A/N: I do not own Angels of Death in any of its incarnations, and I'm not writing this for profit in any way. Also, some of the dialog may be a bit off, but... I did my best.

WARNING: This is rated M due to dark themes. If you are easily triggered, then you shouldn't be reading this, and you certainly shouldn't be watching an anime called "Angels of Death" in the first place!

Enjoy!

Hope was like glass.

Oh, it stayed strong enough through storms, through time and uncertainty, but all it took was one strategic blow, and it could shatter into a million pieces.

At least, that's how it had felt when the nurse had said those words, words told in confidence, words offered as a comfort, words that completely destroyed her world.

He was to be executed, the nurse had told her kindly, before walking away. Her Zack was going to be executed. All because of her. All Zack had wanted was to get out of that place, to stop being used like a tool. And then, he'd met her, and since then he'd risked life and limb just for her selfish motives. And what was his reward?

It was supposed to be the other way around. She'd sworn he would be the one to kill her, he'd sworn to God he'd do it, once they were free. But... they never did get free, did they? Cathy had been right. She was a sinner... she didn't get to choose her fate, after all.

And now she faced her punishment. The knowledge that, because she'd tried taking control of her own fate, the one she'd chosen to be her executioner, the only person she genuinely cared about, he was to receive the fate she'd assigned to herself, and she would be forced to continue, knowing she'd consigned her only friend to death.

It was the puppy, all over again.

Hot tears slid down her cheeks as she curled up in her bed, moonlight streaming through the bars of her window to cast her shaking form in a surreal light. What kind of monster was she? Everyone who got too close to her, died. Despite her attempts to hold them together, they always left her, she was always alone. Why couldn't she just accept that? Why did she have to keep trying to reach out?

Why couldn't she just end it herself?

It would have been the more responsible thing to do, after all. She'd caused so much pain and death, surely the best thing would be to remove herself from the equation? But, knowing she had to die for her crimes, and being the one to actually do it, were two very different things. It wasn't so much fear that stayed her hand, as it was... need. She needed it to be someone else.

No. She needed it to be him.

Her chest tightened in pain at the emptiness she felt growing. This was Hell, of that, there was no question. For an eternity, she lie there, sobbing silently, surrounded by the shattered remains of the hope that had kept her somewhat sane up until now. The hope that, one night, he'd come for her, to finish the job he'd sworn to do.

And then...

Something else shattered...

Broken glass covered the floor, as she looked up to see...

"Damn. There's that boring look on your face again." He was there, looming in her window, bandages wrapped around his face and arms, his wild hair and eyes the only parts of him they didn't cover. A large scythe leaned against his shoulder, its blade sharp and ready. His face was split into a cocky grin as he looked her over, his eyes betraying the softness he had reserved for her alone.

"Zack!" she breathed, unsure if he was real, or if she'd finally lost it, finally succumbed to her delusions. Either way, her shattered hope began to knit itself together, and tears streamed down her face. "But... I thought..." she frowned. This had to be a dream, this couldn't be real. "You were in prison..." she muttered. It was too convenient, too fairy tale to actually be true. It was too nice an ending for it to be hers.

"Prisons were made to be broken out of," Zach replied, the sound of his voice, the rough arrogance of him, it lifted her heart in ways only he could, and all other thoughts were dispelled. "Besides, I made a promise, didn't I?" he said, cocking his head.

Her eyes widened, as her heart began to skip a beat. "You mean... you still want to kill me?" she asked. Was it finally time? Would she finally be free?

"I said I would, didn't I?" he asked, his eyes darting to the side for an instant before returning to her. "Hurry," he said, holding his hand out to her. "I don't got a lot of time," he added, seeing the telltale lights of police cars quickly approaching.

No longer caring if this were a dream or reality, she stepped over the broken glass, placing her small hand in his. Pulling her close to him, Zack pulled her out of the window, and carefully made a few small jumps until they were on the ground. Still holding her close, he ran into the woods with her as the police cars surrounded the building behind them. Zack didn't stop until they were so deep in the woods, they no longer heard the sounds of sirens.

