OK...here is the orinigal ending to this story, now you all might hate me for posting it after all...but, oh well. You don't have my address, so I think I'm safe for awhile
Note, that with this ending, there is a sequel to the story...
Vaughn stood at the bridge where he and Sydney had gone so many times before. He stood there at the railing, looking at the city lights beautifully shown after the sun had set. He twirled his wedding ring around in his hand and looked straight ahead. He couldn't believe how screwed up things had gotten this past weekend. Isabelle's death, Sydney's leaving him and the divorce? He wanted to leave this city too. He kept looking down at the highway which was anything but busy. Part of him was expecting Sydney to show up, to give them another chance. But with each passing hour, his hope was dashed.Vaughn stood there a little while longer, and when he finally decided to go home, a car pulled up in front of him. He looked at the car and his eyes lit up with that hope again. "Sydney?" A figure stepped out of the car and walked over to him. When Vaughn finally saw the figures face, his heart sank. Jack walked up to Vaughn and frowned. "Not who you were expecting?"
Vaughn shook his head. "How'd you find me, Jack?"
"Actually...I have some news for you."
"I don't want to hear anymore news." Vaughn began to walk away, but Jack stopped him.
"It involves your daughter."
"She's dead."
"We don't think she is."
Vaughn raised his eyebrow while Jack continued. "We think that The Hand played you. The girl in that photograph is not Isabelle at all."
"You think they killed another little girl to fake her death?"
"No," Jack said. "I think that little girl was already dead, and they used the body to fake Isabelle's death."
"Why would they do that?"
"I'm not entirely sure..." Jack admitted.
Vaughn shook his head. "It's just hope Jack. Hope that she's alive. There's no evidence of it."
"Since when have we relied on that when it concerns the people we love?" Jack snipped.
"It's too late Jack. So, unless there's anything else..." Vaughn started walking away.
"Where's Sydney?" Jack called after him
"She's gone."
With that, Jack watched Vaughn leave to be consumed by the darkness. Sydney's gone?
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Sydney stepped out of the front doors of the airport and looked around at her surroundings. It wasn't much different than LA, just a little cleaner. She saw a white taxi waiting for her across the street. The driver, sitting on the hood of the car, waved over to her. She smiled slightly and walked over to him. Wearing a cowboys football jersey and a white cowboy hat, chewing tobacco and looking like her hadn't shaved or showered for days, he took her bags and threw them in the trunk. Sydney grimaced and got in the back of the car. The driver got behind the wheel and started the engine, pulling out and onto the highway. "So," the driver began, "Where ya headin' to ma'am?"
Sydney looked at his eyes in the rear-view mirror and replied, "Dallas."
"In the city, or outside?"
"In," Sydney answered. She looked down at her wedding ring, and stared at it for a moment.
"It took, a lot for us to get here today," Vaughn said. "But...the first time I saw Sydney, I was like, 'Who in the world is this weirdo?' But, as I began working with her, and getting to know her, I grew to love her, more than anyone ever would. I am so glad that I married her because that means every single day I get to wake up next to the most beautiful woman in the world." Vaughn turned to Sydney, "I love you, Syd." As Vaughn kisses Sydney, all the wedding guests begin to applaud them.
Sydney smiled softly at the memory and slowly took off her wedding ring and placed it in her bag. She then slipped on her sunglasses and looked around at her surroundings as they were entering Dallas.
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Irina entered a room, where Isabelle was sitting. At her entrance, Isabelle glanced up at her grandmother. "Hello, Isabelle," Irina greeted. Isabelle did not reply back. Irina looked at the woman standing behind Isabelle and addressed her. "Are we finished?"
The woman nodded and stepped forward in the light so Irina could see her face. "Yes. The doubling worked beautifully, but..."
"You're still unsure how this could help us?" The woman nodded. "Well, Nadia...it's very simple. Isabelle will help us find Rabamldi and brig forth his endgame, whether she wants too...or not."
Nadia nodded and smiled as another little girl entered the room...Isabelle. The real Isabelle stared at her double in surprise as the double grinned at her.
---THE END---
