A/N: This is one of the longer chapters and I'm pretty proud of that.

He killed her... He came into my home and committed murder.

"Read the rest of the note," Marigold urges.

I glance down at Marigold trying to peak over my shoulder. It's a bit of a struggle for her since she barely reaches over my shoulder. I could rest my chin on top of her head  and still have to slouch a little. 

"You read," I suggest, because I can't read Blake's damn note with the smell of blood in the room. Marigold takes the note and cautiously reads from the start.

"Dear Xavier and Amber and whoever else has to witness the dead body. I don't have much time for this letter, but would want to explain myself. Jane ordered me to kill Amber. As you may have noticed, I couldn't do that. Instead, I shot this innocent maid. The blood is on my hands," Marigold reads. 

We both glance at the maid on the floor. I think her name was Sarah. I feel ashamed not being sure. She lies face down on the carpet - broom right next to her. The back of her head is split open so thoroughly, I have to restrain myself from getting sick. I've seen blood and gore, but it just gets to me when that blood belongs to an innocent.

"Killing the girl was wrong. And I'll have to live with that. But see this as an opportunity. Jane will probably think Amber is dead so keep it like that. It's safest. Lastly, I just want to add that I'm sorry. Amber, I'm sorry for everything. The engagement, the way I treated you. The way I tried fixing you. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I've made bad choices, but I've always tried to help you like you helped me. I'll always care for you. Now please, get out of this town as soon as possible. Change your identity and leave," Marigold finishes reading.

"The bastard killed her... She was only workin' for a week. I still wanted to get to know her," Nessa says.

"You wanted to fuck her," Daniel scoffs.

"Can we not talk about the dead like that right now?" Jack asks with a glare at both Nessa and Daniel. "If you two don't stop, I'm spilling the tea. You can't keep secrets from a hacker."

Nessa and Daniel stay quiet - both turning red.

Paul walks over to the dead girl and turns her body over. I want to tell him to leave it, but he looks so sad while scooping her up. 

"Jack, go help Paul take care of the body. Do what you have to. Hack your way into finding out if she has family," I order.

"I'll do so," Jack says before he's off with Paul.

"Daniel, go clean the mess," Nessa says.

"I'm getting a drink," Daniel snickers before he's off to the liquor cabinet. Nessa shrugs and follows him. She looks like she could use a drink as well.

Alone with Marigold, I look down at the golden universe. Her hair is almost completely back to that rich blonde color and her skin has picked up a tan, but the oceans in her eyes have turned grey. Like the color of a cloudy day.

"How dare he," Marigold whispers.

"What?" I ask.

When Marigold looks up, tears are threatening to run down her eyes, but they stay put. "How dare Blake hold my life over this girl's? How dare he force me to live with the knowledge that because of me, someone is dead," she rants. "I've already had enough of that," she adds.

"It's not your fault," I reason.

"Oh really?" Marigold asks. The grey clouds in her eyes are replaced with a storm. "My uncle's heart in my chest is not my fault? Matt and Calvin dying is not my fault? Lynch dying or my cousin leaving or even this girl is not my fault?"

I pause. "No... It's mine," I answer.

Amber stops glaring at me and her look turns soft again. "Don't be ridiculous, you're only trying to save the world. Everything that's happened was just-"

"My fault. I've accepted it," I reply.

We both go quiet. Marigold standing there with her wild hair. Me standing here with my neat style. The smell of blood fills the room. But somewhere through that, I smell wildflowers and paint. Somehow in this fucked up world, good is still breathing.

"The man that became a monster, so he can save the world," Marigold sighs. "How the world will write stories of you." 

I stay quiet. 

"Stories of how hated you were," Marigold adds, "Even though all you ever did, all you've ever sacrificed was for this ungrateful world."

I don't consider myself an emotional person, but right now, Marigold's words are crawling it's way through my armor. I find myself so grateful for this golden universe. Not for only being the person she is, but being the person that through everything she's been through, still takes the time to look at others. Look for the good.

"You do realize what Blake's actions mean now?" I ask to change the subject.

"What?" Marigold asks.

"Freedom," I answer.

"Free-dom," Marigold says to test the syllables on her tongue. 

"We'll have to find you a disguise. And we'll probably have to get out of town for a bit. Just a day or two so Jane's spies don't find you." I explain.

"Well," Marigold says, " I've always wanted to dye my hair white."

"So don' worry. By the time ye back, Isabella will be a proper haunted hoose. Jus' please don' get caught. And use protection," Nessa greets with a wink.

