"You can't keep her as hostage forever." Said the Major as his son re-entered the kitchen.
"Why not?" Asked Jarod on his way to the fridge. "The Centre does this all the time."
"But you're not the Centre." Without any words, Jarod opened the fridge and reached for the bottle of gin. "I'm not?" he questioned himself and lingered in thought for a moment in front of the fridge. Thoughts about Nancy kept coming back, and her reproaches against him. In moments like that, he wished for the naive times with Nia and Zoe.
But that time was gone, along with the naivety of how he used to see the world. Nancy had finished him off. With the words, YOU are a monster that belongs in a cage.
A deep breath and Jarod noisily placed the bottle on the kitchen table. Where was his innocent curiosity and his deep desire for PEZ.
"Miss Parker upstairs," his father began. "Is not to blame. That Nancy called you a monster and Emily stopped seeing you as her brother. Ethan warned you to take this step."
Jarod placed both palms on the table and looked up like a Gangster boss at his father. The bottle of gin in his middle. "Where's the problem, Ethan also said, I should be myself. If I remember correctly, he spoke, Jarod. Don't hide your inner self."
"Does Miss Parker see it the same way?" The Major pointed over his head. "Is that why she's here? Then I still don't know what you intend to do with Miss Parker. Own her or protect her."
Jarod avoided his father's gaze. "She's not a monster. Her style is just a bit unconventional."
The Major sat down and played with the matchbox he found on the table. Jarod reached across the table and took the small box from his father's hands.
"Parker is more than any other woman I ever had. She makes me happy and sad at the same time." A soft hidden smile was on his lips.
The moment was over and As if on cue, Jarod grabbed the gin bottle in front of him and took a long gulp.
"Have you been thinking about Nancy again?" Jarod looked wide-eyed at his father.
"You always do that when her name is written on your forehead."
"I just wanted to protect her."
"You disappeared and left her alone. Right here in this log cabin for a week."
"I didn't want to fall into the same situation again. You know, the Centre, Zoe, and Lyle. Nancy had a cell phone." The defense was poor and Jarod knew it. "She could have called me."
"The cell phone you gave her had poorly reception here in the wilderness. Nancy had poured her heart out to Emily. Not everyone can match your survival instincts. Some can't, others don't want to."
Jarod put the bottle on the table and left. To the only constant in his life.
When Jarod opened the door to his bedroom, he found himself in a darkened room, and the silence didn't last long as he turned on the light.
"You bloody bastard!" a groan came from a corner of the room. With a goal and a grin, he sauntered toward the corner of the room.
"Whatever you want from me," Miss Parker began to whisper.
"You on the bed." he interrupted her and waited for her usual tirade. But there was nothing. Instead, she frowned, swallowed, and bit her lip.
"Good." It was the only answer she gave him.
He looked down at her in irritation. The answer came too quickly, too easily. That was not Miss Parker.
She raised her eyes and looked up at him. "Right now," she began with a pause, frowning, knowing his question. "I don't know who kills me faster. You or the migraine. Although…" she began. "You don't have the guts to do it. Because that little girl is still haunting your dreams."
"I'm serious." Jarod straightened his shoulders and looked at his huntress. "Get up!"
Miss Parker stood up. Brushed her hair out of her face and closed for a moment her eyes. His huntress took a deep breath and opened her eyes again. Careful not to look into the cone of light next to him. That was the moment Jarod realized it. His huntress suffered.
"Where do you want me?" She asked.
"In the Bathroom."
Miss Parker nodded but didn't move.
Jarod spoke with raised eyebrows. "Do you have a problem with my command?"
"No, no. Shower is okay." Her eyes were lowered, afraid of the light and the pounding in her head. " But I don't know who will bring me to my knees faster.
"Just go to the damn bathroom, Parker."