I should talk to Arabella about it.

“I should,” you say. “I really should help her.”

“Don’t say that,” Arabella stands up and crosses her arms. “She isn’t worth the fucking trouble. You’re going to leave us to help that cold-blooded bitch?”

You stand up next. “Arabella, this isn’t up for debate. I might’ve been able to prevent this whole fuck up today.”

“What do you mean?”

“She wanted to hire me for a contract to help her do something that involved with what I’m assuming happened today.”

“We don’t owe these people anything,” Arabella manages, getting an odd look from Gwendolion, seated beside her sister. “I doubt she was doing any of this out of the good of her heart anyway. This is karma from everything she’s done.”

You wave at the others to leave the room. As usual, there’s a moment of ****. Neither Gwendolion nor Mikko seem eager to disjoint themselves. When they’re out of view, you gesture to the couch back, so Arabella sits back down. She fidgets, and her face starts to burn slightly. “I’m sorry.”

Your brows knit. “What?”

“I shouldn’t have confronted you like that in front of them. I know you’re angry with me.”

“I… literally couldn’t care less. I just don’t think either Gwen or Mikko was going to offer anything of use to this conversation,” you rub your temples in thought. “Ignore your personal feelings aside, do you think I shouldn’t go?”

There’s not much of a pause before Arabella says you still shouldn’t go, but as she takes into account your conflicted feelings, she sighs with reconsideration. “Unless you think you maybe should go, then you shouldn’t do as I say.”

“I don’t want to save someone who’s done you wrong personally.”

Arabella’s mouth opens, but it quickly closes. She halts her original sentence before beginning a new one. “She hasn’t wronged me personally, but I know she’s a…a savage in some terms—a brutal little soldier used by the ARS. I’ve seen it first-hand and even have helped her.”

“Who’d you ****?”

She makes a face. “It doesn’t matter who they are. It’s what she did, and I helped with it. She’s getting what she deserves. I can’t even believe I’m having to convince you that she isn’t worth this risk.”

“Might be just guilt I’m feeling then.”

Arabella gestures with her arms out. “Then I can repeat it. We. Do not. Owe, these people. A damn thing. This town. That girl. We DON’T owe them shit. I don’t care if that makes me sound like an asshole–”

“What?” You ask.

“I… alright. Let’s help her.”

“Sudden change of heart?”

“I’ve just realized something,” Arabella decides. “But I’m going with you.”

“Arabella–”

Her eyes flare at you. “I’m going with you.”

You thumb at the room behind you. “And what about Gwen and Mikko?”

“Then we better not screw up.”

“What’s the plan then, Arabella?” You get comfortable and wait.

“Who’s making it?”