Chapter 25

Grace wrapped up what she was doing, and told Scarlett she would be out for the rest of the day. She then got Lucas to let her into Archer's office, where she gathered everything they had bought the day before, so she could bring it to him.

His condo was about the same distance from work as her townhouse, but in the opposite direction. As she got closer to his building, their call from the night before replayed in her mind, and she couldn't help but imagine where the clown had stood, watching Archer walk home. A shudder ran through her as she started to ascend the front steps.

The front door had a buzzer system, which she didn't even think about. She had planned on banging on his condo's door unannounced, demanding him to open up, so she could check on him. If he wanted to, he could simply ignore her buzz-in request.

She found his name and unit number and called him on the intercom. After a minute, when there was no response. She called again.

"Grace?" Archer said through the static of the poor system.

"Hey, I have your goody bag," she said, as she held up his defensive bag to the camera.

"You didn't need to bring it to me."

"Yes, I kind of did, and I'm not leaving until it's sitting in your apartment."

There was a moment of silence, and Gr ace was losing her nerve when Archer finally spoke.

"Come up," he sighed and buzzed her in.

Grace ignored the elevator and took the stairs to the sixth floor. She avoided elevators ever since that poltergeist terrorized their elevator at work. The building was placed on a waitlist for exorcisms, due to the backlog of possessions and hauntings, and a shortage of priests, so it haunted them for months.

This particular poltergeist loved to pinch bums, mess up hair, untie shoe laces, unzip pants, and pop shirt or blouse buttons. They were more interested in bugging people than causing any elevator mishaps, so the property management allowed the elevators to still run. It was an enter-at-your-own-risk type of situation. Grace didn't like the idea of being felt up in an elevator, whether by ghostly or human hands, so she avoided the elevators then, and still avoided most elevators now, preferring to take the stairs.

When she reached Archer's condo, the door opened before she had a chance to knock or take a deep breath to calm her nerves.

"Come in," he said quickly. His eyes were focused around her, behind her, like he was expecting something to jump out at them at any minute.

Grace hurried through the door.

His condo was exactly like she pictured it. Modern furniture, minimalist, clean, and orderly. Archer, however, looked like crap.

It was evident by the heavy bags and bloodshot eyes that he hadn't slept. His hair was unstyled, the length on top falling into his eyes. His clothes were clean, and he smelled of soap, so at least he had showered at some point.

He wore a stone-faced expression as he turned from locking the door, but Grace could see the worry, humiliation, and fear in his eyes.

"Talk to me," Grace said softly.

He gestured for them to sit on the couch.

"I don't think I can do this," he admitted.

"What's that? Can't do what?" Grace asked calmly, as she screamed internally.

"You were right. This campaign is stupid. A waste of time. Not just that, it's morally wrong."

"That's what I thought at first, but it was wrong for us to misrepresent the city like they had me doing before. This is better. It feels better."

"I can't be responsible for bringing innocent people here. I almost died last night Grace," he said with a haunting look, his eyes glassy.

"But you didn't. You can't think in what-ifs or you'll drive yourself crazy. Trust me, I know."

"What if this is all a scam? No, not a scam, like a ploy. We're being used, thinking we're recruiting new residents, families, but really, we're being used to expose Hell's Gate for what it really is. We're providing enough evidence for the military to finally decide to wipe the town clean, along with everyone in it. A clean slate."

"They can't do that, they wouldn't."

"Think about it," he said, tapping the side of his head.

"No! Stop this right now. I'm not going to let you fall down some conspiracy theory black hole. You're better than this."

"The city wants to move up the start of the campaign. We were able to get enough footage from the tentacle attack. They want the segment on the morning show in two weeks, and billboards and ads to start running the day after," he said.

"When did you find this out?"

"Yesterday. I got the call when you were being questioned about Larry. I meant to tell you, but got sidetracked. I was going to wait until this morning to tell you anyway, but then last night happened."

"Archer, you did so great. You handled it. You're here," she assured him.

"We shouldn't have to handle weird demonic killer clowns, or vampires who stalk us on darkened streets. This is so fucked up. You see that, right?"

"I know it's not normal, but–"

"We could leave," he suggested.

"Leave?"

"You and me, let's get out of here. We can go anywhere, start our own firm, be partners. Be together. Start a family somewhere monsters aren't trying to eat us every other day."

"Whoa whoa whoa," Grace said, standing up, holding her hands out in front of her.

"This is my home, I can't just leave. And I like you Archer, I really do, but can we just not get ahead of ourselves here."

"Fuck, sorry," he said, slapping his hand to his face and dragging it down. "I'm being pretty intense, aren't I?" he chuckled, but the amusement never reached his eyes.

"That's one way to put it," she agreed, slowly sitting back down beside him.

"How do you do it? How do you live like this?"

"It's all I've ever known. There has been a lot of heartbreak, quiet years, and not so quiet, very active years, but it's home," she explained. "Honestly, Scarlett said it best recently, if you can believe it. The city reacts to the threats, but we don't contain them. We try, but we simply can't. One day, the rest of the world will be facing the same threats, scrambling and falling over themselves with how to deal with it all. They won't know how to protect themselves. I don't want to live in another city or town when that happens. I'd rather stay here, where we already know what to do. Where there won't be panic and disorder. We just get things done."