She was crying.

Zack grunted. "What's all of that for? You haven't changed your mind, have you?" he asked her, mystified at this display of emotion. On anyone else, sure, but...

It took something special to get doll-girl to react.

Sniffling, she wiped the tears from her eyes. "I... I'd lost hope..." she said, swallowing hard. "They said... you were going to be executed..."

"Hn. Yeah, that guard was sayin' somethin' about that... before I showed his guts to him, anyway..." Zach mused, leaning on his scythe as he looked her over. "Tell me, Ray... those tears 'cause you thought I'd die? Or 'cause you thought I'd die before I got to kill you?" he asked curiously, his shrewd eyes searching for any sign of deceit.

Rachel thought for a long moment before she spoke. "Both," she said honestly, meeting his eyes with her own. "I... I need to know you'll be okay," she said, swallowing hard. "I need to know I succeeded at something. That I did some good, before I died," she added, stepping towards him. "Did... did I do good, Zack?" she asked softly, her deep blue eyes searching his now.

Damn, those eyes were intense. He'd always hated that dead look her eyes had had when they were in that murder hole, but here, now, there was so much intensity, his breath caught. It took him a moment to shift his focus from those eyes, to the question she'd asked, but once he had, a soft smile spread across his bandaged face. "Yeah, kid. You did real good," he said, and relief flooded those big blue eyes, another strong emotion from the emotionless doll girl. So... this is what she was like, with feelings.

"Zack," she said softly, breaking him out of his reverie. She took another step forward. "Please... will you kill me now?" she asked, not for the first time, but this time...

Zack looked around them. They had stopped near a small brook, and the forest was actually quite beautiful here. The moonlight streamed all around them, and seemed to light up her blonde hair and white hospital gown, to the point that the girl almost seemed to glow. There were no rose petals or intricately carved grave stones around, but... nah, this place was ten times better than the one that stupid kid Eddie or whatever had dreamed up for her. Not that he'd ever been one to pay attention to stuff like that with any of his other victims, but... for her...

His eyes met the girl's large, pleading eyes again. She was on the verge of tears again, he could tell... was that all she did nowadays, was cry? He frowned. "Not if you're gonna look at me like that," he said, leaning in so that his face was inches from hers. "You know what I need from you, Ray. Give me a big smile," he said darkly, the beast within him beginning to stir once more.

Relief, excitement, hope, they all bubbled within her. In the end, she couldn't help but smile for him. Her friend was safe, he was going to survive knowing her, and she was going to receive justice, and peace, at last. No more sympathetic glances, no more pills, no more nightmares. It was finally all over. And when those eyes of hers met his, boy, how they shone. It was infectuous, and Zack couldn't help but smile back at her.

That smile had the desired effect, and he let the beast within him come out and play once more. Gripping his scythe in a movement that was more habitual now than purposeful, he stepped behind her and pressed the inside of its blade against her soft neck. Leaning forward, he whispered, "Rest in peace, Rachel Gardner."

Then the leaves of the forest floor were spattered with her blood.

The serial killer stroked his victim's blonde hair as she bled into the ground, her body still and peaceful almost instantly. He thought about burying her, but she'd liked that grave stone from before, she'd probably want another one like it. And since he didn't happen to have a grave stone on him, he figured it was best to leave her burial to professionals. Not that it really mattered, dead was dead, right?

"You will always be my favorite, Ray," he murmured, and sighed, glancing around. The cops would be searching the forest soon enough, he'd better be somewhere else when they found her. Besides... he had his own scores to settle, his own reasons to do what he did so well. He was free, thanks to her. What kind of respect would it show if he got caught now?

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"The BackAlley Killer is still at large after his escape from the state prison last month. Police have no further clues, and no more victims have been found since the death of young Rachel Gardner one month ago. The killer is known to wear bandages covering his face and arms, and was last seen wearing a dark hoodie and carrying a large scythe. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of the Back Alley Killer, aka Isaac Foster, please notify the authorities."