Free Zombie Mage by Jonathan J. Drake

beloved.  She was
so beautiful in every way.
    “You know,” Lara continued, “we've been together for a
good six months so I'm glad you've at least remembered my name.  It shows you
haven't completely lost your senses."
    Olligh tried to lift his head to look around but his
neck and shoulders felt stiff and unresponsive.  His arms and legs also
continued to be under the influence of Warden Philip's magic and although he
could now feel them, he was still unable to move them.
    "What happened to me?"
    Lara giggled and brushed her hair away from her eyes. 
"You tell me.  One minute we're walking together hand in hand and then,
the next thing I know, you're lying down there in that filthy ditch."
    "I... I fell."
    "Yes, I gathered that.    Thankfully it's only a
small ditch and you landed on your bottom, not your head."
    "So I see..."
     "By chance, on the way down, did you fall head
over heels in love with me again?"
    Olligh managed a weak smile. "Oh, I've missed
you, Lara...  It feels as though we've been apart for such a long time."
    Lara grinned broadly and reached for his hand again.  
"What are you rambling on about, Silly?  You haven't been anywhere and
neither have I."
    "And, of course I love you. Earlier, when I
realised it was you in the casket, my heart dropped.  At that point, I knew
instantly how much you meant to me."
    Lara stroked his hand and smiled softly.
"Casket?  What casket?  You're acting ever so strangely, Olligh. I didn't
realise that bottom concussion was a proven medical condition."
    Olligh smirked.  "You've never lost your sense of
humour either."
    "Of course not.  It's one of my most redeeming
features and, if I remember rightly, it’s the first thing that you found
attractive about me."
    "Not the only thing. You're ever so beautiful as
well."
    Lara blushed and ruffled Olligh's hair. "If you
say so."
    "I know so.  Never let anyone tell you
otherwise."
    "Right, Silly.  Look, you're making me blush. 
You know you're the only man who's ever been able to do that to me."
    Olligh chuckled and continued to gaze into Lara's
eyes.
    "Right!" Lara continued. "That’s enough
delirious chatter for now.  Let's get you out of this ditch, eh?"
    "Well, I'm not sure I can move.  I'm so weak and
everything feels so odd."
    "Odd?"
    "Yes, it's as though I'm not really here.  I've
been through so much recently and, right now, everything feels so perfect... 
Perhaps too perfect.  I'm not sure what's real anymore."
    Olligh watched as Lara stood and walked slowly towards
the end of the ditch, a confused and concerned expression on her face.  For a
while, she stood unmoving near his feet.
    "Lara? Is everything okay?"
    Lara didn't respond.   Olligh watched her intently,
waiting for a reaction, wondering whether or not he was experiencing another
strange vision or memory.  As he studied her face, it gradually became blurred
and distorted; she began to blend in with the bleak surroundings until only
darkness remained where she once stood.  Olligh sighed heavily.  He felt a tear
in his eye, but understood that it was too good to be true considering
everything he'd already been through.   Not able to do much else, he waited in
the gloom until some cloaked figures appeared by the sides of the ditch.  They
leaned over the edge, prodding and poking him.  Someone grabbed his feet and
pulled, heaving him out from the ditch and along the muddy forest track.   With
his body paralysed, Olligh felt helpless and could do nothing to prevent his
captors taking him.  He wondered if they were Dark Cloaks but decided it was
pointless to ask.  He realised his time was up.  They had finally caught up
with him. 
    After being dragged a short distance, his feet were
released and a man's face peered down at him; with the glow of the moon, his captor’s
face looked ominously pale and frightening.  Leaning closer, the man felt
Olligh's neck and grunted something illegible.  He then closed Olligh's eyelids
and