Save Me From Myself (A Zak Bagans X Reader Story)

Ch. 3 ~Lending A Helpful Hand~

(Hey everyone, I'm so so sorry for the delay, things have been hectic and I lost inspiration for awhile but I'm finally back and I'm ready so enjoy!)

(LOL! Get it? Cause the name of the chapter and he's holding his hand out for you? hhhhhh I'm not funny)

~Zak's P.O.V.~

'Damn.' Was the only thought that came to mind as he eyes the other three girls quickly hop into their car and make a speedy getaway, while his enhanced hearing picked up on them cackling like hyenas. Completely enamored of their 'prank.' He rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the room that currently kept the poor abandoned girl.

Now as much as he'd love to help, he's rather lost on the wisdom of how one would approach a complete stranger while looking like... His whole situation. Especially when he may or may not have been following her around this entire time. 'Well, for one- don't EVER start a conversation with that. Even if she is technically in your house... When it's not even your house either.'

Zak shakes his head, he can't do it, it's too much of a disaster to even try and attempt. Maybe he can just lead her out instead, since chances are she'll understandably run as soon as she sees him. But yet this could also really be his chance, he can't let this slip passed him, maybe she can help him.

'Help.' Just that word alone gave him so much hope and sparked just enough courage to allow the ghost hunter to step out of the shadows and silently creep up behind her. Still unprepared of how to go about this, he throws caution to the wind and cleared his throat. He then watches her freeze and immediately regretted his decision.

'Shit- just say something! Quick!'

"Um... Hi there." He tried but is quick to silently cringe when his voice sounded like he's been gargling nails.

Zak manages to keep his cool however and continues to stare at her and somehow, by the grace of whoever or whatever is taking pity on him, she slowly turned around to look at him. He can tell she still wanted to run, yet she just stayed planted there staring at him like a deer in headlights.

After what felt like an eternity between them, only being at least a minute or two, she finally spoke.

~Your P.O.V.~

"H-Hi."

You mentally smacked yourself for stuttering and sounding so meek, but then again who could blame you? You're left to your own defenses in a house where God knows what happened for one thing. Now your only exit is blocked off by this 7 foot, maybe even taller than that who knows, tall mystery guy in black and-

Your thoughts come to an abrupt halt as your eyes widen when you finally get a good look at him.

'No way...' Either this guy is spot on with costumes or you're actually in the presence of Zak Bagans himself. Of course you're extremely aware of the show, you absolutely love it, it's what got you fascinated with the paranormal in the first place. But then you remember hearing about his disappearance. How everyone claimed that he finally lost it and that not even his own team would utter a word to clarify what happened.

Could this really be him?

You snap out of your little stupor and quickly gather yourself as best you can, whether to try and talk your way out of this or give yourself enough time to bolt for a way out, which will most likely have to be the latter since, once again, his large stature was blocking the only way out... Unless you're feeling sturdy and lucky enough to jump out the window.

"I-I'm sorry I didn't know anyone lived here, I was told it's empty." Explanation it is, good choice.

"It's alright." He answers, his voice sounds rough and gravelly but oddly enough not in an unpleasant way. You stare at him more, still scared yes but now some curiosity is starting to settle in.

"Oh uh... I'm Zak." The eerie man says as he steps a little closer and holds out his hand for you to shake. You return the gesture, and try very hard not to make eye contact with the sharp claws and shackles he bares, but even looking at his eyes seemed to be challenging as well. You manage though.

"(Y/N)." You reply with a small smile before taking your hand away, for someone who looks as terrifying as him, he seems so... Unsure, almost timid even. Which made you feel a little better since you could certainly relate to that right now.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, are you Zak as in THE Zak?" You ask, which causes him to chuckle some before eyeing you with amusement.

"THE Zak?" He repeats, while you can't help but give a small laugh yourself, "Yeah, as in Zak Bagans? That Zak?"

A sigh leaves him, all the light emotion he had seconds ago had quickly dulled as he answers you, "Yes."

Your smile slowly breaks into a grin, So it IS him. This is crazy! You've wanted to meet him for so long and here he is plain as day! The smile must be some form of reassurance to him because Zak produces a little smirk of his own before asking, "I take it you were a fan?"

"Always have been and always will be." You say, while your grin continues to stick a little longer before soon fading away. "What do you mean 'were'?"

He simply shrugs, "Just didn't think people still cared for it nowadays."

"Oh no, everyone still adores it. In fact it still comes on same time, same day; Hell it's like no one ever noticed you're gone."

Sadly the words leave your mouth far too quickly before you can ever truly process how they sound. Which leads to you fully regretting your choice of words when you see Zak slowly look away from you.

His eyes downcast with a hurricane of emotions you can't quite identify, though anger and sadness could be seen at the forefront, you then hear a faint animalistic growl leave him.

Immediately you try to salvage the situation before you get torn to shreds because to be quite frank that growl frightened you, obviously that was a warning. Telling you that you struck a big nerve, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I promise I didn't mean it like that, or to bring it up at all, I just wanted to try and reassure you." You speak rather frantically as you step away from him some.

Zak's harsh gaze sets back on you before slowly easing up, a tiny wave of guilt hitting him when he notices your fear, "It's ok. I just..." He trails off for a moment, "Would rather not talk about it."

You nod, "That's fine, I understand."

By then the atmosphere of the room changed. A bit more breathable than before and now, you suppose, you could say you two have started off a small acquaintanceship.

Zak then clears his throat before asking, "So, what was that all about with those girls there?"

You look out the window at the tire tracks in the dirt and sigh with despair at being reminded of your current situation. "They dared me into coming here to check the place out, my guess is they wanted to see if something would happen to me." You then shake your head while furrowing your brows in brief anger at yourself, "I don't know why I listened to them."

"Harsh." He says gazing out the window as well then back at you.

You nod as your small flame of rage burns out and simply leaves you deflated. More crestfallen now, you speak with faint gloomy crack in your voice, as if you're almost fighting to not cry, "And now I don't have a way home." Zak quietly stares at you, the best he can describe what he's looking at right now is that of a sad puppy that just got abandoned. Like one of those homeless animal commercials with the tear jerking music. He may look monstrous, but his heart certainly isn't. This tugs at him.

"Well then maybe, if you want of course..." He starts while scratching the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at you directly.

"You could stay here for the night."

(D'awwww Zak the gentleman... Or is he? Again very sorry for this taking so long :,,D)