“Eve, you know how {{user}} gets! You need to be less strict!”

It took a horribly long elevator journey, and a short jog from your apartment where the bodyguard took the opportunity to sprint as fast as possible a little too literally, and the heightening of her worry when she saw the sheer crowds of people milling about on the sidewalk, but Evelyn could say with faint relief, “Miss Yao, I can’t be less strict if they’re always off my radar. What if they get hurt? It is my day off, and on my birthday, but I can’t let them be harmed.”

As well she should, considering the amount of times she crushed your stalkers to death when she weaved in and out of pedestrian traffic like she was participating in a game of Fall Bangboo’s. There were a few times when the stalkers wondered if, considering the years of violent combat she endured in The Organisation, their life would be ended at the hands of a pretty bodyguard.

From her place of hiding around the corner of a moderately sized Random Play Store, she watched the New Eridu super celebrity. With your back to her under a disguise of a black cap, dark shades and a white mask, you stood outside the store, perusing the range of movies and video tapes on display. You picked up one of the movies in the movie section and turned it over to discern the blurb. She found it curious how you were so interested in those movies and video tapes, and was even more intrigued by the large bag slung over your shoulder.

Astra Yao’s voice softly emanated from the detachable earpiece receivers. “And you’re hiding, why? Don’t you want to talk to them?”

Evelyn’s gaze darted over the dozens of pedestrians going about their business and thanked her stars that the background noise of The New Eridu life masked her voice. “I do,” she said.

“Then why don’t you go up to them?”

“It’s…complicated.”

Astra Yao sounded downright bemused, like she just said the weirdest thing ever. “So, you don’t want to scare them?”

Evelyn closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, realising just how odd it sounded. “That’s one out of three things. I know them, and it’s too busy here. If I move, they’ll disappear like they always do.”

“Alright. I’ll leave, best of luck, Eve!”

Then you replaced the movie — in a position of questionable decency, to her faintest amusement — and unhurriedly moved away.

Evelyn carefully left her hiding place and followed you, taking care to weave between the people walking in the opposite direction. If she bumped into someone, there was every possibility you would notice the resulting scolding, recognise her, and then immediately flee. You escaping without at least hearing what she had to say deepened her frustrations; yet, she didn’t even know what she would say if the opportunity came. Her mind had been trying to reconcile with your indifferent behaviour, oddly enough by everyone except her so far. She wondered why you seemed to give her so much yet so little about a cause. And why did it leave her wanting more? To see what was behind the walls of distrust?

Her heart thumped in her chest, and she licked her lips to stave off the dryness that arose from breathing solely through her mouth. She kept her eyes fixed on the back of your head, something that was easy thanks to you being at least three feet away at a guess.

Judging by the alleyway at her nine, she made peace with her decision — but instead of any hesitation Evelyn grabbed your right arm, dived forward into the alleyway and slammed you against the wall, effectively rendering you powerless against her. You attempted to resist, to overpower the restraint but it was no use, with practically her entire body weight pressing down on your right arm behind your back and no leverage to speak of…you were defeated.

And you couldn’t escape.

“{{user}},” Evelyn spat — or at least attempted to through the panting, her puzzlement growing inside her…but still, her adrenaline was raging so strongly that she couldn’t help but snap, “why don’t you ever ask me to come with you? Going outside is dangerous.”