BLUE

Chapter Nine

I clicked through the guide on the TV, my mind racing about Hollis and his cult. Blue sat next to me, twisting his shirt in his hands, clearly burdened by my anger towards him.

After Hollis informed me and Blue about his new arrangement yesterday, he got up and left. Then, a new waitress brought the rest of our drinks and we sat in uncomfortable silence for thirty minutes.

Of course, his father didn't leave without getting Blue to agree to the fucking deal first.

"Syvl, I have a plan, okay? We don't have to follow through with my father's deal. We just need to find a way to get my mom without my father killing her," Blue muttered, his voice droning on as if his mind were swimming with schemes.

I scoffed as I clicked on a show that caught my interest. "Oh yeah, let's kidnap a girl and fuck her, and then hope to god that she'll follow me on a suicide mission to kill my father."

"In my defense, that is actually why I was watching you for so long—"

I snapped my attention to him, and exclaimed, "To fuck me?"

"No! No, so you and I could kill my father! I really need your skills to make this happen! You and Esmeralda have been a team for so long, and your loyalty to her has never wavered. You're dedicated, level-headed, and capable of serious damage. That's exactly what I need right now."

I was only half listening to the television, but I heard every word. With a sharp inhale, I mulled over what he said and then faced him, my glare narrow and poised.

"Blue, I want to forget every interaction I made with your sexist father yesterday, and the idea of killing him just feels like a chore right now." I massaged my temples, really emphasizing the word "chore."

His stare drew blank as he sank into the couch. "Okay. Okay, fine. Let's, uh... focus on the positive, I guess. Do you wanna talk...?"

I eyed him incredulously. "The last time we tried to hold a conversation, you left me in a room with a can of soup."

"Well, maybe I am more... open to talking since we've lived together for a while now," he said slowly.

"Oh, so, now we're roommates. I'm not your prisoner? I'm free to walk outside by myself, go to the store, and do eliminations? Yeah, Blue. I might have some luxury, but I'm still here against my will." I stated as I crossed my arms and turned my attention back to the television.

"Then I guess you're not curious by just how much I know about you," his words were guiled with temptation.

I eyed him from the side, "That is extremely creepy, Blue."

"Or flattering," he mused.

Finally, I gave in to temptation and lowered the television volume for background noise while facing Blue. He was already facing me, with the side of his body relaxed and his head propped up by his hand. I mirrored his stance, finding it quite comfortable until I crossed my arms again.

"Alright, if you're committed to this, what's your name?"

He chuckled, "Yeah, any question but that one. How about 'Who was your first kill?'"

I gulped, "Ivara Saunders. I was twelve when she died. It was me, Katie, and Esmeralda. We were celebrating Katie's birthday by making a bonfire, and we found this abandoned car in the middle of the woods. Turns out, old vehicles catch aflame pretty quickly, and Ivara was sleeping in the backseat."

Blue's eyes widened as his body tensed. "Your first kill was a toddler? No wonder you're so fucked up." I rolled my eyes, but beneath the facade, a sense of guilt gnawed at my insides like a bottomless pit.