A new Kind of Oath

Contention

It was a chilly night. Zack and Rachel had long since moved from the last little town they last stayed in. Though to their relief, they managed to find a small hideout. An abandoned bunker. One that may have been used for possible nuclear attacks in the past but appeared somewhat vacant. Almost as though someone had already been living there but decided to leave for whatever reason. Still, this would be home. At least for the moment.

It was a bit cramped for the lanky twenty five year old but it was better than a prison cell, he thought. Rachel was sitting on the corner of the bed. Raking her hands through her hair in an attempt to brush it. Hitting a snag every now and then until she pulled enough to separate the long strands. Zack was leaned against the wall. Taking in the sight. A light blush forming beneath the bandages on his face. He couldn't help but stare. The bunker was dimly lit, causing what little light they had to illuminate her figure. Making her appear almost angelic. He took notice of curvy her hips had become. Zack shook the thought away. Pulling his hood over his eyes to keep himself from gawking at her.

Rachel caught notice of his odd eyed gaze and straightened up. "Is something wrong, Zack?" Her voice was soft. With a slight tinge of confusion. The flustered man looked over to her then quickly back away.

"It's nothin'." He lifted his leg. Propping his arm on it and placing his hand on his face. Facing away from her. Rachel arched a brow. Not quite buying his answer. But decided not to push the matter further. Though in the awkward silence, she had been overcome by the thoughts that had been nagging in her head.

Zack was supposed to kill her. It's been five years and yet...

"Hey, Zack?"

"What?"

"Remember when you said you'd kill me?"

"Yeah, what about it?" His voice was low, with a bit of annoyance in his tone."

"Well..." Rachel paused for a bit. Preparing to answer. "It's been five years and-" Zack cut her off. "Ray, haven't we been over this shit already?" He looked over to her. Tilting his head. Rachel blank before giving her reply. "That you hate liars?"

Zack mentally facepalmed at her words. "No! I mean, yeah but- Ughhhh! No. That's not what I'm talkin' about right now, dumbass! I mean that I told you I wanted to see a smile before I'd even bother tryin to kill ya. And you haven't shown me a good one yet. That look on your face is as borin' as ever! So do something about it! Then we'll talk." Zack's tone had grown even more irritable. Rachel looked annoyed too. The fact of the matter was that she had tried. Many times since their escape. Everytime she brought it up, Zack would just waive her off or tell her it wasn't good enough. She started to wonder if he was just putting it off or that he had changed his mind completely. Her thoughts made her heart ache. If he really didn't want to kill her, then what would become of their promise? Had everything they'd been through together been all for nothing? Rachel slid off the bed. Standing up.

The skirt of her white dress falling back down to knees. Zack looked up at her. "Is she mad?" He thought to himself. "Nah, that's impossible. This brat has shown hardly any emotion since we got outta that shithole." Though his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of sniffles. Tears rolled down her face as she frantically tried wiping them away. Zack felt his stomach churn at the sight. He sat up and walked over to her "Aww man. Look, Ray, I..." He lost the words as he approached. closing his mouth for a second before talking again. "I ain't no liar... But... Ugh. Fuck, this is hard." He wrestled with his own mind. Through blurry eyes, she could swear there was smoke coming out of his ears for a second. If it weren't for the mood she probably would've chuckled at the thought.

Rachel was also thinking to herself. Then spoke up. Breaking the tension. "What's wrong? Why are you hesitating? Do you... Still want to kill me? Or not?" The question caused Zack's eyes to widen yet still he couldn't get any words to form. He couldn't answer. Or perhaps he could but didn't want to. Isaac Foster May have been a dumb man, but he was no liar. Truthfully, he also wondered why he couldn't just take her life right then and there. He was fully capable. His scythe nestled gently in the corner. There being no doors to run to for escape. She could climb the ladder to escape but he'd be able to catch her easily. She was fast, but he was still much faster. Much stronger. Yet...

"I... I don't know." He spoke in a defeated whisper. "I don't fucking know. I don't. I thought killin' you would be one of the best moments of my life. Usually a get a kick out of slicing up happy fuckers. But I'll admit. Back then you made a pretty interesting face when I took you away... " Rachel moved closer to him. "Zack.." He continued to think aloud. " But thinking about killin' you now... Makes me feel weird. I wanna do it. After all, I swore to you-" Rachel tried to get his attention but he was distracted by his own thoughts. "I do still want to kill you. His voice cracked a bit with emotion. Rachel inched closer. Trying harder to get his attention. "Zack." She put her hand on his shoulder. Still nothing. "I could even kill ya right now if I really wanted. But thinkin' about it now.. just weirds me the fuck out. I don't get it. What the hell is wrong with me? Why can't I just man the fuck up and kill ya like I said I would? I ain't ever had trouble with shit before. So why now? What in the hell is wrong with me? I don't wanna be a liar. What the fuck is-" Rachel put her hand on his cheek.

"Isaac."

He froze. Between her hand cupping his face and use of his his whole name, he felt a chill creep up his spine. "It's okay. I should have been a little more considerate. I'm sorry... I shouldn't pressure you like this. I shouldn't have pried into it so much. Even though I still want to die..." Yet, even Rachel wasn't sure if that was the truth after seeing Zack react like that. Zack caved. The words came to him in a rush. "Ray... I don't know what I'd do without you. That's why I still keep ya around. I'm a dumb, twenty somethin' year old with death row hanging over my head. I can't read, and I forget shit. Do you really think someone like me could survive on their own? Hell, if it weren't for that Priest, I'd have prolly been dead a long ass time ago." Rachel's eyes were wide. What was he trying to say? She felt tears form in her eyes as she heard his voice sound so somber. So shaky.

"I need you, Ray."