Define Sociopath

Part 30: Evergreen

Chapter 30

      His deep brown orbs held onto hers as silence consumed them. Her heart sunk and his ached.

    "Issac...Issac, is it really you?" Her voice broke into a whisper.

     She rubbed her eyes to make sure, but he didn't vanish, didn't disappear into nothingness. Delilah inched closer observing every inch of his face making sure all the freckles, creases, and scars she once traced in her mind were still mapped out the way she remembered. Nothing was different, it was Isaac before her. He struggled to keep eye contact, eyes running over every inch of her body making sure she was okay but she wasn't, that was a tough pill for him to swallow. Droplets of crimson fell from her fingertips and bruises covered her face. His hand reached for her but the sound of a wrench hitting the table interrupted him.

      "Sorry for the wait, here it is," Jimmy said while trying to regain his breath.

   "I really hope nothing else breaks in my room."

      "Hey bud, if anything else does your stay will be on the house." Jim deadpanned.

Isaac reached for it and Delilah's hand. "Thanks, I'll be going now. Have a good night." An uneasy laugh parted from his lips.

"Miss, were you looking to rent a room?"

"No, she's with me." He stated, saying nothing more, and rushed down a hallway with Delilah barely keeping up behind him.

He reached a room with the number seven and pulled her inside all while observing his surroundings, making sure of what he always does, the curious eyes of strangers and the glaring ones of the enemy, but there was no one just the sound of Delilah's pained breaths. He locked the door and pulled a chair under the knob making sure if there were forced entry he would have enough time to come up with a plan or flea. Delilah was still staring at him with many emotions overwhelming her yet he continued to pace and plan his next steps. His hands rattled as they laced with his hair and the steps became faster.

"Isaac." She pleaded, pushing herself off the wall.

There was no answer.

"Hey, hey it's me, Delilah. " Her voice broke as she wrapped him in her arms yet there was a limp body underneath hers.

Her hands reached up and cupped his cheeks forcing his eyes into hers. "It's me."

       His eyes closed and jaw clenched, forcing her hands off of him as he pulled her to the bathroom where he propped her over the sink. He fidgeted the first aid kit open pulling out alcohol, gauze, needle, and thread. His breaths became shaky as he reached to pull off her raincoat she pushed away.

     "Isaac, say something, anything."

    That's when his gaze met hers, causing his borders to shatter as tears slipped from his eyes.

"It's really you...you're here alive. Yet look at what I let happen to you." His fingers grazed her arm, the one she had wrapped with a shirt, the one that was now covered in crimson and seeping through the fabric. His skin was now stained regaining trembles to shake his body. The same reaction he had at the scene of his mother's lifeless body in a pool of her blood.

Delilah lifted his chin, forcing his attention away from it. "I'm here, I'm okay, I made it to you Isaac."

Still no reaction just tears and a dissociative stare.

She shook him with eagerness.

"This is real, I am real."

"ISAAC!"

"NO, NO, NO!" He shouted, nostrils flared as humanity left his eyes.

  Delilah witnessed him do what he once did, a long time ago. He seemed as if he were in a daze. Isaac traced the blood on her sleeve, he was reciting almost what seemed to be a ritual, coating his fingers in ruby red and running them in circles. His face was a blank canvas, color drained from his features. Her throat went dry, she was thinking of anything that could snap him out of whatever trance he was in. Delilah's hands reached his stained palm, placing it over her chest right over where her heart was.

   She spoke softly. "Isaac, feel my heart beating. Feel my humanity, the trace of life underneath your hand."

     She held his hand tighter avoiding it from prying away from her grasp. At that action, it forced his gaze to meet hers. He swallowed as his body quivered under her touch.

    "Feel every beat, count every beat. I'm still alive, that's what matters nothing else." Her calm voice soothed his tense muscles and softened his eyes bringing him back from the demons he was internally facing.

    Broad arms engulfed Delilah in an embrace. "You are alive, that's what matters." He recited into her hair as his body slowly but fully relaxed.

      Isaac inhaled deeply. "You are okay."

    ***

    After Isaac composed himself he disinfected Delilah's arm and stitched and bandaged the areas needing the most attention. They now lay on the mattress, no words spoken just the comfort of their silence as Delilah traced Isaac's facial features with her fingertips. She wanted to savor the moment, freeze it in time. Too much had gone wrong, too much running, too much conflict. The only time she felt somewhat safe and the closest thing to normal after months and months of suffering and running was him and she was going to enjoy the time she had with San Francisco's most dangerous man. She was ignoring all the flashing red warning signs in her mind. She wanted to...no she needed to feel and hold him. At this point too much had gone wrong for her to reason with ethics.

     They just listened to what their eyes had to say not their words and that was enough, that's all they needed and wanted. His hand caressed hers ever so softly causing electricity to shoot up her arm. She swallowed hard, throat drying completely. Delilah Lancaster was madly and utterly in love with a killer and there was no denying it anymore.

                                     ***

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hello everyone, I hope all you water lillys are doing okay. I know it's been a long time. But like I said before I'm committed to finishing this, whether its tomorrow, next month, even in 2 years. Life has been tough. Life has taken a rough turn for me health wise. Im currently fighting cancer and it's really opened my mind and influenced me to be more self aware of my life and the people in it who love me. Tell me how you guys are in the comments, I really want to know. Also just know that you are not alone in whatever battle you may be facing. Till next time📎

Love,Aster