Beginnings (Part III)
Zack blinked once, twice, before letting out a frustrated sigh.
"Ray, what's going on?"
Rachel stood up to refill the bucket with clean water, "We're on the run, that's what's going on."
The killer glared pointedly at the beaten up guy sitting on a corner, "I get that, but why rely on him?"
"I needed someone to carry you, and to drive us back home. He was the only one I could use."
"Yeah but how did you do it?"
"I threatened him, pretty much."
"With what?"
"My gun."
"You have a gun?!"
"Of course, Zack."
"Since when?"
"I don't remember."
"Damn it, Ray! What are you so mad about?!" The killer finally snapped. After spending so much time together, he could tell when Rachel got mad about something. One time, (he remembered clearly- and he swore to never make the same mistake again) it was a stormy night and Zack had been too bored, too tired to actually do anything but sleep around. Stressed out and completely pissed off (most likely due to his lack of murder) he decided to get rid of his frustration by breaking things... of course, things that weren't of value to Rachel.
He learned to respect her, at some point. Anyway, she had been reading a book and the serial killer took the liberty to grab a random piece of dusty furniture. Obviously, what followed later was hysterical laughter and noisy ruckus.
The blonde hadn't been happy, in fact, she had been (deep down, of course) furious, despite her usual poker face.
Zack had suffered through two weeks of one-sided responses, moodiness, complete sarcasm and disgusting, vegetable-only meals. Not to mention, lack of his precious doctor potato chips in the cupboard.
"Please avoid destroying our house from now on." She had said, clearly, so he could understand.
He knew better than to anger her, he would miss her smiles.
So he had to know what got her pissed this time around, no matter what.
"Answer me, Ray." He insisted, impatiently.
The blonde finished filling the bucket and sat next to Zack; her gaze focused elsewhere. For some reason their plain, stained wall seemed a thousand times more interesting than a deadly serial killer covered in bandages.
"Did you regain your memories, Zack?" She asked, softly.
Now this caught him slightly off-guard, but he wouldn't lie, he had no reason to.
"Not all of them but... I remember parts."
She nodded absent-mindedly, trying to form the right words without sounding too direct.
"Okay, can you tell me what you remember?"
Thinking about it; all Zack really remembered was witnessing a drunk couple fuck in a back alley and some random middle-aged guy who knew kung-fu.
Still, he decided to tell her about his dream anyway, save for a few parts like... let's say... his rather embarassing confession regarding her future death.
He would definitely keep that bit to himself.
It took no time at all for Zack to finish on with his memory, and Rachel listened to all of it. She nodded in understanding, but kept her expressionless mask through everything. The serial killer could tell that she was still angry, and he was itching to know why... so he could finally make it up to her, apologize, or do whatever. But then again, patience is a virtue; and he was everything but virtuous.
After an agonizing minute of silence; Rachel finally spoke; "I see... So I assume that this isn't the complete scenario, yes?"
Zack looked up with a groan and a sigh; "God, I don't know, okay? It was all just a dream anyhows, it couldn't be accurate."
"I don't think so, I think that the first half of your dream is 100% accurate."
"... and what makes you say that?" He asked, looking twice as tired.
Rachel marely stared at their captive, and Zack understood.
"He pretty much confirmed your story... and more." The blonde muttered. "He is connected to the man from your dream, I believe they're both part of an organization."
Zack scratched his head and wondered how everything turned out this way. He couldn't remember what happened after that memory, no matter how much he tried. His head already started throbbing again, and he didn't want to resurect that god-forsaken headache. So far, the only thing he could hope to get is a brief summary of that damned night.
"Did he tell you anything else?" The killer questionned.
"Just that they were ordered to bring you back alive, somehow." Rachel answered, a frown apparent in her features; "though I ought to admit... I'm rather disappointed on your behalf."
'There it is...' zack thought, 'The thing that pissed her off.'
"Apparently, Zack, you had followed him."
Completely taken off-guard by that, Zack leaned in while furrowing his brows.
"Sorry but... what?"
Rachel leaned closer to face him as she whispered, "You followed the man, Zack, and you agreed to join his organization. That chip we found inside of you? It had been willingly inserted into your body. There never was a struggle; this whole mess is the result of your drunken self and his idiotic mistakes."
