Beginnings (Final)

Zack blinked.

He rubbed his eyes...

Then blinked again.

"No fucking way. This can't be real." He whispered, there has to be some kind of mistake. Maybe his memory was bad, maybe he really had trouble rememberin' stuff correctly. As an illiterate individual, he had to be wrong.

Or he was hallucinating.

There, right on the elevator door; were a letter and a number written in blood.

A very familiar letter & number.

B6

Is this the skizz-o-phronya Ray talks about? Zack thought with a chill, Am I finally going crazy? No wait... I'm already crazy.

Maybe his mental state did take a turn for the worst, and now he was hallucinating for real. Maybe he hadn't killed in a while, maybe...

Of all things...

"The fuuuuck?" The killer gritted his teeth and licked his thumb, trying to erase the blood on the elevator door. It barely did anything; in fact it only helped the color turn somewhat darker, richer. Zack suspected that it was really just his mind playing tricks on him. He needed to lay down.

"But the smell's way stronger on the other side." He remarked as he sniffed something near the door. Whatever could be in there reeked of chemicals and whatnot. It was so suspicious that his sixth sense practically tingled him all over, telling him that something was wrong-

But who was he to give a fuck anyway?

"Meh, stupid." He muttered and swung his scythe. "I got poisoned so that shit probably took a toll on me. Whatever."

He walked towards the exit, trying to dismiss his conscience (or what remained of it anyway). He didn't feel like seeing Rachel anytime soon, especially after... what she had tried to do with his pants. And masculinity. Staying with that living doll was too much for him sometimes, he needed some fresh air and gore to feel like himself again.

More importantly, he needed to destroy something...

No wait, he really really reaaaalllyyy wanted to smash something into a million little pieces.

... He halted.

Then slowly turned to stare at the row of abandoned cars.

His lips curved into a very sly grin.

XxX

"So what is it that you want in exchange for information?" Rachel asked Howard patiently, lowering her gun for a short period of time. Being civil was a requirement, but an optional one. If her hostage started getting too comfortable, things wouldn't end up looking good for him.

So she took her sweet time in interrogating him. He didn't need to know that ultimately, she'd have to kill him in the end-

That part was a little secret.

Howard sighed and leaned on the wall, his hands bound by a rope. "If I tell you more about our organization, I'll die. So what I'm asking for is your protection."

Rachel raised an eyebrow.

"My protection?" She repeated, deadpanned.

He nodded, "If you and Isaac Foster protect me, I promise to tell you everything."

Rachel crossed her arms, "you do realize that it would be pointless protecting you after you give us the information, right?"

Howard snorted, "I'm not dumb, I know that you'll kill me after you get what you want. But believe me, I could be far more useful than you think..."

"Go on?"

"You see, I have access to things that could benefit you both. If you rely on me, and more importantly- trust me, I'll help you and Isaac flee without any trouble."

This sounded too good to be true, especially with their current circumstances.

Howard was definitely trying to fool her.

But she will fool him back.

"... Alright, so you say that you'll be of use to us... if we protect you from this organization... right?"

He nodded, "that's correct."

"Very well. I'm listening." Rachel said as she calmly sat down on a chair, ready to take in and analyze whatever he's willing to say.

Howard looked up at the ceiling in mild thought, "Well now, where should I begin? Ah, right. You wish to know the reason why we're tracking you both."

"Yes. But before that, is what you said true? About Zack following your boss..."

"That part is correct. I was not lying!"

Figures, she felt like he hadn't lied on that part (hence her little outburst with Zack a few moments ago) but something didn't really add up. A lack of info.

"Alright then, I believe you. Go on and tell me more." She sat down on a vacant chair and waited for him to start.

He took a deep breath and began.

"First of all, I'd like to say that our organization never really wanted to harm both of you. Our goal was to catch Isaac Foster, but it kind of went off track after we realized how hard it could be..."

Naturally.

"We wanted him for reasons. The boss has a tendency to recruit serial killers and murderers- for goals unknown. The pay is good, but we are kept in the dark from the boss's affairs. We never questioned it though.

"What we do know is that our Boss is a cultist who was previously affiliated with Abraham Gray."

Rachel's heart nearly stopped at that revelation. After spending so much time living peacefully with Zack; the mention of such a name had her go rigid from shock.

Howard continued, "Both you and Isaac have been under constant surveillance from our Boss's part. He has... uh, 'studied' both of your behaviors ever since Zack's escape from prison. About two different teams take turns each week to monetize the serial killer's routines. My team was in charge of that... but I guess... not anymore." He muttered and stared at her, still somewhat afraid of what she could do. Rachel pursed her lips and tapped her foot impatiently on the floor, Howard understood and kept on. "Recently, after our boss met with Isaac, he ordered us to track him again and bring him to our facility."

Rachel frowned, "your facility?"

"Yes."

She didn't like that word. It triggered memories.

"I honestly don't know the true reason behind all of this. All I am aware of is that the boss considers both of you to be his trump cards. He refers to you as angels..."

She snorted, "ridiculous."

"The plan from the get-go was to get Isaac to join, and only him. And yet whenever he talks about him, he mentions you as well. It's as if he considers you to be a part of him."

Rachel felt slightly surprised at Howard's little comment, but didn't show it on her expression.

"But at the same time... he didn't tell us much about you. So what happened earlier was a... shock."

She decided to change subjects and make him spill out some more info.

"Where is this... facility?" She asked, curious. Howard looked at the floor pointedly.

"Underground."

"Underground... you say."

"Yeah. It's the best way to remain hidden, especially since we keep fugitives under our watch."

