Zack X Ray (AGE UP)

"chapter 14"

"Really?" she smiled at him. "I'm so glad I could be helpful. So I'm thinking the plan is that you take out one or two of the guards, put on their uniform. I'm going to blow up one of the exterior walls. Obviously there will be a prison riot in response. You're going to make your way up to the guards office, grab whatever riot gear they use, and respond to the location of the breach, at which point I'll be waiting off site to pick you up after I shoot down the tower guards."

He stared at her for a long moment.

"That sounds... Complicated."

"What else are you going to do? Fight your way out?"

"Yeah. I kill people. I'm good at it."

"I wanted to help," she sulked. "I just wanted to be useful."

"The two of us don't need to be wanted criminals. I'm on death row. You on the other hand... What is it that you're doing anyway?"

"School." She shrugged. "I'm living well enough. The city police are automatically enrolled in very good life insurance policies. My parents' deaths were ultimately good for me."

"Huh. Good for you. What are you in school for anyway?"

"Mortuary science. Don't change the subject," she grumbled. "You're really not going to let me help?"

"I'm really not going to let you help," he reiterated, trying to sound very final.

"But I already bought a Barrett and everything!"

"A what?"

"An M82. A recoil-operated, semi-automatic anti-materiel sniper system."

"Are you crazy?" he spat. "Wait- don't answer that. Are you trying to get yourself hemmed up for breaking a serial killer out of prison?"

"I'm not an idiot. I didn't buy it from a licensed dealer."

"I married a psycho killer," he feigned shock.

"Yes. Yes you did."

"Just leave me with a map or something so I know how to find you once I blow this joint."

"Fine," she muttered in defeat. "You really don't want my help?"

"I promise, I can do it by myself. This place is a hell of a lot less confusing than that house of horrors we broke out of."

She looked absolutely dejected, just staring off into space.

"Hey," he nudged her.

"Huh?" she breathed lifelessly.

"You helped a lot. Thanks for the knives. You know what's even better though?"

"Hm?"

"Now I'm really fucking motivated to break out of this shit hole. I mean, I have a pretty wife who's waiting for me to come home. She's even more out of her fucking mind than I am, but it works for us."

"Zack," she melted at his words. "That was... really sweet."

"That's good, because I'm about to do a lot of very not sweet things to you."