Aftersex cuddles. And then we *try* to leave.

The rest of the movie is spent not much in awkward silence but intense cuddling. Mikko had always loved physical contact more than the others, but after dispersing so much of herself secretly in public, she was much more snuggly than usual. Arabella notices some kind of difference but decides not to bring it into a decision after the movie.

On your way out, you’re surprised to see a familiar face. It takes a few seconds to recognize it, but your expressions twinkle slightly when the connection is made. She’s talking to someone else, another less familiar girl. She has blonde hair and isn’t dressed up at all, and for some reason, that’s when you start to tense.

Your insides twisted when the girl broke away from her blonde friend to walk towards you. The sudden urge to either fight or take flight came to your nerves. Your adjusted your stance after you told Arabella and Mikko to start heading back with you. Neither protest nor question came to your sudden orders.

The girl’s eyes were dark blue now, and they lazily watched the foxes walk away. She brought a cigarette between her lips and dragged on it. She knits her brows and puffs out a plume of thick smoke. When your eyes meet, her lips curls in a playful smirk. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” you lie. “What’s up?”

She sighs, taking another drag. “I’ve spent the entire night looking for a guy dressed up as a maid, and when I finally find him, he’s in military uniform.”

You extend your arms out, working a soft laugh. “Change of plans.”

She nods–eyes washing over you like she’s searching for mistakes. “It’s a vibe, though. I like it.”

“I try harder than I ought to sometimes,” you say. “You aren’t too dressed up for the theme.”

Dark skinny jeans, a black denim jacket, a thick black sweater… her cheek was still embellished by that same heart too. She shrugs, now talking with the cigarette between her lips. “I think my aesthetic matches the theme, aight.”

The girl brushes her jet-black hair back behind her ear. Her eyes flash with intelligence as they bore straight into yours. “You’re not wrong.”

Her smile remains all sinister-like. Then she extends a handout. “I’m Scarlet, by the way.”

You take her hand, finding her grip firm and warm. “I’m Warren Visser.”

Scarlet’s expression becomes impossible to read. Her smile is too white, too perfect. “You look like a Warren.”

“Good thing?” You ask.

She lets go and sucks on her smoking treat. “Excellent thing. You sticking around? I’d like to see if we get along.”

You study her carefully and decide not to, but still play it off as you would. Scarlet’s eyes go cold when she translates your words as a lie. “Be seeing you around then, Warren.” She blows all the smoke out from the last cigarette and goes her separate way.

“Time to go,” you mumble to yourself.

…

…

“I didn’t like it,” you tell Arabella, half-naked with Mikko as they circle around you. It seemed like they were planning something sexual when they got back before you did, but as you told them about “Scarlet,” they seem switched moods from playthings to obedient helpers. “She wasn’t alone either, so we might have to keep moving.”

Arabella nodded, but Mikko wiggled her tail as if she had something to say. You looked up at her, annoyed at first, but sighed. “You’re free to say anything you think might be helpful, Mikko.”

“I’d like to stay a little longer,” she said. “I don’t remember anyone named Scarlet being with the ARS, so I think you might be confusing this girl with something more than she is.”

“We didn’t get to work with a lot of the humans, though, Mikko.”

Mikko blushed. “I know, but Kenji–”

“Kenji was…he never spoke about anyone else he worked with. Amari was an exception because she was already our boss,” Arabella was quick to cut in. “If our master says we should keep going, then we should keep going.”

“I like it here,” she mumbled. “I like it here a lot.”

“You have to remember that it isn’t just the ARS either,” you work yourself back into the conversation. “I have history here. A lot of the people out here have long memories. Christ only knows who else has but is informed of my arrival. It was stupid stopping here, damnit.”

“I’d rather be here than in Idaho,” Arabella deadpans.

“Could have stayed hidden there forever though,” you rub your temples. “Had that contract in Bannock… That guy offered us a cabin there as long as we kept it stocked and the pests out from his ranch.”

Mikko and Arabella don’t say anything, so all you do is shake your head. “Let’s get some sleep. Make sure everything is locked. We’ll do inventory in the morning after we’ve all eaten.”

“Are we going to tell Gwen?” Mikko asks.

“Of course, we are,” Arabella quickly responds.

“Oh,” Mikko says. “She just gets–”

“We all need to know what’s happening—speaking of which. No more going outside alone, Arabella. Take someone with you and keep a close eye on whoever you are passing. We must be extra safe until I figure out how to get out here.” You order. Again, there’s neither question nor protest.

“Where are we going next?” Mikko says.

“Maybe California? The Japanese are there, but…Well, no one fucks with them or the places they control. Oregon might not be bad, but I haven’t been there, but that means no one will know who I am,” you think for a few moments. “Maybe Oregon. I’ll think about it, and hopefully I’ll have a good answer for you in the morning. It's a lot of backtracking..."

You look at Arabella. She's looking at you weird like she had something to say. Her eyes flick at Mikko like whatever she had to offer wasn't for the room. It was for you. She breaks the stare and switches legs, her eyes going else where as the silence soaked in. When nothing else happened, the girls thank you and then go back to their rightful places, leaving you to finally fall on your bed. “Who are you Scarlet?” you whisper, closing your eyes and falling asleep.