All Of Us - Part 1: Summer

Chapter 22 - Spy

- Dæor -

"You won't be getting a tattoo."

Her face falls.

"Why ?" She asks, visibly trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.

"You have to.. Gail ?" I pass the hot potato. Gail smirks - she noticed I couldn't answer the question.

"Well, Evangeline, I know I did an entire speech at the debate about equality and all that," she starts, placing her two forearms on the table and leaning on them, "but actually, you just can't have a tattoo like the others. This is an opportunity too good to pass." Evangeline only looks more confused and Keiti steps in. "You can't have the tattoo, because it's a sign that betrays your adherence to the group."

"You're going to be a spy for us at the Castle," I finish off. Keiti shots me a killer look. She wanted to be one to drop the dramatic line.

And then something weird happens. Evangeline's face... Any emotion that was on it before falls off. Or more exactly... It's cut off. Like a dent in a rock of marble that you would chip away, leaving nothing but a clean slate behind. Expressionless, like a slab of stone.

"I'm going back ?" She questions, but she has already understood. The hope that question carried died before it went past her lips.

"Yeah," answers Gail. "We're sorry, Evangeline. It's just... You could be so much more valuable than a fighter for us."

"I understand," she replies, nodding slowly. "I will do whatever's best for the cause."

There is a moment of silence, and I zone out. My eyes travel across her face. A long cut bars her cheek, but I can tell it won't scar. Her two eyes are still shut, and are slowly turning blue. I wince. That has to be painful.

"And when will I be sent back ?" she asks tentatively. I glance over at Gail. She picks my cue up and answers:" We don't know yet. But it'll be in a while. We're playing a sort of... game with the Cro - with your Father." Evangeline doesn't flinch. "What do you mean ?"

"We're waiting, so eventually they'll get desperate and offer us more for the ransom." Gail sighs. "It's an imperfect science, and this is the first time we've had a prisoner like you. We really have no idea when we'll hand you back."

There is a silence as Evangeline nods. The atmosphere is deeply awkward. I don't know... Maybe we expected Evangeline to be jumping with joy. Which was incredibly stupid, with hindsight. I rub the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger. "Alright, that's all we wanted to tell you. Meeting adjourned, I guess," I finish off.

Keiti and Gail begin to move towards the exit, but Evangeline stays put. Oh... She can't see.

"Evangeline, let me help you," I offer. She hesitates. I can tell that she hates having to accept, but eventually she nods. "How are your wounds holding up ?"

She turns towards me. "Better." I sigh and pass my hand through my hair. "Doctor Mulligan told me that you refused his help ? That you're taking care of yourself ?"

"Yeah. I have the rudimentaries. It's not exactly my first time recieving a beating."

My head turns sharply towards her. I'm glad she can't see the expression on my face; she probably wouldn't enjoy my pity. I want to ask what she's talking about, but something in my gut tells me not to. Not yet.

"I'm really sorry it happened to you, Evangeline", and it's unclear for either of us whether I'm talking about yesterday or her life.

"Don't worry about me, Dæor," she smiles at me. "Will you take me back to my room ?" She extends her arm, and I take it as if it's a delicate thing. She stiffens at my touch, but quickly relaxes. "This way," I lead her gently. We stroll out of the room and down the hallway.

"I wanted you to know that the people who beat you up yesterday are going to be punished. Physically", I add. She doesn't react, and I am forced into an awkward silence. Did she hear ?

"What are you going to do to them ?" she asks finally. "We haven't decided exactly yet." Before she can reply, I declare: "We're at your room." We stop and she grazes the wood of her door with her fingertips. Wait... A door ?

"Did you do that yesterday ?"

"Oh, it was mostly Aline."

"Still, Evangeline ! You shouldn't have done physical exercise in your condition. It's not good."

She turns to me, her face serious. "And when did you last sleep, Dæor ?"

"I... Uh..." I splutter.

"I can still tell, even with my two eyes closed, that you are sleep-deprived. Really sleep-deprived. Are you an insomniac ?"

"No," I reply, brusk. "I'm not. I just always have things to do, Evangeline. I have to go." Surprise flashes over her face, but she shuts it out quickly. "Alright", she answers, turning her back to me. She finds her doorknob and walks in.

And I know I'm the one who asked her to leave, but I don't want her to go.