With each swing, Veronica drives Molly back another step. At the edge of the fountain, Veronica tries to knock Molly sideways into the water, but Molly jumps the opposite way. She backs away towards the wall across from Rebecca. Molly holds out her hands in supplication. "Veronica, please, don't do this. I'm your friend."
"You've never been my friend," Veronica says. She swipes the knife across Molly's midsection, leaving a blood gash across Molly's stomach. Molly cries out with pain, dropping to her knees on the ground. "You've never been anything more than a scared little baby, letting Mama Becky nurse you. But she can't help you now."
Feeling has returned to Rebecca's limbs. She pushes herself up to her feet, wobbling a moment before steadying herself. She staggers towards Molly, ready to throw herself on the knife if need be to save the child who is a daughter to her.
Veronica stands over Molly, the knife poised to strike. Molly looks past Veronica, her eyes meeting Rebecca's. In that moment, Rebecca sees not the little girl she's raised since infancy, but a grown woman. Rebecca follows these adult eyes to Molly's right hand, which rests on a trip wire. "Molly, no!"
"Goodbye, Mama," Molly says as she pulls the wire. A rumbling sound fills the cave. The knife drops from Veronica's hands; she covers her ears and whimpers like a small child, dropping next to Molly on the ground.
Rebecca takes a step towards the girls, but then the rocks suspended over the fountain begin tumbling down. Through the dust and debris, she makes out Molly for a moment. Molly smiles at her and mouths the words, "It's all right, Mama. Go."
The rocks continue to fall all around Rebecca, one coming within an inch of crushing her. "Molly!" she screams and then stumbles towards the cave opening. She collapses at the foot of the hill, where she later rests the plaque as a final testament to Molly's courageous sacrifice.