Resilient

Chapter 15

You've got to be kidding me. Evelyn thought looking into the mirror in her closet. She was wearing the first dress provided to her by the stylist. What was the point of making that damn list? The dress was beautiful but she thought the plunging v front to her belly button may have been a bit excessive.

"Come on out Evie, we want to see it!" Pepper yelled from the bedroom.

"Pep, are you sure you gave the stylist my list?" Evelyn said, turning her body so she could look at the back of the dress. It was skintight and Evelyn didn't think she would be able to walk in it let alone dance.

"Of course, but I did make some edits to it," Pepper said innocently while drinking her wine. While Natasha snorted into her glass.

"Edits? I asked for a modest top and with a sneeze my girls are going to be out on display Pep," Evelyn said walking out moving slowly.

"Babe alert!" Natasha said, "but I do agree it's not quite your style."

"Next dress!" Pepper said raising her glass, "and no complaining. I don't have anyone to spoil so you get my full attention."

Evelyn tried the next dress on and walked out; a green mermaid style with a halter top.

"Next," Natasha said shaking her head

Evelyn turned around and went back into the closet and quickly took off the dress. Deciding against doing a fashion show with all the dresses she started to pick through them and discard any that didn't match what she wanted. Then she finally saw the perfect dress.

It was cream colored with beautiful wildflower designs sewn into the bodice and down the right side. Her fingers traced the embroidery and could remember the same flowers growing around her old house. When she slipped in on she immediately smiled and twirled. It had a slit to her midthigh which meant it would be easy to dance in and the top was a sweetheart neckline that covered everything it needed to. She turned to each side smiling and then saw the brand mark and her heart sank.

"Evie, if you don't come out right now I am going in, naked or not," Pepper threatened from right outside the door. When Evelyn opened the door she let out an audible gasp, "that's the one."

Natasha jumped up and ran over and leaned on Pepper's shoulder, "It's perfect! Wait, why does your face look like that?"

Evelyn grasped her hair and pushed it to the other side and turned to the women so they could see the brand scar. "I don't want people to see this," Evelyn looked at the ground while she felt their eyes burning into the mark.

"Holy - you were branded by them?" Natasha said anger filling her, "why would they brand you?"

"Remember when I said to Hydra I was Evelyn Pierce?" Evelyn started and continued once Natasha nodded "this came to my advantage only one time but led me to be branded so everyone knew I wasn't to be touched."

"Evie, what happened?" Pepper said, leading her to the couch. Evelyn closed her eyes feeling sick and shook her head. "Please Evie, you don't have to go through this alone."

Evelyn starred forward, her mind going back to the base. "One day after combat training; the two soldiers who were responsible for escorting me came to take me back to my cell and went in. They were talking about how beautiful I was and how they loved seeing me fight. I could feel their thoughts washing over me and I kept trying to get away from them," she tracing the flowers on her dress again and felt Pepper rub her back as she took a big breath. "They were stronger than me - I had just gone through heavy training where the goal was to beat the shit out of me. They got the upperhand and one held me down and the other was getting undressed." Evelyn said clenching her fists, "I was screaming but knew that no one was going to come save me."