"Scarlett said this?" he asked in disbelief.

"In not so many words, but basically, yes."

"That's actually brilliant, and oddly comforting and reassuring to hear."

"I thought we would use this point of view when we're further into the PR campaign," she suggested.

"I was really scared," he admitted, taking Grace's hand in his.

"I know," she said. "I was scared for you."

"I'm not handling this very well, am I?"

"I'd say it's pretty on par with how someone would deal with a near-death experience," she suggested with a kind smile.

"But I look at you, with your date being killed in front of you, the warlock, and everything else, and you hardly seem phased by it."

"Maybe I need to learn to deal with it better too," she admitted.

"I must have blocked out what it was like living here. I need to build my tolerance back up."

"So you're going to stay?"

"I don't think leaving was ever a real option. Especially if you were staying," he admitted.

"I don't want kids," Grace blurted out. Better he knew now.

Archer laughed.

"Neither do I. I have no idea why I suggested starting a family," he laughed nervously. "Do you think you could spare some time helping me set up my survival bag?"

"That's why I brought it."

They spent the next few hours thoroughly going through every item Grace made him buy, explaining each item's uses, and who or what it protected against. Archer ordered dinner, and while she helped set up his bag, they ate and talked abo ut the previous night and a bit about work.

Her phone vibrated a few times. Mystery Man had sent her a few texts while they ate, but she swiped his messages away, hoping Archer didn't notice them.

"I completely forgot, your text said we need to have a chat," he said in air quotes. "Again, I'm sorry for ignoring you."

"You can stop apologizing, we're fine, promise," she said, then took a bite of food, allowing her a few moments to think while she chewed. "I do have something I need to bring up," she said cautiously.

"I'm listening," he said, matching her tone.

"I'm just going to say it. I'm talking to another man online."

"Oh," Archer replied. He frustratedly kept his features in check, so Grace couldn't gauge how he felt. "The same one from before? Scarlett said you had a ‘mystery lover,' or something."

"Fucking Scarlett," she mumbled under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Yes, the same man. And he is still a complete mystery. I still have no idea who he is or what he looks like, for the most part."

"But you like him."

"Yes," she admitted. "Then you came sort of out of nowhere…"

"So you like me too."

"Yes. I'm sorry."

Archer burst out laughing.

"Grace," he chuckled. "You don't have to be sorry, and I appreciate the honesty. Technically we haven't even started dating yet. This, here, doesn't count as our first date."

"So, you'r e not mad?"

"No, but I'll admit that I want you to myself, but since he came first, I can't really claim you, can I?" he asked, with a slight head tilt.

"Wait, you told me you were sort of seeing someone when I thought you and Scarlett were hooking up," Grace reminded him.

"That was you, Grace. I liked you."

"Oh. But, you hated me then. You were so angry, short, combative."

"I admit I was a dick. But that first day, when I turned around and saw you, even with the gas mask on, I fell for you instantly."

"So you fell for me, which meant act more like a dick?"

"Apparently. I fought it. I didn't want to get involved with anyone here. I wasn't sure if I was even going to stay during the first few weeks, so I guess I was trying to push you away. I'm sorry."

"You should be. Such an asshole," she chuckled.

"And if maybe I didn't fight it, you wouldn't have started talking to someone else. I guess it's normal for people to date other people."

"It's not, at least not for me. I don't know how to navigate this. And it's so awkward even having this conversation with you."

"I don't like that he still hasn't revealed himself."

"We're meeting Friday," she stated.

"Oh, okay."

They sat quietly for a few moments. Grace's mind went wild.

Just choose Archer, screw the other guy. Archer is real, in front of you right now.

But what if the other guy is my soulmate?

Do we believe in soulmate s?

I should just tell them both to screw off, dump them both for liking me and putting me in this situation, flee the country, and quietly raise baby goats and marry my vibrator.

"I'm going to be honest with you," Archer said, breaking the silence.

"Please do," Grace insisted.

"I don't like it. But, again, it's not like we have really started, so this is what I'm proposing. Meet your mystery man. I'm going to back off until you do."

"Archer, you don't–"

"I do. I'm not asking you to choose. I still would love to take you out on a date. Maybe Saturday? But I want you to go out with him first. The only thing I ask, is that if you sleep with him, cancel our date. Dating multiple people is one thing, but I can't handle that."

"That makes sense. And just so you know, I could never do that."

After another awkward moment of silence, Grace was the first to break it.

"I should go."

"You don't have to."

"Yes, I do. Thank you for dinner," she said, standing up and grabbing her bag.

"Grace?"

She swung around and found Archer standing in front of her. He gently pulled her into his arms, and they shared a long embrace.

"Thank you, for showing up today. You keep saving me," he said while his cheek leaned against the top of her head.

"Thank you for letting me," she said softly. "I'll see you in the morning?"

Archer released her and gave her a reassuring nod, before he opened the door for her.