"Uhm, I'm going to pretend that by 'protection', you mean bullet proof vests," Marigold says with a cringing expression.

"Well with dipshite here, a bullet proof vest might come in handy in the bedroom," Nessa smirks.

I cough. Twice.

"I like the hair. It looks like mine," Jack smiles at Marigold.

"Yeah well, it's not permanent," Marigold says and tugs at a lock to check out her new hair. Almost completely white, you'd be surprised how much different her hair makes her look. 

Surprisingly with the Jack-themed style, Marigold doesn't look cold. She actually looks warm. She's not winter and frost, but rather a sunny day. Like when you've been in the dark for a while and go out into the light for the first time. It's that hot, blinding Summers day. 

"Remember to take your medication. And if Misses Loner Boner gives you any trouble, just call me," Daniel greats Marigold.

"Will do," she laughs.

Paul stays tight lipped, but smiles all the same and gives a short wave to Marigold.

"Bye, Paul," the work of art smiles.

"Well, I'm very touched by everyone's concern for me. Your goodbyes are heart-warming," I great with sarcasm and push back my neatly styled auburn hair.

"Oh shut yer geggy and leave. Nobody cares about ye," Nessa dismisses.

I don't take it personally. With a few more laughs exchanged and Marigold's backpack in the car, I go ahead and climb into Nessa's white Porsche that she's miraculously loaning. I guess my Christmas present earlier this year worked. Marigold follows soon after and we wave goodbye to everyone. I would've had the rest of the gang join if it wasn't so suspicious. Just me leaving for a deal seems normal. The whole gang leaving would cause suspicion. Besides, my inner gang needs to stay at Isabella's to stop Jane from snooping around and finding out if Amber really is dead.

Jane... I'll probably have to see her again soon. The engagement is set. Now we're just waiting for a date to get married and finally merge gangs. Then, and only then can I have the numbers to defeat the South and maybe make this world a little better.

"I know someone who can fix Phoenix for you," Marigold says when we're already on the open road and out of Tygerwell.

"Who?" I ask.

"Sean. He's an expert in cars," Marigold explains.

"Sean Shavel? Yeah, I've heard of him. He's the kid who's always down. I met him when we had that race remember? Blue Jay versus Raven," I remind Marigold.

"Ahh, yeah! That's right! I still think I won though."

"We were equal, Marigold."

"Keep telling yourself that."

"You want to settle this?" I smirk.

Marigold hesitates. "We only have one car. Besides we need to get as far away for the next two days as possible," she reminds me.

"Where are we even going?" I ask.

We both keep quiet. 

For a minute or two it's just the sound of the engine purring through the rushing wind. We're already on the Western road - heading away from Tygerwell. Farms are all we can see for miles. Every now and then I spot a farm house or horses or sunflowers. I can't help glancing over at Amber every few seconds. Her white hair rushing behind her. Blue eyes scanning the road. 

She's got different clothes on. While she was dyeing her hair, Nessa managed to sneak into Blake's empty house and get Amber's clothes. Right now, Amber's dressed in a sundress. A pale pastel-yellow kind of thing and if you really look, you can notice the tiny speck of white paint on the hem of the dress.

"I know a place," Amber finally says to break the silence and looks over at me. She raises an eyebrow after catching me staring at her.

"Yeah?" I ask and try to act sophisticated. It's a little harder not wearing a suit and just a button up black shirt with pants.

"There's this hair spa a few hours West. I think we can find a room for the night as well," Marigold says. I send her a look and she quickly adds: "Two beds."

"Whatever you say, Marigold," I smirk.

"Oh please, you're a taken man, remember," Marigold smiles right back.

I literally taste bile at the back of my throat. I get nauseous with even the thought of marrying Jane. It's this horrible feeling in my stomach that makes me lose my appetite. Just imagine it. 'Hello, Honey, how was your day?' she'd ask. 'Oh, could've been better if you were dead,' I'd reply.

But everyone needs to make sacrifices. This is mine. One of them at least.

"So do you know how to get to this hair spa?" I ask.

"I can google it," Marigold offers.

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

The rest of the car ride goes by without any trouble. Marigold cranks up the music and is surprised to find my 80's music playlist on the USB. When I asked her what the big deal was, she said it's nothing and that I just have good taste in music. We pass two towns before getting to a third. 

Paxton Springs is a town literally in the middle of nowhere. The only reason for human life there is because of its hot water springs. The buildings are old and need some work, but every now and then I spot a new place being set up. The hair spa Marigold mentioned is at the very edge of town - near a small mountain or over-sized hill. It's one of the better places the town has to offer. We roll in through the gates and pass trimmed hedges that really need more water. When we park at the front, two Indian woman are already standing ready.

