Work Text:
(Scenario: Engel throws the bully trio into a hole filled with bombs. Alice throws a rope down to rescue them, but Engel detonates the explosives.)
ALICE: Come on, come on!
(Alice pulls Oliver up out of the hole.)
OLIVER: Zip, Eddie, come on! We don’t know when that psycho will blow this place up!
(Zip struggles to keep up.)
ZIP: (Panting)
EDWARD: Go, go, I’m right behind you!
(Zip nears the top of the hole, as Oliver extends his hand downwards to pull her up. Cut to the top balcony of the library, where Engel stands coldly with a detonator in his hands.)
ENGEL: Oh, I don’t think so…
(Engel activates the detonator, and the bombs explode, sending a shockwave up that hits Edward and Zip, shaking their grip.)
EDWARD: Unfh!
OLIVER: Son of a bitch!
(Edward face plants the wall. Oliver is rocked, but Alice holds onto him. The rope begins to ever so slightly tear above Zip.)
OLIVER: The fucking madlad actually did it! Are you guys alright?
ZIP: (Looking down) Edward?
EDWARD: (Wincing) I’m fine, I’m fine, keep going!
OLIVER: (Noticing the rope ripping) Hurry up, the rope’s not gonna last long!
(Zip and Edward regain their grip and resume their climb up.)
OLIVER: (To Alice) Hold me!
(Oliver descends the rope right above the cut, and extends his arm out to Zip once more.)
OLIVER: Grab my hand!
(Zip reaches for Oliver’s hand, but another explosion rocks them, depreciating the rope even faster.)
ALICE: Ollie!
(Zip and Edward are still clinging onto the rope.)
OLIVER: Guys!
ZIP: Edward? Eddie! Come on, we’re almost there!
(However, Edward’s expression turns dark, then becomes bittersweet.)
EDWARD: (Sullenly) Only one of us is getting out of here.
ZIP: (Looking down) W-what?
(The outside world falls out of view as Zip and Edward lock eyes.)
EDWARD: If I cut myself off… (he closes his eyes and gulps.) then… then you can get out of here.
ZIP: E-eddie… (She is at a loss for words.) No! You can’t be serious!
EDWARD: That rope won’t last long enough for the both of us to escape! This is the only way!
ZIP: (Hysterical) No! No! I- y- you can’t! I won’t let you Eddie!
(Zip tries to grab Edward’s arm, but she falls short.)
EDWARD: You once said to me that I was the only thing holding you back from happiness. From living a life. From being yourself… well… you’re finally getting the chance to.
ZIP: (Tearing up) No, I-I didn’t mean that! Eddie! I’m sorry, please! I’m not getting out of here without you! Please! I-I need you! (Quietly) I can’t… I can’t live without you, Edward. Without you, I’m sad, I’m scared, and I’m lost.
(Edward puts on a weak smile.)
EDWARD: Hey, it’s okay. I’ve also been scared. I’ve been scared at the thought of me without you. But… but it’s okay. You don’t need me. You’re strong and smart… and I couldn’t see that. I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry for always holding you back.
ZIP: Eddie-
EDWARD: Please, Zip. Let me do this one thing. This one time, let me do something right. Please.
(Zip looks on Edward with teary eyes, her eyes sparkling like pearls in the enchanted night. The outside world comes back into view.)
OLIVER: Zip? Eddie! What are you guys doing? We need to get out of here! (To Zip) Grab my hand, Zip!
(Zip snaps back to reality.)
ZIP: No! Not without Edward!
(The explosion rings louder. Edward procures a knife.)
EDWARD: (Smiling, weakly) I’ll see you on the other side…
OLIVER: Edward!
ZIP: No!
(Zip, crying now, once again tries to grab Edward’s hand, but she falls further down the rope, unsuccessful. The rope is torn to its last threads. And then, Edward cuts the rope, and he plummets down the pit.
**ZIP: Eddie! Noooooo!!!!!!**
(Edward freefalls into the explosions, a calm expression on his face.)
EDWARD: (Quietly) From here until the end, we’ll always find each other…
(Edward disappears into the explosions.)
**ZIP: Edward!**
(The rope tears completely, and for a moment, Zip falls as well… but not for long.)
OLIVER: Zip!
(Oliver grabs Zip’s hand just in the nick of time.)
OLIVER: (To Alice) Pull us up!
(Alice hauls the rope back up, throwing Oliver and Zip onto the library floor. The explosions don’t penetrate the surface. Everyone is bruised, battered, and exhausted.)
ALICE: (To Oliver) A-are you okay?
(Oliver coughs out some blood, but otherwise, he is fine.)
OLIVER: (Smiling) Still kicking. (He turns to where Zip is...) What about you, Zip-
(…to find Zip looking over the edge, desperately looking for Edward.)
ZIP: (Quietly crying) E-Eddie…
(Oliver and Alice go to console the devastated Zip. Looking over them is Engel, who does not seem to enjoy what he has done either.)
ENGEL: Death… never solved anything.