"What do you think is going on?" I asked, looking back up at him.

"It's a new way of resurrection. They found that the Drac masks aren't working like they thought. They want to be able to manipulate the mind of the subject. We were their 2.0 tests." He replied.

"So that's why you had that thing on the back of your neck." I put my fingers on the back of his neck and felt the raised scar where two wires had been inserted.

"We were lucky that you didn't damage anything when you ripped it off of me. I thought my brain was going to explode." Ghoul chuckled softly.

We sat in silence for a bit before I spoke. "I really did miss all of you when you were gone. I even missed Kobra and his sarcastic attitude."

Ghoul smiled. "We all missed you too. Well I know I did, anyway. As for the others, you're like their babysitter. They would be lost without you."

I looked off into the darkness behind him. I was afraid to meet his eyes as I changed the subject. "I forgive you."

"For what?" He asked curiously

"You know... for what happened back then. You didn't know what was happening. You were just trying to survive." I tangled my fingers in his hair at the back of his neck.

"But I helped those guys who tried to kill you all back at the motel. I helped them kill. They think I owe them something because they took me in during the wars as part of their indestructible posse. They would remove anything that stood in their way and used me as a pawn. I guess to them I still am a pawn." Ghoul shook his head angrily. "How can you forgive me for such an awful thing? How can you still love me? This isn't some damn version of American Horror Story where Tate kills people and Violet forgives him. In the end, I have to pay the price for what I did."

"Don't say that." I replied sharply.

"But it's true! All of this has been my fault so far. You've already been through enough. I shouldn't have put you through this. Just a while ago, you were covered in someone else's brain matter." He made me look at him by catching my gaze.

I pursed my lips together to keep them from wobbling. I didn't want to cry like a baby in front of him. I just wanted him to stop speaking hurtful words. I loved him and I wanted him to know it was okay to feel bad inside. His emotions were valid, but I didn't want him to blame himself for anything. We were all brainwashed. We all followed orders in order to survive at one point. We were still trying to survive.

"Ghoul," His eyes were still dark. "It's not the first time I've been covered in gore. I'm not worried. Well, I guess I'm worried that I'm not worried. I should be scarred. But things have changed around here. What would once scare the shit out of me doesn't bother me anymore. You've taught me to be strong. Why won't you believe me?"

He wouldn't say anything, so I got up from his lap and walked over to the glass. I could see myself in the reflection. My dark hair needed a comb to detangle it. I ran my long fingers through it, pulling out knots. Ghoul's hand on my shoulder made me jump.

"Hey what happened to your face?" He asked and pulled my face towards him.

Ghoul pressed a finger against my cheek where a laser had burned it and I grimaced. "Hey don't touch that!"

"Phoenix! You didn't take care of it and now it looks infected. Why didn't I see this before? No one else said anything to you?" He instantly became the concerned mom.

"It doesn't hurt unless you touch it." I grumbled.

"We should get back to the camp so we can clean that. You can't leave that there. It's...gross." He pressed his fingers against it again and I used the blanket around my shoulders to block him from touching my face again.

He rolled his eyes at me. "Are you ready or not?"

I shrugged. "I thought that by coming up here alone....I would have more time with you."

He laughed.

"So I guess you take all of your girls up here? I'm not special?" I blurted out, trying to joke with him/

As soon as I said that, I could see hurt in his eyes and hear it in his voice.

"No," Ghoul replied. "You're the only one besides me that knows about this place."

"I didn't mean it that way. I was just joking." I stepped away from him, but it wasn't over.

"Phoenix, I don't want you to ever compare yourself to other girls." He began and put his hands on my waist. "You're mine and I'm yours. I'm not good with words, but you make me feel like my insides are on fire. In a good way, of course."

I could feel his lips curl up into a smile against my ear as he whispered the last words into my ear.

"Stop making me feel like I'm going to turn from a solid into a liquid. I don't think humans can or should do that." I stammered back, my heart becoming Thor's hammer in my chest.

He chuckled and pressed soft kisses down my neck. I sighed. He was too damn good at seducing me.

We laid on the blanket spread out on the floor. The light from the lantern lit up his tattoos with a cool, blue glow. He had his arms around me, rubbing my bare body with his hands to keep me warm.

"I guess that means enough laying around. You're turning blue." He laughed. "But I have to admit I missed this."

"Missed what? Spontaneous sex? Or me always being cold?" I raised an eyebrow at him as I pushed myself up out of his arms and began putting on my clothes.

"Hmmm," He considered and tapped a finger against his chin. "I would say both."

I peeked over at his bandaged torso. "Are you okay? Are you hurting at all?"

Ghoul chuckled. "Me? Hurting? You were the one laying on your back on the floor."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah and you are the one still wounded. I'm worried about you! I'm allowed to be."

"Whatever you say, my little bird." He teased.