Centuries(On Hold)

Chapter 4 Pt 2

Pacing back and forth in her apartment, Zed was clenching and unclenching her fist. She could feel her anger bubbling under her skin, kicking an old pizza box out of her way she ran a hand through her hair that probably looked like a bird’s nest from the amount of pulling and tugging it was receiving.

“Why don’t I just go and bash that woman’s head in? Yeah that’s what I’ll do,” smirking Zed rushed towards the door.

Her hands grabbed the door knob but she couldn’t open it, “Tch, stupid.” Banging her head against the door and pounding her fists against it, she pushed off making her way towards the kitchen.

Damn it, why can’t I bring myself to-to… kill the woman? She questioned herself, sure she’s hurt people before but never to the extent of beating someone within an inch of their life and she knew that if she left this apartment and gave into that dark part of her mind she wouldn’t be able to stop herself and that scared her.

The next thing she knew the door was kicked in, hitting the opposite side of the wall almost flying off its hinges. Zed pulled out the pocket knife she always kept in her pocket.

Eyes narrowed she could see the outline of the figure standing in the door way. It was male. She couldn’t make out his face from the light that was streaming into the darkly lit room that only seemed to grow darker and colder. Darkness was rolling off of the person at the door.

His broad shoulders were shaking as though he was laughing. Is he mocking me? She questioned, gritting her teeth when she heard him cackle.

He took a step forward, throwing his head back still cackling – it was menacing almost guttural – sending a shiver down her spine. Slowly making his way into the room as Zed stood completely still already formulating a plan if he dared to come at her.

Dropping the bags he had in his hands, he dashed out of the darkness like a man possessed. His hands balled into fist, closer and closer he got to her. A high pitched scream filled the room.

It was blood curdling; Zed stumbled backwards eyes wide never expecting the sudden outburst. Hands flailing in mid-air, her attacker face planted to the ground with a loud thud. Groaning in pain, he wriggled around like a worm with his hand blocking his face.

“Idiot,” Zed muttered under her breath already knowing who it was and cursing herself for not realizing earlier. Looking down at the teenage boy whose feet were tangled in her jacket that she dropped a few hours before she growled, “the hell is the matter with you?”

Propping his head in his hand, still laying on the ground the chestnut brown-haired boy looked up at Zed with a seductive smile on his face, “it was all part of my plan,” he boasted running his free hand through his wavy brown hair. “I fell on purpose is what I’m trying to say.”

“Yeah right,” Zed retorted putting her knife away glaring down at the boy still smiling up at her, “Slade you stupid, idiotic ape.”

Slade sat up hearing Zed sigh heavily as she had disappeared into the kitchen. He was left alone in the living room, shaking his head he got to his feet making his way over to the grocery bags he had abandoned minutes before.

Opening the refrigerator door Zed stood glaring; upon seeing it was completely empty she slammed it shut feeling her anger rise again. It was one thing over and over again. Food, money…and life! It was all driving her insane and the number one problem at the top of her list was her landlady. That insolent, stupid piece of – she couldn’t think of words harsh or dirty enough to describe the woman.

“Zed, you okay?” hearing her name being called, she slowly turned facing Slade not having the will power to do anything more.

“I bought these,” Slade said handing the grocery bags he had hidden behind his back to Zed.

Glancing down at the bags then up at her friend her shoulders dropped taking the bags from him. She felt defeated. Totally and absolutely useless but of course she’d never let Slade know.

Unpacking the contents of the bags she grabbed a plate from their make shift cupboard.

“Zed, you okay?” Slade asked but Zed didn’t seem to be paying attention to him. He could tell something was bothering her and he had a very good idea who caused it.

“So the store on the corner was burnt to crisp…I heard that their calling the person who did it the Devil Wielder,” Zed still didn’t seem to be listening but he continued trying to make conversation, “that’s because the cashier was mumbling nonsense that it was a Devil from hell that did it.”

“And,” was her only response as she turned her eyes on him they were expressionless almost void of any emotion whatsoever. He hated when she got like this. Hated that she chose to keep her emotions locked away when it would be better for her to just let it out, scream, kick, punch do anything but keep it to herself. He could help. He wanted to help, why couldn’t she see that.

Slade rubbed the back of his neck, “the pig lady came for rent money didn’t she?” It was his name for their land lady, Zed always seemed to smile whenever he called her that but tonight she wasn’t having it. “I’ll go pay her –”

“No,” Zed slammed her fist on the counter top turning her full attention to him. In the darkly lit kitchen the emerald green of her eyes seemed to glow with anger. “Besides where did you get money from to want to pay her?”

Slade completely ignored her question following up with one of his own. “You already paid her didn’t you, where did you get the money? You did a job for Rowan didn’t you?” He was completely serious now. The sides of his lips dipping as his eyes narrowed at his friend – the sole person in the world that he cherished.

“Yeah, so what,” Zed snapped back not meaning to but all of a sudden she felt trapped. Trapped in a bad dream where her landlady would disappear when she woke up.

She could never really say why the woman bothered her so much.

“Why didn’t you ask me to come with you?” Slade sighed running a hand down his face. It was rare that Slade was every truly serious and when he was his eyes darkened – the brown of his irises taking on a coal-like color. His nose crinkled up like he was disgusted as he grounded his teeth. He raised his chin looking down at Zed – only when Zed was involved was he ever truly serious – like she was a child that had done something bad.

“Last I heard you were on a date,” Zed rolled her eyes staring up at the taller boy that stood hands reach away. He was crossing his hands over his broad chest now and let out a deep sigh like he was letting go of his annoyance.

She could take care of herself he knew that – Slade – knew that so she could never get why he always acted like she couldn’t. If anything she was the one that took care of him. She was the one who kept him out of trouble when he was stupid enough to pick fights with Rowan’s guys.

“And, if you had called I would’ve come. I tell you this all the time. I’m loyal to you alone Zed!”

Zed threw her head back groaning. “Slade—”

“Zed you can’t deny the fact that you’ve been acting a bit reckless, stupid, crazy, and impulsive even. Who the hell spray paints on a police car…when the police officers are still in the car?”

“Me! I do that.” He eyes were dead serious.

“You have always been the most composed person I know…even when we were kids you always seemed more mature so what’s going on with you?” Slade took a step towards Zed noting the tired look in her eyes.

“I can’t take it anymore! I feel like I’m drowning in all of this—” she gestured to their apartment her hands waving frantically, “—I feel like I’m going to die in a shit hole like this place Slade! I don’t want to die here!”

Slade nodded his head. He felt shaken Zed had a wild look in her eyes that he saw only once before when they were kids. She had punched a boy older than her after he stole her stuff and continued to do so until she couldn’t take it anymore and snapped. She had broken his nose and knocked out a few of his teeth, she looked like that now like she wanted to punch somebody.

“I know,” he covered the distance between them wrapping his hands around Zed. She was never someone that liked physical contact but she was letting him hug her.

“I have a plan Slade,” she mumbled her face buried in his chest.