The serial killer shook his head abruptly, "no fucking way! I fought the guy, I had him pinned to the wall, he was cornered and-"
"And what? You don't remember the rest, so why do you keep insisting on something that is more likely to be complete and utter bullshit?"
Zack was mildly shocked at hearing Rachel curse, it was a first and it sounded pretty weird... not that he would hate it in another occasion (Rachel cursing was both amusing and appealing to him) but while it was truly fun and random; it also had him twice as angry.
He snorted and narrowed his eyes dangerously, "I just told ya, Ray, there's no way in hell I'd follow the man. Why do you have to be so damn suspicious about everything?!"
"I'm being suspicious because you got yourself into this shady situation; I just want to help you... protect you..."
"I don't need your damn protection! Why would I want a kid like you to protect me?!"
"Because you're too naive!" Rachel snapped, "you only do what you please without considering the consequences! If I were to let you think for yourself even once, you'll end up being taken advantage of!" She raised her hands in the air, "and here's the proof; a madman is now after you, after us."
"There's no 'proof' so quit your whining!" Zack shouted in frustration, "why would you even believe this little shit?! I thought we trusted eachother!" He pointed accusingly at the cowering man who had been staring at them for the longest time.
Rachel huffed and puffed in ways that made her look slightly less mature, "I'm not 'trusting' him, don't be ridiculous. I'm just assuming he's right because it would make more sense."
"Isn't that the same god-damn thing?!"
"No."
"Oh for fuck's sake..." He groaned and covered his face with both hands. "Give me a break! I didn't even remember everything!"
"There's no time for a break because the police is looking for us as we speak!" She reminded him.
"The cops are still at it too?!"
Rachel rolled her eyes, "Of course they are, they won't give up on capturing us over-night. We're on TV, newspapers, internet, secret files, and in wanted posters. You expect us to simply waltz around unnoticed?"
'When did she summon all that sass?' Zack briefly wondered before snorting, his thoughts switching direction completely.
Rachel looked at the serial killer with a raised brow the moment he stood up, "Where are you going? I'm not done cleaning your wounds."
"I'm tired of your bitching so I'm gonna' look for the love of my life." He explained with a holier-than-thou atittude. Rachel understood that the 'love of his life' was his scythe almost immediately.
"You'll look for it later! I need to make sure there's no more poison inside of-"
"I'm fine, completely fine, no poison or whatever. Here, look at me." He said as he stretched himself; showing her his flexibility. When he was done, he gave her the middle finger and walked away.
Rachel sighed and went after him.
"Zack, come back." She tried to sound like her usual, calm self, but it turned out to be a hard feat. "Zack, come on I need to finish what I started."
He turned around to mimick her with a deadpanned, girly voice; "no."
Rachel's cheeks got red with anger, "you're making fun of me now, really?" Her face twisted into a rather odd expression that made the killer hold-back his laughter. "This is serious, very serious, and yet you're... you're..."
"Aww, what's wrong Ray? Did I hurt your little-girl feelings?" Zack said mockingly as he kneeled down, making her feel so much younger.
The blonde bit her lip, "I'm fourteen and a half, I'm not a little girl anymore."
He ruffled her hair with a grin, "sure, Ray, whatever you say."
Zack then resumed the search for his 'juliet' while seemingly enjoying Rachel's new updated anger. For the first time; he witnessed an open display of emotion on Rachel, and it was refreshing as hell. He gave himself a mental note to provoke her more often, have her turn into that lovely shade of red at least twice a week... even if that sounded selfish... and a paradox to his previous personal oath about angering her again.
But he would regret that. Actually, he regretted it already.
Because Rachel tackled him to the floor.
"Aghhh!" The killer yelled in pain, his face pressed firmly on the floor. "Bitch what the HELL?!"
Rachel had quickly taken advantage of his weakened state to tie both of his hands together with a belt.
"Stay still!" She hissed and sat on his back, trying to immobilize him. Zack wriggled like a worm while cursing at the pain all over his body.
"You think your puny arms can restrain me?!" He declared and twisted his body around so he could lay on his back. Rachel gasped and fell to the side; giving Zack an opportunity to crawl out of her reach. But the blonde was quicker to act as she grabbed another random belt and tied his legs with it.
"I'm trying to help you so stop moving!" She was practically straddling him, but both were too busy doing whatever to notice the awkwardness and absurdity of it all.
