Scarlet

Scarlet goes to the dining car and orders herself an espresso. She pulls out her portscreen and tries to research Wolf’s gang by searching for terms like “Loyal Soldier to the Order of the Pack” and “the Wolves Gang” (171). Her search returns no relevant results, but it catches the attention of a man at the bar, who begins to flirt with her. Scarlet finds herself flirting back, but she becomes annoyed with herself for acting like her father and flirting with people she isn’t interested in. She learns the stranger’s name is Ran, and she excuses herself to return to her train car. As Scarlet leaves, she notices that something about Ran set her on edge and remembers how “she had seen him on the platform in Toulouse” at the same time that “Wolf had become so on edge” (176). She wonders if it was Ran’s presence that startled him. Suddenly, an announcement fills the corridor and alerts the passengers that the maglev is “experiencing a temporary delay” and “all passengers are to return to their private quarters immediately” (176).