Chapter 4

Zak finished the journal entry and snapped the tattered pages shut…it was…painful, horrifying to read this, even if it wasn't true…but something gave him an eerie feeling that there was no reason to write such ludicrous tales.

"Hey!" Rachel exclaimed, "I wasn't finished with that part yet!" she reached over for the journal, fingers outstretched. Zak handed it to her but didn't let go.

"But first, you have to swear that you won't tell anybody else about this ok?" Zak's voice grew stern, a tone he rarely, if ever, used. Rachel nodded her consent and put her finger to her lips, the universal sign for silence. She took the little book and returned to her place, propping her back against the tree.

As she began her foray, Zak lay down upon the ground, wondering about what he had read. 'Well, it could be important, we should bring it to the elders' he reasoned

'yes but what's the point, they already know of the great happening, yet they refuse to mention it anymore than that…this may be our only chance we can figure out what the hell happened!'

His more cautious side was beginning to take a more defensive position in the argument 'well, maybe there's a reason they don't tell us, you see how nervous and unsettled they get when we mention it.'

'Then all the more reason too!' the other voice had the upper hand, a complete death-grip on the other 'think of what we can learn, of the exclusive insight to an event we ourselves no naught about, not too mention a preservation of our history!'

As the argument concluded he found himself gazing at Rachel as she read to the page he had bookmarked. He had held these…feelings for her, he had no idea when it began but it simply just was. Sure, there where other children in the village, but she was the only one who played with him. He had been socially awkward since he could remember, even before they moved from that nice beach place eight years ago…and he could barely remember that. She began twisting her hair between her fingers, something she did when she was thinking…her hair…it was not so much blonde, as it was grey, not a nasty light old person grey, but smooth as silk, darker, sleek, even now she could be considered beautiful.

'Wow…she even grown decent sized breasts…!' Zak blushed at this thought, 'W-what the hell am I thinking…Rachel is just a friend, a friend!' … 'Right?'

Before Zak could continue his thoughts any farther Rachel looked up, a very confused look on her face.

"Who would ever write such disturbing things?" she asked Zak, "I really hope this didn't actually happen…"

"I know what you mean Rachel, this guy was messed up, but its interesting…isn't it?" Zak reached out for the journal, looking Rachel in the eye.

"I don't really know at this point, I mean, it seems like he just wants to kill everyone and…eat them, there's no mentioning of the great happening at all…" As Rachel hands the journal to Zak their fingers touch, at this Zak begins to blush furiously, a bright red spreading across his cheeks. "H-hey, what are you blushing for…its not because we just touched hands did we?" Rachel tilts her head, looking into Zaks dark brown eyes, Zak begins to blush deeper, and looks away. "It is isn't it!" Zak looks down, giving something that appears to be a nod "I knew it!"

"You did?" Zak looks up and stares directly into her eyes, a forlorn look upon his face.

"W-well yea, kinda, us women have to have these kinds of intuitions about men, so you don't take advantage of us!" As she said this she leapt on top of Zak, pinning him to the ground. The old journal lay forgotten as the two looked into the others eyes, merely inches apart. She closed her eyes and sighed "Just…take things slow with me ok?" she kissed his cheek "because…I like you too, Zak." Upon saying this she got back up just as quickly as she pinned him, and ran off to her home, leaving a dazed Zak with himself.

'What the hell…does she mean by take it slow? Zak sat up, and began to dust himself off…the feeling of the kiss still lingered on his cheek…he reached up and felt it.

"HEY, stop screwing around with your little girlfriend and get in here and fix the coals damnit"

"Yes dad!" he glanced about, it was already dusk, how could have so much time have passed? He tucked the journal into his pants before heading in, no way would his dad get a hold of this. "Where's mom?"

"She's out getting things for tonight's dinner, so start working on that fire already, ill be damned if my dinners late because someone cant get it going." As usual, his father barked at him for being essentially useless.

The rest of the night passed by fairly quickly, just a peaceful, quiet night, even dad didn't get boisterous and loud as he usually did, which shocked both him and his mother. As it all wound down, and he said his final goodnights to his parents, Zak carefully brought out the journal, flipped to his page, and resumed his adventure by the soft glow of the fire.

Author's note: That's right ladies and germs, I'm back! And I'm locked and cocked and ready to rock. Terribly sorry about the delay, however, I will persevere and continue on with this fic! Even if it should destroy me! Just kidding…but maybe I'm not, who the fuck knows. Till next time you rotten bastards.