Episode 35

Helfeirch's fingertips danced along the column of Scarlet's neck, causing a shiver to run down her spine. It left her wondering how his touch could cause such a sensation when the new skin she was now in could repel bullets.

"How did you sleep?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Good. You?"

"Same."

Scarlet couldn't help but smile. She pushed herself to sit up, her gaze falling on the drive that still sat on the table next to the bed. Her smile widened as an eyebrow lifted. "I believe I owe you some barbecue. What do you say we go eat and find a quiet place to look over that drive?"

The most natural smile she'd seen Helfeirch give greeted her before he playfully snatched her by the waist, pulling her back down onto the bed.

"Deal," he agreed. His lips quickly spread kisses along her jaw.

She felt a giggle escape her. "I'm not the barbecue."

His hands cradled her face as he looked down at her, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Are you sure? You're pretty tasty."

"I'm sure," she exclaimed. "Now let me up. I'm starving." She felt his chest vibrate against her as he chuckled.

"Well, we can't have that," he said as he rose from the bed.

They would both soon be dressed and leaft the hotel in search of food. The streets buzzed with the nightlife of Llygredd Grand. With Helfeirch at her side, Scarlet quickly made her way to her favorite barbecue place, hoping it was still in business. She felt her body sigh in relief as the familiar aroma reached her nose. Thank goodness. One could smell the food well before the establishment came into view.

She caught herself stealing a glance at the man beside her. Gone was the playful expression and natural smile he had shown her in bed not an hour before, and back was his usual unreadable expression and piercing, calculating eyes. This made her smile to herself.

'I get the feeling I'm the only person alive that's seen that side of him.'

The thought caused her chest to swell with affection. At the same time, seeing him back on guard was reassuring, and she found her trust in him reaffirmed once more.

After waiting in line for a time, they finally received a rather large order of food in to-go packaging. Scarlet then led Helfeirch to a back alleyway she remembered let out to an overhang. An expanse of the city spread out from under the overhang on a lower level, the lights from the buildings acting like the closest things to stars.

The ground was cold under her thighs as she sat down. Helfeirch followed suit, sitting next to her as she began pulling out the food for them. The packaging kept the food nice and warm. Scarlet couldn't keep from humming in delight at the taste of the delicious food she'd missed so much.

The two sat in contented silence, eating and looking out at the urban landscape that stretched out before them. There was a sort of rare peace in that moment that only came with fully enjoying living in the present. Without even realizing it, Scarlet's eyes had settled on Helfeirch, a deep sense of satisfaction washing over her upon seeing how much he was enjoying the food.

Having finished her share, she began licking the sauce from her fingers. Helfeirch followed suit before he reached over to her, the pad of his thumb warm as he wiped residual sauce from the corner of her lips. She looked back over at him to catch him licking the same thumb.

"You were right about this stuff."

"See, I told you," Scarlet boasted proudly.

She knew she must have the most goofy smile on her face, but she couldn't bring herself to stop.

'I've been smiling a lot recently. I daresay it's your fault,' she internally blamed Helfeirch.

She didn't mind, though. In the back of her mind, she knew that moments like this were fleeting.

'I don't know when or if I will get another moment when I will actually want to smile.' And so, with that thought in mind, she was allowing herself to enjoy any good moments that came her way.

"We should probably head out. Flinch will be expecting us," she said as she pushed herself from the ground.

"Didn't you say that we needed stay away from him for his safety?" Came Helfeirch's voice.

"Yeah. Well, he's the best person for what we need."

He merely nodded and began following her once again.

They'd been steadily making their way towards Flinch's place when Scarlet stopped in her tracks, her whole body tensing.

"What is it?" Came Helfeirch's whispered words.

Scarlet could feel her skin turn cold as she stared at a mechanism that looked much like a camera.

"Flinch isn't here anymore. We have to get out of here," she answered in a hushed tone.

She felt her whole body go on high alert as she suddenly began putting distance between them and where Flinch had been. Her eyes intently scanned about them, subconsciously chewing on her bottom lip.

'Could the people from that lab have tracked me to Flinch's and found him?'

The mechanism that caught her eye was issuing a warning signal, especially for anyone who knew Flench. It meant it was no longer safe to approach his place. She could only hope that he'd made it out in time.

'I really hope you're alright… and I really hope it's not my fault…' But the twist in her stomach kept her feeling that she was, indeed, the cause.

'Right now, I have to focus. I have to get us out of here. I hope we haven't been seen.'

Helfeirch didn't ask for any further explanation. He simply followed her quietly. He'd noticed the instant change in her demeanor. In a matter of seconds, she'd gone from casually cautious to highly alert, eyes scanning and darting as though she might be hunted.

Over the past weeks, he'd spent a great deal of time quietly observing Scarlet, learning all he could about her. And he'd learned to read her non-verbal cues.

Suddenly, Scarlet realized that Helfeirch had become so quiet that it was as though he wasn't even there. Turning her head back, her eyes widened at seeing he actually wasn't behind her anymore. She felt her stomach drop.

'Where did he go!?'