A cold afternoon darkness shadowed the alleyway. The sunlight loomed above the ceilings, not wanting to come close to the snowy ground.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkSZrK8opQ
Evangelique exhaled then inhaled, wheezing. The man was fast, and because of her heavy metal legs and her heeled boots, she was at a disadvantage.
Why did she think running after the man was a good idea?443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRAT6hs14W
Did she even think at all?
As she ran farther, she saw a dead end come close to both her and the man. The man turned to face Eva and took out a knife from his left pocket.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVL6kErjGF
He lunged towards her in hopes to fatally wound her, but instead, missed. Eva tripped to the ground, landing on her bottom. The man violently grabbed her long, maroon hair tightly and pulled her upward.
"Who sent you?!" raged the man. "Do you want to die?!"443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmQEFI6o1T
Rather than being composed, he was quite frantic. Eva felt foolish for following after the man with no help, no weapons, and no plan.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3PwC8gIw1
Nonetheless, something within her heart urged her to pursue him.
"Answer me!!" scowled the man, pulling her more. She winced at the pain coming from her head. If he pulled tighter, she was sure he could rip out her hair.
"I-I..." stuttered Eva. She opened her eyes slightly and looked at her hands. They carried the markings of the Hamadryad once more.
Evangelique grinned involuntarily, and her irises turned a concerning shade of Byzantium violet.
"No one sent me," she replied, smiling sincerely. "I came by my own choice."443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfAoEw3sAx
The man's grip loosened due to the confusion he faced.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBah6bAKoma
"What do you mea-"
His voice was cut off by a sudden attack that was not from another mortal, but rather, a plant. Saturated cerise Rhododendrons grew from his mouth, spilling to the snow. He gagged and gasped for breath.
Eva stood up from the ground and brushed snow off of her coat. Her eyes glowed with a violet flame in them.
"How about you tell me why you set the tavern on fire?" asked Eva sharply.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNGcQ7ipm4
The man looked at her with wide and bloodshot eyes. Tears of searing pain welled up. They glared at her, telling her his silence remained.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcsRzySQY0
"If you do, I will tell the flowers to go away."
The man continued to stare at her defiantly. More rhododendrons began to grow, but this time, from his ears.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK7QELIGwH
A muffled scream came from his throat.
"Next they'll be coming out of your eyes," warned Evangelique.
The more and more the flowers grew, the less and less she seemed to be human.
"Thank you, Miss Evangelique...I'll take it from here." spoke a soft voice.
Eva's once glowing eyes turned back to its original blue. She turned around to see Tsubaki standing with his sword in his hand.
"O-Oh, it's you!" exclaimed Eva in an innocent tone.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gTkSq8qEX
"I think you might want to let him go..." replied Tsubaki, pointing to the man. The flowers had stopped growing, but he was struggling to continue breathing.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXICsxmXiL
"Oh my goodness, what did I do?!" shrieked Eva in panic. She waved her hands frantically as the flowers disintegrated.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRxrdGWvxT
"You're a halfling, correct?" asked Tsubaki.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDf5JMQvno
"Yes," replied Eva. "But--"443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuQvH9pVF0
"Hey!" croaked the man.
Eva and Tsubaki looked at him. He pointed a pistol at the both of them. His dirty hands shook with his whole body as she tried to stand up straight.
"Y-You won't take me alive!" proclaimed the man.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb9W3pAm6y
"Yes we will," replied Tsubaki, deadpan.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAcwJKmbP2
"No, you won't," said another man with a deep voice.
Evangelique and Tsubaki turned to see a tall and burly man with a bald head and well-grown beard stood with five other men, all well built and intimidating.
The two looked closer to see the man held another person by the back of his garments, right at the nape.
A man, who was none other than the nervous yet smiling Ago Nagisa.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97hWTUEkpC
