Cold Silence

"I am so sorry Red. Please forgive me."

Archer's apology came as a shock to Red.

For the past few days, she had known Archer as a stubborn, annoying person – faey – who would never ever back down from an argument, refusing to admit defeat even if it was pretty clear he was at fault. But this time, he actually told her he was sorry.

Holy shit, this was a first.

It stunned her to the point she didn't know how to react or what to say.

He cupped her face and their eyes met; her cool turquoise to his emerald green eyes. His face showed a mix of remorse and guilt, almost like he was about to cry himself. Something she said must have hit hard. Or maybe her blows hit hard. Either way, she conveyed her piece of mind.

What should she do?

Will she accept the apology?

Did it sound sincere enough though?

'Of course, it sounded sincere enough gurl, he even let you rain down your divine fury without so much as flinching with all the blows.' Her soft and emotional right brain told her. 'Give the guy some chance.'

'So, should I forgive him?' she asked herself.

'Siz, just because he said sorry once, doesn't mean he's gonna change. Men are fucking compulsive liars.' Her left, feisty and more rational brain said. 'Imma kick your ass if you accept his apology that easily.'

'Right. He IS a jerk. Immature and egotistical and downright a horrible person – Faey.' She agreed. She must have turned crazy to be talking with herself in silence.

Too many times they have had short-comings over silly things but it never escalated as bad as this one. Sure, they did argue a lot in the past few days but all of it was pretty mundane things. They argued about petty things, almost to the point of becoming childish, such as to what food to order, if it should be spicy or not, who will wake up the dead-as-oil sleeping Ari, or his terrible and corny jokes. It wasn't as ugly as this one.

It was never life threatening.

Red summed up Archer's behavior and realized he was unbearably too close to her and it felt awkward, like what he did was just a hug out of necessity. She pushed him away to break his embrace and tried to stand up; only to wobble as her legs turned to jelly from exhaustion.

She yelped and just like how they met for the first time, Archer smoothly caught her in his strong arms and without even asking if she'd want to, he proceeded to carry her bride-style towards the shade. It was like one of those movies where the leading lady is carried by her lover on their wedding day, everything was in slow motion and dreamy.

The only thing different about the situation was that Red and Archer weren't lovers, and instead of doves fluttering about and flower petals showering them, seabirds were squawking from afar and the scenery was a place of havoc.

"Don't try to struggle. I'll go and see what we can salvage from the wreck." Archer told her in his low and cool toned voice as Red made silent rebellious movements while he carried her. Red didn't want the help he is offering. In fact, she didn't want him at all.

He lowered her gently below the nearest palm tree a few meters away from the shore and went on to dig for whatever they could use. Bags and supplies were scattered everywhere, some even burning. Red observed his well-toned body that almost became see-through from his wet shirt that stuck to his bodice, sweat and seawater mixing under the heat of the sun.

She rummaged through her belt bag and opened the golden pocket watch. Thank heavens, they still work.

11:38am.

The steady ticking of the clock helped Red calm her mind. She was still angry with Archer. Can she be civil with him now that it looks like Ari wasn't teleported with them in the same place? Ari had always been the cool and level-headed one among the three of them. Now that they were stuck in the island, she kind of misses him and his kind, light green eyes when he smiles at her and tells her that he trusts and believes in her.

Arikyer was gentle.

A complete opposite to Archer, the younger brother.

She reminisced how her life used to be before she met the brothers.

She would have been inside Floruchna Control Tower by now, receiving calls from irate citizens. She remembered Noelle and her warm smile and cheery laughter and actually missed her. Busy men and women who worked hard to earn a day's living. Was it really Noelle she saw during the trial?

She wondered what could have happened to the other candidates. Would the chadrons see them, or would they have sensed the herald's realm waning and fled in time? She kind of regretted she didn't try to see or asked any of her colleagues on what happened that night at the tower. She had already called their superior the very next day that she was resigning from her post because of personal reasons and that she couldn't come for the required one-month resignation service.

Surprisingly, her boss was kind enough to let her go easy and wished her well with her future endeavors. Little did she know, just minutes after her call, her superior simultaneously received emails from Noelle Winters and Wolfe Gray titled 'Resignation' and 'Resignation Letter' respectively.

It left the middle-aged corporate guy in his gray suit and suspenders confused.

'Why are all these hard-working and talented young employees of mine suddenly quitting with no apparent reason? And the audacity to resign thru phone calls and emails too!' he thought.

Back at the island, Red and Archer had started a war of silence.

Neither one wanted to talk in fear of saying things that they might later regret. When Archer approached carrying a handful of supplies, he handed Red a chocolate bar to which she accepted with not as much as a grunt and a slight rising of her left eyebrow.

The tropical wind blew and they just sat there staring indifferently at the open crystal clear waters, trying not to look too obvious with the side glances they keep on making at each other.

Archer disregarded her countenance because he knew he actually deserved that. But for how long he could carry on with Red giving him the cold shoulder, he doesn't know. He needs something to change the atmosphere. And there was only one sure thing that he knew could lift up Red's temper.

Food.

Rather, foods.

With a plural 'S'.