The Pain Thief

Chapter 28

ONE CHOICE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING

Jack and his family were running to where Sarah felt Zoe fighting. Thanks to Jack, they had been able to dispose of the remaining hazes, clearing the area. It wasn't that hard though, since as soon as their leader was killed, all the hazes kind of just disappeared. He was hoping they wouldn't come back later, but at that point in time, he was only thinking about getting back to Zoe. 

Without the wolves, it was taking some time to run, but at least no one had been seriously hurt. There were a few cuts that Sarah helped to wrap up, but there was nothing to hold them back now. 

Jack was just so excited to see Zoe again. He was nervous with the way they left things, but was determined to show her that he was there for her. 

As they got closer, he felt like something was off. Suddenly a loud screech pierced the air, sounding like the roars of wolves. The five of them stopped to see two silvery figures rising into the sky, disappearing into nothing more than dust. 

Sarah seemed confused by something, but she said, "Come on. Zoe should be up ahead."

They continued to run, Jack in the lead. 

Jack felt his heart soar when he got close. His mother asked, "Should we get Zoe to a hospital or something? She's probably hurt."

Jack shook his head. "Zoe's a skilled healer. She's always ok."

They came upon the scene, noticing two knives thrown in the ground and scattered knives around the scene. Jack picked one up and noticed that they were his knives. He remembered Zoe sending Malachi off for something and wondered if this was what he did. 

He turned at the sound of sobbing behind him. Sarah was crying, her hand clasped over her mouth and her eyes bugging out. 

"Sarah?" he asked as he approached. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head. He didn't understand why she was so sad. Then he saw her walk over to a scene in front of them. 

"Mr. Z..." he said. "What's going on?"

Mr. Z looked up at him, a large amount of sadness in his eyes. Jack frowned, still not understanding. 

Sarah fell on her knees next to Mr. Z and Jack saw what they were both looking at. There was Zoe, her head propped up on Mr. Z's knees. Her white hair was a mess, sprawling out all around her. Her eyes were shrouded in shadows, her mouth closed peacefully. In one of her hands were the hair clips he had given her such a long time ago. She was dressed in the burnt clothes she had been wearing, but something was off. 

Sarah sobbed silently as she looked at Zoe and Jack felt his heart go into overdrive. Panic threatened to rise up in him as he watched Mr. Z reach over to Zoe and push her hair back so he could see her eyes. They had turned black with white still swirling in them the gray color standing out in great contrast. They weren't warm like he remembered though, but cold and lifeless. Mr. Z reached down and closed them, making it look like she was sleeping. 

Jack began to realize that she wasn't asleep though. He knelt down beside her and slowly placed his first two fingers to her neck. He knew it was pointless, but had to try anyway. Nothing. 

He felt himself begin to cry as he placed his head in his hands. He didn't even realize when his mother, father, and sister sat around him, tears in each of their eyes as well. 

"She did it to protect all of you," said Mr. Z quietly. 

Jack looked up. His chest hurt. It felt like everything hurt as he stared down at her. Zoe had been his best friend for so many years and when he finally realized that he felt something more, it was all taken away from him. He clenched his hands, his fingers cutting up his palms.