Angel of Light (A Zak Bagans Story)

Chapter 35: Save Him

Chapter 35: Save Him

I walked with Zak in silence to the last room, where, just outside, was the hole in the fence we had come through.

To freedom. To safety.

I had removed my arm from around Zak when he seemed to have calmed down a bit, not wanting to overcrowd him.

Aaron had taken the lead as we made our way back through the rooms, but he was constantly looking back to make sure Zak and I were okay.

When we reached the last room, Aaron was the first to step outside.

I stepped out after him and turned to check on Zak.

He was standing in the middle of the room.

He had stopped walking without Aaron and I noticing.

Damn it.

Aaron turned around and saw Zak standing inside as well.

"Come outside bro, come on," Aaron said.

"No..." Zak said, in a voice full of despair.

"Zak..." I started, but I saw him suddenly sit on the floor, crossing his legs in front of him.

He rested his head against one hand.

I figured his head was starting to clear, and everything had been coming back to him - if he remembered anything at all.

I took my camera from Aaron and walked back into the room.

Aaron didn't protest this time, I guessed that he figured I could handle this.

I saw Zak get up a bit again, so that he was on his feet, but crouched down, with one knee on the floor, looking back toward the room the possession had happened in.

I stood near him, looking at him through the night vision of my camera lens.

"Zak, it's okay-" I started.

"It's not okay," Zak said, pain in his voice.

I saw him look out at Aaron, who was standing just outside the doorway.

"That was not me," Zak said, pointing with one arm toward the room we had come from, then he looked up at me.

"That was not me," Zak repeated, with more emphasis in his voice.

He looked away and down at the floor.

He looked so torn and lost.

I went to speak, trying to think of what I could say to comfort him, but he looked up at me, like a lost little boy, and spoke again.

"I don't even remember that much. I remember screaming, but I don't know what I was saying..." Zak said.

"Get out of there man. Come on," Aaron said from the doorway.

"I don't feel like I can move from here right now. I don't know why dude! I can't give you fucking answers right now!" Zak said.

Oh no, don't start cursing again...

"This is an island of fucking death guys. People came here to die, hundreds and hundreds of years ago. But it kept going on and on, you understand that?" Zak said, looking at Aaron, then he looked up at me, and continued, "You think it's coincidence that the black plague came through here? And they fucking burned and buried people here? Do you think it's coincidence that they executed murderers here? Do you think that's all fucking coincidence?" Zak asked.

I had tears in my eyes at this point - I was afraid we were losing Zak again.

"No," I said softly, to answer him.