It still seemed far too weird to be true, but he didn't appear to be lying so she trusted him.

An underground facility was convenient in more ways than one.

"How can you access it?"

"Well... in plenty of ways. There are secret entrances everywhere in the city. It's hard to find them, plus you need a pass."

"Is there one nearby?" She asked calmly.

"Yeah. Right here actually."

"What?"

Howard shifted uncomfortably, "there's a parking lot here and-"

*CRASH*

Rachel blinked at the loud noise coming from below.

"What the-"

*CRASH* *CRASH* *CRASH*

Panic rushed through her as multiple more crashing and breaking sounds emitted from downstairs. Her first thought was that somebody had come and found them; be it the police or Howard's shitty organization. She was about to strategically think of a way to get rid of whoever came for their heads- until a familiar series of hysterical laughter stopped her.

"HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA! AW MAN! FEELS GOOOOD!~"

Howard froze on the spot, "is that..?"

"... Yes." Rachel rolled her eyes slightly. "It's Zack."

"Y-you better tell him to stop making so much noise or else the police will-"

"Stop nagging, I got this." The blonde spoke and pulled Howard up, "Come with me, I'm not leaving you alone."

Howard felt a chill, "I'd rather you tie me up somewhere."

"I'd rather you come with me and spill some info for Zack." She said as she pulled him towards the stairs.

"I'd rather not talk to him after what he did to my face."

"You don't have a say in this." She finally snapped and took him. God knows what that man had in plan.

XxX

Upon following the ruckus; Rachel and Howard found themselves in the parking lot where a series of cars had been smashed by the killer. The blonde noticed the blood on the walls and had a good whiff of the pungent smell.

She recognized the smell of death immediately. Of decay.

She didn't want to stay there far too long.

"Zack." Rachel called out, her voice barely audible with his laughter in the background. "Zack!"

"He can't hear you. Let's go ba-"

"ZACK!"

The serial killer stopped and turned around at the sound of Rachel's voice. Her loud shout was so surprising that he had snapped back to reality.

"Ray, the hell-" he began talking, but got interrupted.

"What's wrong with you? What's with all that noise?" She snapped, looking slightly angry again. Jesus she was beginning to feel like a different person after each passing day.

"I'm just relieving myself from all the stress! Can't you see?" He snapped back.

The blonde bit her lip.

"Are you okay in the head? Did you think twice before making this much ruckus? What if someone heard you? What if the police is nearby? What if-"

"Leave me alone, you fucking bitch! One moment you emasculate me, and in the next you make me feel like a dumb cunt! The hell is your problem?! Let me be!"

Zack had been mildly surprised at his use of the word 'emasculate'. He never believed himself capable to remember a complicated word from Rachel, but here we are. Seems like there's a beginning to everything, after all.

But that didn't change the fact that he was pissed!

"What's this now? You're mad at me?" She asked him as she crossed her arms. Okay, this was getting weird.

When did Rachel start looking like a nagging wife?

"Uh, scuse me? Who's the lil' girl who came here tryna' pick a fight?"

Howard slowly took a few steps back, afraid of the killer. Then, something caught his eye...

"I'm not trying to pick a fight! And I'm not a little girl... anymore."

Howard blinked, was that an entrance to the underground?

"Awww what's this? Lil' Ray is pouting? How cute." Zack mockingly got closer to pinch her cheeks. It was irritating how he easily figured out her weaknesses.

"... do you have a death wish?"

"Whazzat about death wishes, Ray? Last time I checked, that was more your thing."

"You're annoying." She sneered for the first time ever, and Zack laughed at how baby-ish she looked. This prompted him to pinch her cheeks again, until something caught his eye.

Sneaky Howard trying to do something weird with the hallucination-elevator-thingy.

"Oh fuck-" The killer cursed as he ran towards their ex-captive. Rachel gasped and followed suit, not believing her carelessness.

"W-wait I'm just trying to open it!" Howard shook his arms defensively. Zack didn't let him have it though and threw his scythe, aiming for the poor man's head. He miraculously dodged it in time.

"Zack, hold on!" Rachel stopped him by grabbing his shirt. "We've been talking so far and-"

"And what? You wanna trust this guy? For fuck's sake, Rachel! This is gonna be one hell of a mistake, believe me! He just sneaked past us and you expect me to let him ALIVE?!"

Ding!

Just as he finished his sentence did the elevator door open for them; the light illuminating all of their faces.

Howard, who had ducked down to avoid getting decapitated; stared at the entrance like it were the gate towards heaven.

"Oh thank god." He whispered and stood up, staring at the killer and his companion with a promising look. "S-see? I didn't lie! I can be useful to you both."

Zack looked skeptical.

"The hell? So I wasn't hallucinating?" He thought while scratching his head. Was the 'B6' written in blood real too? Or did he imagine that?

"Howard, is this..."

"Yes, this elevator will take us to our underground facility." He confirmed her thoughts. "And... it'll take us directly towards our leader."

The killer looked at both Rachel and Howard with confusion and shock.

"What's he talking about?"

The blonde blinked a few times. She had to think things through, and carefully. What were the best options? Remain there and confront the police... or straight up charge towards a new enemy/possible ally?

She knew that they wanted Zack alive. But what about her?

Would they kill her?

"... Hm."

Howard fidgeted on the spot.

And Zack was beginning to lose patience.

"Ray!"

We'll have to risk this.

She confidently grabbed Zack's hand.

"Trust me on this, okay?" She said and pulled him towards the elevator.

Zack's mismatched eyes widened.

Lots of things were beginning to change, and Rachel was part of em'.

To be continued...