Heroes of Veridia: Evelyn's Journey

As Evelyn helped Elena to her feet, their eyes met briefly. Almost immediately, Elena's gaze widened, her expression shifting from confusion to something more troubled as her own eyes glowed. Evelyn's smile deepened as she noticed the effect. With a single blink, she severed the connection, and Elena's emotions returned to normal.

With her trademark smile, Evelyn commented, "I have no idea what's happening to me, but let's avoid eye contact, shall we?" Her tone was light, almost mocking.

Elena's lips pressed into a thin line as she studied Evelyn. "There's... something wrong with you."

"Interesting, isn't it?" Evelyn's eyes sparkled with amusement, an unsettling contrast to her detached calm.

"It's creepy," Elena muttered, a shiver running through her.

Evelyn merely shrugged, still smiling as if nothing in the world mattered. "Oh, come on, I'm alive, aren't I?" she said, scooping up Vivian into her arms. "Let's get our little 'Sleeping Beauty' somewhere safe before she has a rude awakening," she quipped, her voice filled with dry amusement.

Elena shook her head in a mix of confusion and frustration. "Sleeping Beauty? Really?" she huffed. "When you woke up, you demanded I heal her, and now... you're just smiling and joking like—like nothing matters!"

Evelyn blinked, her eyes distant but still wearing that unsettling smile. "She's beautiful, and she's sleeping. That makes sense, right? Besides," she chuckled, "I created you to help me, but mostly because I was bored. You're supposed to be on my side." She let out a humorless laugh as if amused by some cosmic joke only she understood. "See? All is fine here. You already healed me, so what's the problem?"

"The problem?" Elena's voice grew sharper. "You were crying minutes ago; now you act like you couldn't care less. The lightning did something to you."

Evelyn's smile widened as she shrugged, her tone nonchalant. "All it did was give me a bit of a thrill and a hair makeover. Sounds like a good deal to me."

Elena opened her mouth to argue but quickly averted her gaze as Evelyn raised a warning finger. "Ah-ah! You know what happens if you look into my eyes."

She bit her lip, nodding in reluctant agreement. "Fine. But do you realize that the lightning has changed you?"

Evelyn's smile only deepened. "Yeah... It's weird, but it seems I can't stop smiling. Oh, and I can control people's emotions now. Strange, right?" She gave a hollow laugh. "And I don't feel a thing. That's the fun part. Anyway, let's get Vivian back to the school before she catches a chill."

"You've lost your emotions?" Elena facepalmed, a mix of concern and disbelief etched into her face.

Evelyn ignored her, raising her voice in a mock call. "Manager! Now would be a good time to show up." She waited a beat, then shrugged when no one appeared. "Well, shocking. He did say I should call his name if I ever needed him."

Elena sighed. "Manager's a title, Evelyn."

Evelyn chuckled, shaking her head. "You think he'd give his name to just anyone?" She glanced up at the sky, still raining. "Say, can you get rid of this rain?" she asked, her tone playful.

Elena shook her head in resignation.

Evelyn just smiled. "Guess I'll have to do this myself. Let's reach the finish line—it might be our way out." She looked down at Elena. "Come back to Mama."

Elena transformed into vines that shrunk into the seed she had originated from. Evelyn plucked up the seed, placing it on her tongue with a smirk. She knelt, adjusting Vivian in her arms, and then bolted forward, gathering speed in a burst of power fuelled by the emotions of the creatures around her. Trees, animals, and even insects grew still and subdued as she pulled their emotions into herself, surging through the forest with newfound strength.

As she passed, the trees and creatures gradually regained their senses, their emotions returning in her wake. Evelyn's smile remained, a chilling mask that mirrored her calmness as she became a blur, a storm of emotions in the heart of the forest.

After minutes of sprinting, Evelyn skids to a stop near the finish line, spotting Number Two standing a few meters away, his figure still bloodied. With a steady smile, she gently hands Vivian over to him.

"Get this beauty out of here," she says, her tone light.

Number Two nods silently and takes Vivian in his arms, beginning to carry her away. Being one of Evelyn's soldiers and devoid of any emotions, he remains unaffected by her strange new power. As he departs, Caleb descends from above, floating down to confront Evelyn, his eyes narrowing in surprise as he sees her.

"How are you still alive?" he asks, bewildered.

Evelyn's smile broadens. "What can I say? I don't go down that easily," she quips.

Caleb's lips twist into a grin as he eyes her curiously. "What happened to you?"

"Can't a girl get a little makeover?" she counters, her smile unwavering.

"Makeover?" He raises a brow, his gaze tracing her waist-length hair. "You call this a makeover? How did your hair even get this long?"

