Layla braced her hands against her knees. She breathed heavily from all the running she had done. Sweat racing down the sides of her face and her body feeling as heavy as lead.
She took a look at the gun in her hand. All that was left was a single bullet. Nick being the only one standing by her side. Layla hissed at the thought of what they had gone through.
Due to the scorching sun, they had been forced to leave the others behind, caring for Anastasia. It had taken them an entire day and a half to finally find Ellie's house. The leftover Styrofoam was hard to trail. The wind had scattered a majority of it across the streets. This had resulted in them constantly being forced off track. They had even ran into a few Apocrypha along the way, which had cost them a majority of their ammunition.
It was however all worth it. They were certain they were finally at the correct place. The truck Ellie had stolen, was parked right in front of a small, blue and white house.
Layla and Nick exchanged one final worried look, as they searched for a way inside. As expected, all the doors were sealed shut. There was however a broken window, which would easily provide them the access they needed. Apocrypha blood lined the broken bits of glass around them. It was evident a small struggle had ensued. Carefully, they climbed through the window and stepped into the unknown. They could only hope that Zane and Ashley were okay.
*****
"Zaney!!! You've finally fallen in love with me??"
"Yes, darling. In fact, I'm so in love with you right now, that I could lick those tasty lips of yours."
"Oh my gosh, Zaney! Are you saying you want to kiss me?"
Zane smirked, "Yes my angel. I'll give you a kiss you'll never forget."
Ellie's heart pounded against her chest. Her crazy desires were finally being fulfilled. Quickly, she pushed the head of Ashley to the ground. She then dived into the lap of Zane— her arms wrapping around him tightly. She grasped onto Zane's face delivering a long, lengthy kiss. Her bad breath bracing against his face as she wanted more.
"Zaney, I want to take this further!" she declared, starting to remove her underwear.
"Wait, sweetheart. I want you too, but I won't be able to pleasure you unless you release these chains. We won't be able to enjoy ourselves if I'm locked down, right?"
Ellie stopped as she began to ponder. Was it really a good idea to release Zane? She however wanted him and he was showing signs of wanting her too. She stared him in his blue eyes, losing herself in his stare.
"Okay! Anything for my Zaney!" she declared happily.
Quickly, she began cutting the chains. Zane's hands and feet finally being released. He stood himself up, examining the bruises to his arms and ankles. Softly, he comforted them— patting the bright red spots away.
"Finally, I can have you! I've been waiting for so long Zaney!"
Zane ignored her as he continued to comfort his bruises. He stretched his arms and legs, getting them ready to move. He could feel just how sore his muscles had become.
"Ellie," he called in a deadly-calm voice.
"Yes, my precious!?"
"Are you ready?"
Ellie jumped happily, squealing in excitement, "I am!!"
Ellie dashed herself onto Zane. She tried kissing and touching him, but to her surprise, Zane pushed her back.
"Zaney..? What's wrong? Or are you just playing hard to get?"
Zane looked up at her. His eyes drowning in hate and resentment. Ellie felt a terrible shiver, launch itself up her spine. Zane's eyes looked scary enough to intimidate a Rank 4 Chimera.
"Don't touch me with your filthy hands again."
Ellie froze on the spot. Her heart shattering like a shard of glass. Zane had just disrespected her. She slowly moved over to him. A look of sadness assaulting her facial muscles.
"Z-Zaney? Why are you treating me like this..? You just said you loved me..."
Once again, Zane ignored her and made his way over to the table. He then picked up a surgical knife and turned towards Ellie.
"Zaney!!! Answer me!! Why are you treating me like this?? I thought you loved me!!"
"As if I could love something like you. Disgusting. Made me vomit in my own throat."
Ellie's body began shaking with anxiety. Zane had obviously lied to her in order to be released from his chains. Ellie picked back up her baseball bat and held it tightly in her hand. Her teeth gritted in rage. Her eyes burning like an inferno. She was ready to punish Zane for his disobedience.
"You hurt my feelings, Zaney! You lied TO MEEE!!!!"
Ellie quickly dashed over to Zane. She grasped the bat in her hand tightly— coming around with a ferocious swing. Zane dodged her attack and thrust forward with his surgical knife. Flesh tore away and blood pitter-pattered to the floor.
