Blood Red

Chapter Six

Aaron didn't say anything as they headed back to the shack, gripping tightly onto her hand. Red stumbled behind him, a bit clumsy with the foreign area, but he didn't slow his pace. He was pretty steamed about something, that she knew for sure.

"I understand that you're upset, but..." she began to say, her voice trailing off.

"I don't think you do." he snapped in a quiet voice.

There was an awkward silence, the only sound the rustling of dry leaves beneath their feet.

"You shouldn't have interfered. I've...it's already been hard enough trying to keep you safe, and you practically threw yourself at him as soon as there was a hint of danger." Aaron said, not even glancing at her as they continued moving.

The air was a chilly breeze.

"Wasn't that what I was supposed to do? Or was I supposed to let him kill you?"

"I had it under control. You can't do something like that when we try to get Peter Pan's knife. He's much more dangerous than the Hatter."

After what seemed like ages, they finally reached the shack, and Aaron quickly placed the hat in his bag. They would have to deliver that to Chesh after they got the other two items. These would be harder.

Red didn't seem to believe him about any of that. How could it be any harder? The Hatter easily complied and understood what they needed. If they just talked with the others...then how could that be so bad?

"We'll need to catch a boat if we want to reach Neverland. Don't worry; I know a guy."

Aaron sat down in an old chair that had been in the corner of the small room and sighed. He was truly exhausted. How was he supposed to get Red to trust and understand him, when he was already hiding so much from her?

"...a guy?" Red said hesitantly. That didn't sound too specific. All she knew was that she was putting all of her faith into Aaron. She didn't have another option. Reluctantly, she admitted to herself that dealing with this on her own would be much more difficult.

Peter Pan was the boy that never grew up. Red didn't know much about him, since he lived in another realm, but she had heard stories. He seemed so...courageous and lighthearted, like a child. She wasn't sure why Chesh wanted to take his knife so badly, but, she knew they had to do this if they ever were to succeed in finding out what the Wolf's next move was.

Aaron hummed in agreement, not bothering to elaborate on his statement.

"What is up with you, anyway?" she said, suddenly feeling exasperated from all of this. "I see you again after all these years and at the beginning you were..." Red let her voice trail off, her face reddening.

He glanced over at her, arching his brow. She could see his face clearly in the dark, even with his tan complexion. He looked...amused with her. Red scowled back at him.

"I was...? What?"

"...I don't know. You were just. You know." she murmured under her breath, angrily huffing as she curled up on the couch. What was she supposed to say? Friendlier? More charming? Red couldn't say anything without sounding like a fool. "I don't know why you're being such an ass right now."

Aaron paused for a moment, rubbing the side of his face with his hand. What was he supposed to say to that?

Maybe he was acting harsher than before. It was his fault that she wasn't prepared more for all of this, but then again, Aaron thought of plenty others he could blame.

"Yeah, I am an ass."

Red shifted her position a bit to look over at him again, and this time, he was grinning at her. She rolled her eyes and tried to get as much sleep as she could. She didn't understand him. Not at all.