Five Seconds After Death

We Have Always Been Here

 It still wasn't dark out.

Zach had made the decision to bring Sacha with him to see Sawyer.

He planned on taking his bike, but then remembered Sacha could just bring them there instantly.

It made Zach feel less enthusiastic about seeing him if they were just going to teleport onto his doorstep. So he got Sacha to drop them off just at the bottom of Sawyer's driveway.

There was a hard pit in his stomach as they began their trek up the gravel road.

It made Zach sick to think what these things could really be for; the photos, the gun, the mask. He prayed that whatever it was couldn't be as bad as what he imagined.

At least he had Sacha with him.

"Hey, don't chicken out on me ok?"

She gazed at him unsteadily, her eyes somewhat smaller than usual.

"I'm just saying if anything happens you'll have my back, alright?"

He hoped she understood what he meant.

Sawyer tinkered with one of his sculptures while the gnawing insecurity that Sidney might end up getting him thrown in jail still bubbled in his mind.

Sawyer cursed himself for getting involved with him. That idiot would do anything to save his own skin.

He nearly had the sculpture complete, when a loud knock at the door snapped him from concentration. Sawyer bent a few more wires into place before putting his tools down and heading upstairs.

He remembered Mallory saying she was coming over later today.

She must have decided to show up early.

Zach told Sacha to wait outside while he talked to Sawyer.

He didn't want to freak Sawyer out right off the bat.

The sounds of someone coming to the door caused his anxiety to grow.

Sawyer swung the door halfway open stopping when he saw Zach.

"Zach? Wh-What are you doing here?" Sawyer glanced over his shoulder to get a better look outside.

Zach stepped in his way "Sawyer! I-I need to talk to you."

He gave him a quizzical look before letting him inside.

"Alright. What is it?" Sawyer shut the door.

Zach's heart beat faster as he watched Sawyer lock it.

"F-First of all, I'm sorry" he said.

"Ok. Maybe you can give me a hint as to what you're sorry for?"

"Uh," said Zach, "I feel like I shouldn't have tried to rifle through your stuff like that. I'm sorry."

The pain in his ribs grew tight causing Zach to automatically grab his side. He shifted awkwardly on his feet "fuck, not now."

Sawyer's eyes grew wide "are you alright?"

He hesitated to answer.

"No. I got kicked in the ribs three times last Sunday."

He sighed "Jesus Christ Zach. You know what? I'm sorry. For weirding you out that day."

He wasn't expecting an apology from Sawyer.

Sawyer reached out his hand and Zach steadied himself against it.

"Apology accepted," he mumbled. Sawyer nodded "yeah me too."

Zach quickly let go of his hand "wait! I also wanted to show you something- er, someone."