Flamethroat

‘So tell me about the group,’ I pressed.

‘There is a meeting tonight, at midnight,’ my father told us. ‘You can come if you like.’

‘Yes!’ I said eagerly. ‘Of course.’

‘Meet us in the lobby at half past eleven,’ he said. ‘Get a few hours rest until then.’

With a nod and another embrace, my mother and father exited the room, leaving Jack, Hawthorne and I alone.

Hawthorne curled himself in front of the fire and watched me cross the room.

‘Your parents seem nice,’ Jack said casually, inspecting his fingernails.

‘Thanks.’

‘Only … are you sure we should be going to this meeting?’

I frowned. ‘Of course I am, Why?’

‘It might be dangerous. You heard that guard earlier. They’re on the look out for H.E.L.E.N.A.’

‘They must have ways of going undetected,’ I said. ‘My parents wouldn’t ask me to come along if it wasn’t safe. You saw how much they worried when they found out we went inside The Realm Headquarters.’

‘I guess,’ said Jack, though he still sounded unconvinced.

‘You don’t have to come,’ I told him. ‘You can stay here.’

‘Don’t be silly, of course I’ll come.’

‘Then why so hesitant?’ I asked as I sat down on the bed next to him.

Jack took a moment to gather his thoughts. ‘I don’t know Ava. I guess I’m not used to the whole idea of freeing Humans. You know how I was brought up. This old prejudice is wrong, I know, but it’s hard to shake when it’s all you’ve ever known.

‘I grew up in Frost Arch. I saw enslaved Humans every day of my life without batting an eyelid – without thinking twice about it. I know you are right – about everything. Don’t get me wrong, I fully support this cause.

‘I remember all those times I saw Humans beings mistreated, starved, even tortured, but I never did anything about it - because it was seen as normal behaviour. But now, I see it from your point of view and I am disgusted … in myself. One thing I have always prided myself on was my compassion, but now I see how much I was lacking.’

I took Jack’s hand and squeezed it comfortingly, ‘It’s not your fault. You are doing what is right now, that is all that matters.’

Jack nodded, but the look in his eyes told me that he was not convinced. I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my chin on his shoulder, hugging him tightly.

‘Is this why you are so determined to help me?’ I said. ‘Because of this guilt you are carrying around with you?’

‘Partly,’ Jack admitted, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close.

The hug lasted longer than usual. I was hyperaware of Jack’s breath on my neck and his determination to stretch out the life of the embrace. Over Jack’s shoulder I saw Hawthorne watching us beadily. At long last we parted, but the electricity in the air was tangible.

‘What are you thinking?’ he asked.

‘I’m tired,’ I fibbed.

‘Liar.’

An expectant silence engulfed us. The hairs on my arm stood on end as Jack watched me. I couldn’t bring myself to make eye contact with him.

‘I think we should get some rest before the meeting,’ I said, glad that this room had two single beds.

‘I know why you don’t want to be with me,’ said Jack. ‘It’s because of Helena, isn’t it?’

My silence answered his question.

‘You think I will be a distraction.’ It wasn’t a question. He said it as though it was fact. ‘But tell me this, if we were under different circumstances-’

‘We’re not,’ I interrupted.

‘If we were under different circumstances,’ he pressed. ‘Would you?’

‘Would I what?’

‘Would you be with me?’ he asked.

My breath caught in my chest. The honest answer was yes, but I would never admit it. Jack was good for me and he knew it, but we were in a situation where I could not give him the attention he deserved.

‘Where is this coming from all of a sudden?’ I tried to change the subject. ‘A few days ago we were like brother and sister, but now … I don’t know what’s gotten into you.’

Jack seemed annoyed. ‘I dropped everything to be with you. I left Frost Arch, the place I have lived my entire life, to follow you.’

‘I didn’t ask you to,’ I muttered.

‘You didn’t need to,’ he shot.

I fretted that this romantic interest between Jack and I might ruin the friendship that we had developed.

‘What if things don’t work out?’ I asked. ‘How could we go back to the way things were?’

‘You can’t avoid everything in life on the pretext that it might not work out.’ He cupped my face in his large hands, which felt exceedingly smooth.

I tried to look away, but his hand held my face inches from his.

‘I want to kiss you,’ he said softly.

‘No, Jack.’ I tore my eyes away from him.

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