Young Writers Society

Evaline leaned up against the dirt wall, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her body with the blanket. It's not the warmest blanket, but it was just enough, and she was grateful.

She wanted to lean back and close her eyes and escape from this world, but she couldn't. Her body was tired, but her mind was wide awake from being wary of Yoen and the adrenaline boost when running away from the wolves.

She peered back to look at his direction. "Is.. that a real horse?" she asked.

James had just laid down. Everything ached all over, but now he was hidden under his blanket, which he'd wrapped himself in on the ground.

He'd have to wake up before her, in the morning, if he wanted to re-wrap his wounds without her seeing. And that was if she slept at all. He didn't think he'd be able to, and he didn't know about her.

He turned his head to look at her, then glanced at Elliot.

A real horse? She hadn't seen one before? He supposed that wasn't entirely impossible, but wouldn't she just comment on not having seen one before? Why doubt if it was real?

"Yes," he said slowly. "His name is Elliot."

Evaline was sure Yoen was going to say that the horse was actually a different animal who nicknamed a horse, so hearing him say that it was very much real caught her off guard. He even named it.

It seemed ridiculous, but the way Yoen said it made it sound like she asked a foolish question. She stiffened, trying to think about how this was possible and why she was lead to believe otherwise. "Where did you even find one?" she asked.

Now James was confused. The woman sounded like she'd never seen a horse before because she didn't believe horses were around anymore. He wasn't sure if he wanted to press for answers or not. Either she was crazy, ridiculously sheltered, woefully confused, or a little bit of all three.

"I was given it as a gift," he decided to say. It was true enough. "From a friend."

Evaline repressed a scoff. "Riiight," she said slowly. "I'm sure you did."

James narrowed his eyes at her in the dark. Of all things to be suspicious of him about, she was suspicious of his horse.

"I didn't steal him, if that's what you're implying. I've had Elliot for years, now."

Steal a horse? Hah, that's funny. Evaline almost let out a laugh.

"Sure, what are you going to steal it from? The ground?"

Okay. Now she really wasn't making any sense.

"I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about," he said. "Horses exist all over the place. In the wild. In captivity. I don't even know what you mean by 'in the ground.'"

Evaline's smirk faded to a frown. Yoen didn't strike her as someone who would play an elaborate ruse, and he sounded legitimately confused and serious.

"Horses have been extinct for centuries," she said blankly. "What, does the wooly mammoth roam the land here too?"

James had to turn to her for this one.

He propped himself up a little on one shoulder so he was facing her while still lying down.

"Look, --" he paused, realizing he didn't know her name. "I -- you never gave me your name."

Evaline rested her chin on her knees. Yoen didn't exactly explain the horse situation, and she had no idea why he would outright say that they were everywhere. Perhaps he was confusing the horse with another animal. She had no idea; she felt just as confused as he seemed to be.

Evaline paused, wondering if she should say her real name. Based on what she has heard, it seems unlikely that anything would come from using her name. Still, better safe than sorry.

"Eve," she said. "My name is Eve."

James sighed.

"Okay. Look, Eve. I don't know where you're from that you don't think horses are real, or whatever, but around here? Horses are very common. Go to any farm, and you'll find them. They're a major source of transportation. They're a very normal part of everyday human life."

Evaline narrowed her eyes at him and sat up straight. "I don't appreciate the sass, Yoen," she clipped back. "Or the lies. It's a nice thought, though."

"I'm not lying," he retorted. "I don't know where you come from, but I'm telling the truth. Maybe life is very different where you come from, and that's fine, but clearly, you're not there anymore."

Evaline wanted to keep telling herself that Yoen was lying for whatever reason, but deep down, she knew she would be lying to herself. Since she woke up in this place, things haven't been the same. Nothing made sense or felt familiar, and although she did admit it was nice to be next to a living breathing person, she felt it in her bones that something was off.

She thought back to the crumbled note in her pocket and what the first line said: if from this world you wish to part...

It still didn't make sense, but at the same time, it did.

"That's right," she admitted in a low defeated voice. "I'm very far from home."