Zack and the Dark Shaft by Gracie C. Mckeever Page B

when Quincy saw Zara’s wavering
    features before him and Zack’s anxious expression in the background.
    Quincy, if you can hear me, see me, I need your help. Please…
    “I was right. You are inside him and you’re draining him.”
    Zara frowned and tilted her head to one side. “You can see him?”
    “And hear him too.” Quincy shook the body in front of him, no longer sure who it belonged to anymore. “What are you doing to him, Zara?”
    “What you did to me!”
    “What?” Quincy dropped his hands and stepped back. “What are you
    talking about?”

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    “Why did you let me walk into that shaft, Quincy? Why did you let me die?”
    Quincy gaped, his own shock mirrored in Zara’s horrified expression.
    “You don’t really mean that.” He stepped closer to put his arms around her and for a few moments she let him hold her before pushing him away and moving towards the edge of the roof.
    “You weren’t there for me when I needed you most.”
    “You’re right, sweetie, I wasn’t. I should have been there for you, to save you. But what happened at that elevator was between me and you. You don’t want to punish Zack for my failure do you?”
    “Why did He let me die, Quincy? Why did He take me away so soon? I wasn’t finished. I wasn’t…” Zara burst into tears, sobs racking her body. “It’s not fair!”
    “I know it’s not, honey. But if you still love Zack, if you ever loved me , you’ll let him go before it’s too late.”
    “Who loves me , Quincy? Tell me, who!”
    “I love you, damn it! But if you do this, you’ll be taking away the only man I ever loved.”
    “Oh God, he was right.” Zara backed away from him shaking her head.
    “I’m as bad as Zack said I was.”
    “No, sweetie, you’re not bad, just hurting.” Quincy watched her inching towards the edge of the roof with growing alarm and extended a hand. “Please, Zara. Don’t take him from me.”
    She glanced to her left then her right as if searching for an escape. In the next instant, her eyes went completely white and she teetered backwards, towards the rooftop rim.
    Praying for a miracle and arms outstretched, Quincy rushed forward.

    86
    Gracie C. McKeever

Epilogue
    One minute Zack was screaming for all he was worth and banging on the walls of his prison even while they quickly closed in around him and the window above disappeared, the next minute Quincy was cradling him in his arms.
    “Zack!”
    He felt a firm slap against his left cheek right before someone thumbed open his eyelids.
    “Please be okay, baby. Give me a sign that you’re still you…”
    He guessed he should take the man out of his misery, huh?
    “Zack, please…If you’re in there, say something.”
    Zack coughed after several long moments. “Something,” he croaked.
    “And you call me corny?”
    Zack sat up and Quincy stared at him.
    “Is it you or…?”
    “It’s me.”
    “And…Zara?”
    She is with Him now.
    Zack jerked his eyes toward the sky the same instant Quincy did.
    Zara is being given another chance to prove herself before her final disposition.
    “Disposition?” Zack gasped. “You’re not going to—”

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    Do not fret, child. She will not be forsaken. He is going to reward her final act of self-sacrifice.
    “She left your body of her own free will?” Quincy asked but another voice, this one sterner than the first, answered before Zack could.
    She did the right thing.
    “Oh God! It’s really over. She’s…she’s gone.” Zack threw himself into Quincy’s arms and wept when the reality finally crashed down on him.
    Do not mourn her, Zack. Celebrate her life and know that she is in a better place and…remember to love each other the way she loved you.
    “We will,” Zack and Quincy chorused.
    After a long moment of silence, Quincy burst out laughing.
    Zack frowned at him, wondering if everything were finally crashing down on him too. “What’s so