Through The Looking Glass

Chapter 5

The two had been getting that odd sense of peace during the start of the new year. Rachel was at her own home less and less, going to Isaac's instead, as if she had lived there from the very start. For Zack, he was starting to feel the same way, like Ray had always been there, always greeting him a good morning when they woke up, and always letting him know when she was heading off to school.

The killings have lessened as well, Zack was more interested in staying at home, or hanging out with Rachel. During the times she wasn't at her "new" home, Zack was in a pretty decent mood to not have that drive to kill. For some reason, their interactions was slowly starting to shift as well. Ever since the holidays, Isaac was slowly becoming more welcome to Ray's shy or excited embraces. He told her once before that he wasn't into hugs, but that kind of casual rejection never seemed to cross his mind to remind him. Lately, he was starting to do the same for her.

"Hey, I'm back!" Ray called, as she took off her shoes.

"Sup, Ray..." Zack replied, leaving the kitchen to meet up with the girl halfway. Without even thinking once, he pulled the girl close and pressed her against his chest, followed by a gentle ruffle of the hair, "school didn't bore you to death?"

Rachel's face was slightly red, but she quietly chuckled, "No, if it did, I wouldn't be here, now would I?"

"Psh, smartass."

Rachel smirked, "You like having me around."

"Sure, whatever," Zack said, in an amused tone. "C'mon, actually spotted a good movie for once on TV."

Ray set her bookbag down and watched the man sit himself onto the sofa, giving Ray plenty of space to sit down with him. She approached Zack, and sat down to fill the space he gave her, right at his side. To make herself more comfortable, she tucked her feet up, and leaned against the man. Isaac didn't even flinch, he glanced at her for a moment, and realized how comfortable she was. His response to that was to wrap an arm around her, making Rachel continue her comfort, while also adding security to it.

Even though Ray has been having her good days, there were also the bad. Her parents were still just as vicious as ever, especially her father. Ever since Ray showed the capability to fight back, he was starting to play dirty in his punishments, like being sneaky when striking her or even pulling at her hair. Ray was getting fed up with it, she was taught to slap her assailant to free herself. If her father dared to stop her, she was ready to kick, she was not going to suffer another devastating sucker punch again.

"Get back here, you bitch!"

She had already made her way out of the building, leaving her father confused as to where she fled off to, once he barged outside to give chase. Rachel was going to spend another week at Isaac's, where she was wanted.

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Over the weekend, Zack suggested they step out for a while to get something different for lunch. They had stopped by a food truck serving some oriental food, seemed like a good idea to try it, since it was different.

They got their box of food, and made their way to the park for a quieter place to eat. The two sat on the same bench Zack comforted Rachel in, just remembering that day made the girl feel that familiar warmth inside of her chest. However, it appeared that none of the pigeons were out, they couldn't decide either to be glad or not, may as well enjoy the peace as they ate before the birds returned. It was unusually hazy today, even though the forecast said partly cloudy weather, yet, judging from how dark some clouds were appearing, their little picnic together was going to be cut short. Isaac felt a couple drips splash on his head, then his brow as he glanced up towards the sky. He could smell that scent in the air, that lingering earthy smell as the familiar humidity lingered, he knew it was going to rain.