Lulls

Stories have lulls. Even novels that can be described as "action packed" have them. Otherwise, our characters would hyperventilate. Or drop dead. Dealing with lulls can be problematic. You start to feel like you aren't making the novel exciting enough, or that nothing is happening. This is because it takes a lot longer to write a chapter than read one. If you're worried, calm down and read the chapter. Does it still suck? If so, edit. If not, unclench. Your characters need time to breath, and we need time to get to know them.

I've had two or three lull chapters, with short chapter reminding readers that very bad things are waiting for our heros. Kaito and *name withheld* were in the eye of the storm. They spent this time getting accustomed to being a couple, dealing with death, and arguing. By this time, I hope anyone who reads the story will be rooting for them. I've also noticed that my bad guys are kind of like a deadly version of the three stooges. The head guy is an asshole, but the rest are kind of lovable. I considered editing them to be scarier, but what they do is scary enough. The fact that they can be silly and even sweet with each other makes it worse when they remind us that, as far as they're concerned, humans are meat.

Kaito is especially meat. A sacrificial lamb, if you will. Very soon he is going to find that out, and he is not going to be happy. You would think he would run away someplace safe, and the story would be over. Unfortunately, people are stubborn and sometimes stupid. Worse, they are sometimes brave.