With one enormous surge of energy he is propelled out of my arms and upright, standing, but not standing, as his feet are not in fact touching the ground. I fall backward and have not time to get up before his eyes spring open and his mouth, too, and he lets out a shriek, the sound of which will stay with me until my last day of treading this earth. He looks filled with panic and fear, arms flailing, hands clawing at the air, gasping for breath. But those eyes do see! That heart is beating!

He turns and his gaze finds me. He coughs and splutters, trying to speak. I get to my feet and approach him, hand outstretched.

“Freddie, don’t be frightened. I am here. I am here.”

The color has returned to his flesh, and the strength to his limbs. Within moments he is restored. Completely restored. As the energy in him settles and finds its equilibrium his feet at last connect with the floor, so that he is standing quite naturally. He looks about him, then at his hands, his arms, his body, then at me. And then he smiles, and it is a good, happy, real smile.

“Freddie!”

“Lilith … I am … I am quite well.” His voice is hoarse, but otherwise unaffected. “You saved me, darling sister. I knew you could! I knew you would.” He takes a step toward me.

And the ground opens up and swallows him.

Suddenly the chamber is filled with screams. I hear Freddie’s heartbreaking scream of terror as he is dragged down into the abyss. And I can hear my own roar of rage.