Carina

Evaline couldn't stop the weak, mirthless laugh from escaping her throat. She shook her head, glaring at the path in front of them, not letting the words affect her pacing. ...

"Okay, fine. Then be Jerica. I don't care," Evaline snapped back.

It was a simple statement, and one that was odd since Eve truly wasn't Evaline's name, but she knew it still prickled her. Shove it down. Don't let it show. ...

"...I just thought you should know," Evaline said when it was obvious Jerica didn't know what to say to this. She didn't blame her. "You don't need to call me ...

Evaline almost wanted to laugh. Almost. She had almost forgotten that she told Jerica her name was Eve. Now she was regretting picking that. Why did she picked that? She ...

"Because clearly you took it the wrong way," Evaline said, feeling the lack of patience return.

Evaline took her time to fork her next words, although she found her heart not being in it. That was fine. It had always been about gathering information, anyways. "What ...

As said, Evaline didn't talk to Jerica again for the next hour or two. They walked in tense silence, only really speaking for practical reasons, like to stop to take ...

Evaline closed her eyes for a few seconds, biting back the regret and hypocrisy. This was what she wanted. It would be better for survival if Jerica maintained her animosity ...

"I'm only offering advice. It's the most logical solution," Evaline said with feigned innocence. She knew she didn't mean it, and she knew Jerica was right. But it didn't stop ...

Evaline found herself saying the words before she could even stop herself: "Then maybe you should stop being Jerica."

Evaline glanced at Jerica, looking away before she could meet her eyes. "So, you haven't tried to permanently disassociate?"

Evaline shrugged like it wasn't a big deal, even though she already received a silent yes from Jerica. "Haven't we all?"

"Why do you say that?" Evaline countered. "Have you tried to disassociate forever?"

Evaline's patience was depleted, instead being replaced by exhaustion. If this entire experience was some kind of trap, she stopping caring. Maybe it wasn't so bad. Maybe she could entertain ...