Evelyn chuckles, stepping closer to him. "Nice of you to notice. Most people would just ask about the color," she teases. Then, her voice drops as she asks, "So, what's the plan now? Gonna try and kill me again?"

Caleb scoffs, his confidence unshaken. "I did it once. What's to stop me from doing it again?"

Without responding, Evelyn holds his gaze, her smile serene as Caleb makes the mistake of locking eyes with her. He doesn't realize what he's done, but she can feel his emotions shifting as her power takes hold.

"It seems nature does hate you," she says softly, her voice threaded with dark amusement, hinting at the thunder's mark left on her.

Caleb's expression shifts, and as the weight of her newfound power presses upon him, he finally understands.

Evelyn feigned a tearful look, whispering, "You really can't remember me?"

Caleb's expression twisted in confusion. "What are you talking about?" he asked, but soon his eyes shifted to mirror the same color as Evelyn's—his emotions, his very will, bending under her influence.

Still pretending to be vulnerable, Evelyn sniffled, "You promised to be by my side at all times, but you disappeared when we came to Phantom Edge."

Caleb's defenses crumbled. He stepped forward and wrapped her tightly in an embrace, murmuring, "I'm sorry."

Evelyn allowed herself a smile as his face was hidden in her shoulder. In a soft, almost broken tone, she whispered, "From now on, you'll stay by my side at all times?"

Caleb clutched her even closer. "Yes," he breathed, desperation etched in his voice.

Evelyn's smile widened. "And you'll do everything I say?"

Caleb nodded, fervently. "Yes, I will."

Feigning a sense of relief, Evelyn sighed, "I want to help you get out of here safely. But to do that, I need to know everything about your plans."

Caleb released his embrace, meeting her gaze with unwavering loyalty, unaware of the subtle shift in her expression. "Don't worry. My father's men have the Manager and his instructors held hostage. He'll get us out soon."

Feigning shock, Evelyn gasped, "Really?"

Caleb nodded with a hint of pride. "When we get out of here, I'll make it up to you. I promise."

Evelyn's expression remained, serene and haunting, as she nodded. "You said you'd do anything I ask, right?"

"Yes," he whispered, eyes filled with loyalty.

As Evelyn stepped back from Caleb, Sierra's shout broke the moment. "Caleb!"

Evelyn glanced up, a smirk playing on her lips as she regarded the approaching trio. "Ah, the Three Stooges have arrived. How does it feel running around with absolutely no aim in the world?"

Sierra's eyes widened. "Evelyn?!"

Lucas eyed her warily. "What did he do to you?"

Jacob squinted at her, frowning. "She looks... different."

But Caleb immediately stepped between Evelyn and them. "Stay back! I'll protect her."

Sierra's voice dripped with accusation. "You've been working with him all along? He almost killed you!"

Jacob murmured cautiously, "Are you sure she's not under some kind of control?"

Evelyn's gaze flicked to Caleb. "How did you know about the Manager's situation?"

Caleb pointed to his earpiece without hesitation. Evelyn extended her hand, smiling. "Give it to me." He obediently handed her the earpiece.

Jacob was visibly rattled. "What's going on with the Manager?"

Evelyn cast him a calm look. "Don't hurt the 'Lost-and-Found Trio.' They're my friends."

Caleb grinned. "I'll do whatever you say."

Lucas raised a brow. "The Lost-and-Found what?"

Evelyn ignored him, focusing on Sierra. "Go ahead, knock him out."

Sierra blinked, startled. "What?"

Evelyn's smile didn't falter. "Don't tell me your uselessness has affected your hearing."

"Watch your mouth," Sierra snapped.

Evelyn simply shrugged, still smiling. "Earlier, you said you wanted to punch him. Here's your chance. Unless, of course, you'd rather he fights back."

Sierra's eyes widened with realization. "What did you do? And why won't you look any of us in the eye?"

With an eerie calmness, Evelyn replied, "If you look into my eyes, you become my puppet. From what I know about you, you wouldn't enjoy that."

"Yeah, I wouldn't," Sierra replied, looking away.

Jacob shot Evelyn an accusatory glare. "Is that why he's treating you like his girlfriend?"

Evelyn's smile sharpened. "You're not entirely slow."

"Your jokes aren't funny," he muttered.

Lucas examined her, frowning. "You do look... different."

Evelyn telepathically instructed Number Three, to bring Collins to the finish line. She turned back to the trio, her eyes glinting. "It seems trust is something you three lack. Maybe one day we'll agree." With a final, unsettling smile, she added, "Then again, maybe you shouldn't trust me." She turned back to Caleb and beckoned him forward with a casual motion. "Come with me," she commanded, her tone light but her intent unmistakable.