Ellie's eyelids began shaking with disbelief. She slowly looked down to see the surgical knife making friends with her stomach.
"Z-Zaney..? H-How could you..?"
Zane then violently pulled the knife from her stomach. He stared her right into the eyes without remorse, as he went to slit her throat.
Just then, before Zane could cut Ellie's throat— a familiar voice penetrated his ears.
"Zane!!" yelled Layla in shock.
"Layla..?" he answered nonchalantly.
"Bro, are you okay??" inquired Nick, also in worry.
"I'm fine."
They quickly ran over to Zane, ready to deliver a hug to him. They however found themselves frozen, upon seeing the contents of the room. The smell was enough to make them wrinkle their noses. They saw two unfamiliar dead bodies, alongside the severed head of Ashley. Lastly, they saw Zane's hand holding onto a surgical knife, which was stained red with Ellie's blood.
"Z-Zane..? What happened here..?" inquired Layla. Her voice filled with apprehension.
"Ellie killed Ashley. So I'm being karma. That's all there is to it."
Layla found herself unable to utter another word. Zane's voice sounded so cold, that it almost made her believe it was someone else. This was not the Zane she knew.
"Dude... I-I can't... I don't even know what to say..." trembled Nick.
"It's fine. You two can wait on the outside. Just let me finish her off."
Zane raised his hand high in the air. Ellie laying beneath him in a pool of blood. Her body shook like she was having a seizure. It was a very unpleasant sight. Quickly, Zane came down with the knife towards her head. To his surprise, he felt someone grab onto him from behind. He turned his eyes behind him, to see that Layla had stopped him.
"Layla? What are you doing? Let me go."
Layla bit her lip unable to fathom what had happened. "Zane... What happened to you..? She's already dying. There's no reason to kill her..."
"Haven't I killed before? I don't see your point."
Layla quickly grabbed the knife from his hand and jumped back. "Yes... You have. But not like this! You killed them while not wanting to do it... You did it only because you had to... Now, you're literally trying to kill her... Even though you obviously have the upper hand..."
Zane sighed casually, as he picked himself up. He placed his hands into his pockets and began walking out.
"Wait! Even if Ellie messed up, Isn't it best to keep her alive? She's one of the ten chosen by Apo-"
"We don't need her." coldly stated Zane, interrupting Nick.
Layla and Nick exchanged a look of fear. Zane was behaving strangely. What happened to trigger such a violent part of him?
"Zane! Talk to me! What happened here??" demanded Layla.
"I just grew up. Once people like her exist, then the world will always be the same. It's best for people like her to die."
Layla and Nick shook their heads. They had to make sure they heard what Zane said correctly.
"Bro! That's not true! Sure, there will always be bad people. But killing them? That's just not right! Who put this ideology inside your head??" queried Nick.
Before Zane could answer, they heard Ellie groaning his name weakly;
"Zaney... Please... D-Don't go... I'm sorry... I promise I'll be a better girlfriend..."
Layla looked back to see Ellie pulling herself along the floor. Blood gushing from the stab wound in her stomach. Her eyes fixated only on Zane. Layla knew she deserved punishment. But seeing her like this, made her feel a little sorry for Ellie.
Layla then turned back to face Zane. However, to her surprise, she felt the gun in her waist disappear. She swung her head back around to see Zane removing the safety.
"Zane! No!" she cried.
Layla's scream was followed by the echoing of a gunshot— a bullet hole making its home inside Ellie's head. Nick was paralyzed with shock. It had all happened so fast, that he had barely even seen it.
Zane turned himself back around and tossed the empty gun to Layla.
"Once people like her exist, the kind-hearted are made to suffer. They take advantage of them and inflict nothing but pain for their own desires. I've only come to realize that true kindness can't exist in the world, because of people like her." Zane paused as he looked back at the shocked faces of both Layla and Nick. "To protect those with a truly kind heart. I shall be the disinfectant to everything I deem as toxic or evil. Nothing shall stand in my way. Not even the Apocrypha themselves."
Just like that, Zane made his way through the basement door. Layla and Nick froze, unable to comprehend what had really happened. Zane had found a new and dark path to walk. A path where only what he thought was right, was the truth. A path that would lead him to save many, kill many, and inevitably destroy him completely.