Adapt (I)

Scarlet

Unlike two days ago, I don’t bother to park inconspicuously two streets away. The industrial centre of town is much more active now. Workers trickle away as they wrap up their shifts. I have no problem trying to find a park, although Boe and I do get a few odd stares as we slam the Jeep’s doors shut.

The sun has completely set, but the sky is still glowing with the remnants day. The gradient from pale blue to purple, to navy blue paints the backdrop for the moon and the stars that are beginning to appear in the sky.

My momentary calm is only amplified when I look over to Boe, who is looking up at the sky as well. I wonder if he is seeing what I am seeing.

And then my bliss is shattered.

“I didn’t say pets are allowed.” Logan’s voice comes from behind us.

I spin. “Is it too much to ask that you don’t always approach from behind? You will wind up getting punched in the face one day.”

Logan walks toward us, his shiny brown dress shoes making soft thuds as he walks. Today he is dressed in a dark-as-night blue tailored vest and dress pants, a white button-down shirt underneath with the sleeves rolled up his fore arms. His hair is wet, and I can smell... pine? Weird. I thought Logan smelled of spices.

“I never said the hunter could attend you. This negates the entire plan.”

I feel Boe edge closer to my side.

Logan’s gaze narrows in on Boe. “You could not leave well enough alone, hunter?” Clearly, he is reading the events of the night in our minds.

Boe’s chest puffs up and I can tell something insulting is about to roll off his tongue. “I’m here to make sure she isn’t jumping out of the frying pan, into the fire.”

“Perhaps you forget, so may I remind you - you are the one that placed her in the frying pan. Now your inferior hunter’s brain is trying to figure out how to remove her from the heat, because you have convinced yourself that you feel more for her than any of your other conquests.”

“Get out of my head.” Boe’s jaw flexes and takes a step toward Logan.

Logan gives Boe’s foot a pointed look. “Do not threaten me.” The faraway light in Logan’s eyes appears.

Oh, this is a huge mistake, I think to myself.

I step in between both of them. “Look, I have no idea how this going to work, but if you both want to help me, then you will have to learn to get along.”

“He-”

I cut Boe off. “Is trying to antagonize you.” I finish. “And you are letting him.” I look over to Logan, who is wearing a measured smirk. “And I am going to need you to stay out of both of our heads for the time being. I can’t think with an eavesdropper listening in.”

“Scarlet, I hope you realize that I now have to kill him if we hope to keep you hidden? There cannot be loose ends.” Logan’s voice is almost amused.

“I would like to see him try.” Boe mutters under his breath.

I shake my head, ignoring Boe. “If you do that, I will not go with you. Besides, I trust him.” I say to Logan.

“I have seen trusts, forged in stronger flames than your relationship, shatter under less strain.” Logan brown eyes don’t even look away from Boe as he speaks to me.

I shrug, trying my hand at blasé. “It doesn’t matter. I will not go with you if you harm him.”

Their gazes are locked, and I can see the silent war they are waging.

“Get out of my head.” Boe repeats through gritted teeth.

Logan’s eyes narrow, the blue light growing stronger.

“Hey, stop it, you pair. We have a problem and we need to fix it, or people are going to get hurt.” I say to an uninterested audience. Logan’s neck starts to strain. Under Boe’s tan, I can see red begin to colour his skin.

“If you don’t cut it out, I’m as good as dead.” I say. For me, it’s not a threat. I had accepted death a long time ago, but for one reason or another, both of these men want me alive.

“He irks me.” Boe bites out.

Logan’s eyes brighten.

Boe’s aversion is understandable. Boe is a hunter. It is in his nature. In truth, Logan has a way of irking me as well, but my current predicament seems to have tamed that feeling.

“If you two aren’t going to be reasonable then I will just give Alex a call and be on my merry way.” I turn to stride back to my car.

Footsteps echo in the street and then Boe is in front of me. “You are not surrendering to them.” Boe’s anger is peaked.

Oh, so that is what it took for him to listen to me? My anger meets his. “You, yourself, said that me running away, either with your help or Logan’s, isn’t a great plan. People are still going to be put in harm’s way. They aren’t going to stop until they have me, or I am dead.”

He grabs my shoulders and shakes me. “For Christ’s sake, can you please stop saying that?!” Boe almost yells, his green eyes narrowed and blazing.

“What?! That I’m going to die? Well, get used to it because it seems like it is going to be the only way out of this without hurting everyone that I love.”

Boe’s grip on my arms tighten as he looks at me. His mouth opens. Then closes. Frustration is painted all over him. He opens his mouth again, and his expression softens by half. He closes his mouth and grinds his teeth together, before loosening his grip on my shoulders. His eyes are still narrowed, but not in frustration now. He is thinking.

“Interesting.” Logan says from where he was standing before.

Boe’s eyes search mine for another moment, a frown now creasing his features.

“It could work.” Logan speaks again, now closer to us.

“Would you like to tell the class?” I ask, Boe’s demeanour shift worrying me.

For another moment, Boe doesn’t speak. Finally, he says, “Your right, the only way out of this, is if you’re dead.”