"May we take your bags?" the one asks. She doesn't have an accent.

"Sure," I say and hand her our backpacks. She smiles politely at me - her dark eyes turning warm before taking the bags and heading back inside. I don't miss her hands that are covered in patterns. The other lady walks Amber and I to the reception.

"Welcome to Vala Sapa. How long will your stay be?" the lady at the reception asks. She's an older Indian woman and has a slight accent. I'm guessing she's the other two's mother or something since all three share the same dark eyes and high cheekbones.

"How much for one night?" I ask.

The old lady keeps her smile, but subtly glances over my shoulder. I look back and the Porsche is standing proud at the parking.

"Three thousand," the lady smiles when she looks back at me.

"Did you just-" I try saying, but Marigold is quick to interrupt.

"We'll take a room with two beds," she smiles.

"Two beds? That's an extra thousand," the old lady says.

"A thousand bucks for an extra bed?" I ask stunned.

"Beds are expensive these days," the lady shrugs.

"We'll take it," Marigold says before I can add my opinion. 

The older lady sends the younger one to show us our room. We follow a set of stairs and pass rooms until we get to the very last one. Everything's just a little too white for me in here. The hallway walls and doors are all the same pearly white. I'm relieved when there's a tad bit of cream added in the room we're staying in.

I understand a little more why we're paying four grand for the room once I'm inside. Elegant white walls open up to a spacious area with white modern chairs and cream pillows. There's a TV that's only slightly out dated but still looks decent. A small glass dining table is on our left with an empty bowl on it. Across the room is a giant window and a massive king-sized bed. There's only one other door in the place and I assume it's the bathroom.

"Where's the second bed?" Marigold asks.

"Oh, here," the lady says and moves over to one of the couches. She pulls and tugs at it for a bit before it unfolds into a cot. It does not impress me.

"That's for you, Xavi," Marigold laughs.

"Please don't call me Xavi," I sigh.

"Oh now it's sticking," Marigold smirks mischievously. 

"Before I leave, if you need anything or want to make an appointment at the spa, just use the phone here on the wall and call for Prisha. I'll be your host," the lady explains. She turns around - her long braid of silky black hair flipping over her shoulder - before she leaves. 

"There's no way I'm sleeping on the couch-cot hybrid," I state to make things clear.

"There's always the floor," Marigold shrugs.

"That's cold."

"I'm sure the floor will be too."

With nothing to add, we get settled into the place. Marigold jumps onto the bed, because it's too neat for her. I sit on my cot and sulk. When Prisha comes back to fill the fruit bowl, Marigold stops her and makes a very expensive appointment to get our hair treated. Prisha leaves and half an hour later returns to take us to the ready spa. 

We don't get separate locker rooms when we have to dress into gowns. My guess is this is more of a couples place.

"If you so much as take one peak while I dress, I'll gauge your eyes out with the nearest shampoo bottle," Marigold threatens.

"Oh no, not the shampoo bottle! Please! Spare me! Use the conditioner. Anything but the shampoo bottle," I laugh.

"I wasn't joking," Marigold says with a look as serious as an executioner. 

I swallow a lump in my throat.

Making sure not to look at Marigold, I undress and get into the gown, when I turn around, Marigold is smirking at me in her own gown. "Nice butt," she chuckles.

Instead of blushing, I play it cool. "I know you find me attractive, if you want to stare at my naked body, you just have to ask," I grin.

As expected, Marigold starts blushing like there's no tomorrow. "Well, you, I.. Th-the thing. You're an engaged man Xavier, shut the hell up."

"And if I weren't?" I smirk.

Marigold doesn't answer and tries ignoring me instead. Smug with myself, we head to the spa where Prisha and who I assume her sister is, stand waiting for us. The place isn't as spacious as the rooms, but it's clean and unsurprisingly very white.

"We'll be heading into the steam room now," Prisha smiles.

"You can remove your gowns," her sister adds.

Marigold and I share a look. Hers, shocked and worried. Mine, very, very smug.

Well, heh-low goldies!!!

So this chapter was for the Xamber shippers. Next chapter is gunna get steamyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Because of the steam room...

Lol let's see what y'all want to happen.

Steamy Xamber kiss.

Nothing.

Xamber agreeing to just be friends.

Some feelings revealed.

Please remember to vote if you want your wish to come true! Love y'all and remember to stay awesome!

~ Holly Shmit