approached Lily, tears in her eyes. "You have been chosen, dear," she said softly. "May the chance of fate be with you."

Lily looked around at the faces of her fellow townspeople, some of whom she had known her whole life. She saw fear and sorrow in their eyes, but no one dared to speak or intervene. She knew what was expected of her, what had always been expected of the Chosen One on this fateful day.

Mrs. Thompson handed Lily a small wooden box, similar to the one used for the drawing of lots. Inside the box was a single slip of paper with the number nine written on it, the same number she had drawn earlier. Her fate was sealed.

With trembling hands, Lily took the slip of paper and held it up for all to see. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, bracing herself for what was to come. The townspeople watched in silence, their faces a mixture of sadness and resignation.

Mrs. Thompson raised the torch, illuminating the clearing with its flickering light. "It is time," she said solemnly.

Lily took a step forward, into the darkness beyond the clearing. The townspeople parted, creating a path for her to walk. She moved with slow, hesitant steps, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her. She knew that this was the way it had always been, the way it had to be, but it didn't make it any easier.

As she walked further into the woods, Lily heard whispers and murmurs from the townspeople behind her. She couldn't make out their words, but she could sense their sorrow and regret. She felt a pang of sadness for leaving behind the only home she had ever known, for becoming a sacrifice to the chance of fate.

Lily reached a small clearing deep in the woods, where a single tree stood tall and imposing. She stopped and turned to face the townspeople, who had followed her silently. She could see tears in their eyes, and her heart ached.

Mrs. Thompson approached her, torch still in hand. She placed a hand on Lily's shoulder, offering her comfort. "You are brave, dear," she said softly. "May the chance of fate be kind to you."

Lily nodded, unable to find her voice. She took one last look at the townspeople, at the town that had been her home, before turning to face the tree.

With a deep breath, Lily tied the slip of paper with the number nine to a branch of the tree, as was the tradition. She closed her eyes and waited, her heart pounding in her chest.

Seconds felt like minutes, minutes like hours, as she stood there in the darkness, enveloped by the silence of the woods. She didn't know what to expect, what would happen next. It was all up to fate.

Then, suddenly, there was a rustling in the trees. Lily opened her eyes and saw a figure approaching her. It was a stranger, dressed in a tattered cloak, with a hood covering their face.

The stranger reached out a hand towards Lily, and she hesitated for a moment before taking it. The stranger led her away from the tree, back towards the town.

As they walked, Lily felt a mix of relief and confusion. She had expected something more ominous, something that would mark the end of her life. But instead, she found herself walking back towards the town, hand in hand with a stranger.

When they reached the edge of the town, the stranger turned to Lily and spoke in a soft, soothing voice. "You are free, dear," they said. "You have been given a second chance."

Lily looked at the stranger in astonishment, realizing that she had been spared, that fate had smiled upon her. She didn't understand why or how, but she was grateful .

The townspeople gathered around, murmuring in confusion and awe as they saw Lily return unharmed. Mrs. Thompson, who had been watching from a distance, approached with a mix of relief and curiosity.

"By the grace of fate," Mrs. Thompson said in wonder, "you have been spared, dear Lily. This is unprecedented."

Lily could hardly believe her luck. She looked around at the faces of the townspeople, who were now staring at her with a mix of admiration and wonder. She felt a surge of gratitude towards the stranger who had led her back to safety, but they had disappeared without a trace.

As the days passed, Lily became a local legend in the town. People whispered about the chance of fate smiling upon her, and she was hailed as a symbol of hope and possibility. But Lily couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. She couldn't understand why she had been spared while others before her had not been so fortunate.

One day, as she was walking through the town square, Lily noticed a hooded figure watching her from a distance. She recognized the cloak and the hood, and her heart skipped a beat. It was the stranger who had saved her from the tree.

She approached the figure cautiously, and as she got closer, she noticed that the stranger's cloak was torn and tattered, and their face was hidden in the shadows.

"Thank you," Lily said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. "You saved my life."

The stranger looked at her with sad, weary eyes. "I did what I had to," they said in a hoarse voice. "But you must know, the chance of fate is fickle. It has its own rules, its own ways."

Lily nodded, understanding that there was more to this story than she had realized. She wanted to know more, to understand why she had been spared when others had not been. She asked the stranger to reveal their face, to show her who they were.

The stranger hesitated for a moment, then slowly pulled back their hood, revealing a face that looked hauntingly familiar. It was an older version of Lily, with the same eyes and the same smile.

"I am you," the stranger said softly. "Or rather, I am the version of you from another timeline, another chance of fate."

Lily was taken aback, unable to comprehend what she was hearing. The stranger explained that in different timelines, different outcomes were possible. In some timelines, she had not been spared, while in others she had.

"I am the one who did not make it," the stranger said sadly. "But I found a way to intervene, to give you a chance to survive."

Lily listened in awe and wonder, realizing the magnitude of what the stranger was telling her. She had been given a second chance, not just by fate, but by herself from another timeline.

"But why?" Lily asked, her voice filled with emotion. "Why did you save me?"

The stranger smiled sadly. "Because I wished someone had saved me," they said. "I didn't want you to suffer the same fate as me. You have a chance to change things, to make a difference in this town, and in the world."

With a serene smile on her face, Lily closed her eyes and took her last breath, peacefully passing away in her sleep. The townspeople mourned her loss deeply….