Zack glared at the petite girl with an intensity that would've made X-men's Cyclops jealous.
"I thought you were smarter than that, Ray." Zack remarked with a twist of the toungue, "to think you actually believe that these could detain me... tsk."
Rachel stared at him wide-eyed as he quite easily teared the belt that tied his arms together into two. The material got thrown across the room almost immediately after; looking worthless and less fashionable.
Zack then proceeded to do the same for the belt that tied his legs together. It looked way too easy, but the blonde reminded herself that he wasn't normal either way.
When he finally got free; Zack grabbed Rachel by the hips and threw her over his head. She skillfully landed on all-fours like a cat, before readying herself to tackle him once more.
"This shit won't work again!" He declared with a prideful 'ah-hah!' As he dodged her attack swiftly. The teen took his small moment of triumph as an opportunity to try again; and whoop-dee-doo, she succeeded.
Both fell on the floor again and went back to square one.
Meanwhile, their captive figured he'd try to escape unnoticed...
Zack groaned loudly; his face slowly but surely becoming more intimate with their dusty wooden floor.
"Fuck you, Rachel." He cursed lamely with a muffled voice.
"Charming." She answered and started removing more of his bandages.
"I hate you, sick bitch."
"Mm, lovely."
"I wish you were dead."
"I wish for that too."
Zack cursed for the last time and decided to finally give up. His body felt so heavy, he had to admit that Rachel's caring would be much apreciated this time around.
However, his opinion quickly changed when he felt a pair of hands try to remove his red trousers-
"... Oi... What are you trying to do?" He asked slowly, not wanting to jump to conclusions just yet.
"I'm taking your pants off."
"I can see that, smartass, but why."
"You have a bruise on your thigh and I can't roll your pants that far. So, I'm taking them off." Her answer was so blunt and simple that it irritated him.
The killer grabbed her hand quickly, "I'll be damned if I ever let you undress me, Ray!" He growled, feeling both embarassed and frustrated at her easygoing ways. Why did she have to make everything so awkward all the time? Didn't she know that he had his male pride?
"Let me remind you something; you're still weak from the drug's- or poison's effects. If this weren't the case, you could have easily thrown me across the room and ran off."
It was true, he still felt so weak. But even so, he doubted that it counted as a valid reason to strip him like that.
"And what are you planning to do?! Suck on the wound to get rid of the poison or whatever?" He spat with sarcasm.
"That's the plan actually."
Zack's face twisted in shock.
"Are you mental?! Fuck no, get off me!"
"You're wearing boxers, right?"
"Well yeah but-"
"Then what is the problem? I won't see anything so just let me do it!"
Zack panicked when her arm accidentally brushed his crotch, he did not want to be humiliated or scarred for life anymore. There were so many shades of NOPE in this situation; one could tell Rachel's reasoning had some work to do.
So he yelled something resembling a battlecry, pushed the blonde aside, and straight up bolted.
Rachel gasped and attempted to stop him by throwing a shoe at the back of his head, it obviously didn't work.
"Wait! Stop!" She cried out and ran after the serial killer, who was heading for the door. "Zack!"
He didn't answer, nor did he look back. Zack had been dead on serious in escaping Rachel's clutches. That girl had some loose screws, she needed therapy for heaven's sake!
'Ho! There you are!' Zack thought with a grin when he finally found his scythe near the entrance. He took no time at all to grab it and flee, leaving a breathless Rachel to her thoughts.
She shouted after him; her voice echoring in the empty stairway. There was no answer... He had already left the building.
"Ugh..." the blonde groaned and sat on the floor, "dummy... you'll make it worse... so much worse."
She then caught sight of their captive in front of her; suspiciously on all fours and near the door.
"And what are you doing? Trying to escape, I presume?"
"I... no-"
"Get back in!" She threatened him by throwing a knife on the wall, not so far from his left eye. He nodded quickly and ran back into the apartment.
Rachel sighed, she had something else to worry about. But then again, this was Isaac Foster; her companion, the famous serial killer who had sworn to kill her.
"He'll be back... I'm sure of it." She muttered to herself quietly.
XxX
Meanwhile... In the nearby forest. Bigg's team came across several dead bodies, with a few holding strands of golden hair...