CHAPTER 26: UNDERCURRENT
Some scar cannot touch. Some memory cannot erase. But when truth get twisted, pain can turn into weapon.
Evelyn stand between Viktor and Diego, feel like a guitar string stretched tight between two pole. The message from V.S. still blinking on screen, every word like a knife cut deep into her mind. Not threat, but a declaration of ownership. She don't want be battle line, but now she been pushed right into center of a war that cannot avoid.
Viktor lightly tighten hand around her waist, a silent claim of "she mine". Diego hot breath blow on her nape, like remind her the pressure closing in from all side.
"I need alone," Evelyn say, voice small but firm.
Viktor let go hand, but his eye still pin on her, full of hidden meaning. Diego step back one step, but air around her still thick with both men presence.
"You think we gonna leave you alone right now?" Diego smirk, voice mix sarcasm and warning. "V.S. not the type play fair."
Evelyn turn sharp, face him. "And you two look like love play fair so much?"
Viktor step forward, block her view of Diego. "Nobody in Blackhaven play fair, Evelyn. Question is which side of war you choose stand."
She look straight into his eye, search something in that dark deep. "I not choose side. I choose myself."
"That a luxury choice in this situation," Diego say, walk around Viktor, stand face her again.
"Tomorrow night. He say tomorrow night. He want dig up your past, and same time Blackhaven gonna bleed. You think you can stay outside?"
Evelyn clench fist, nail dig deep into palm. V.S. touch her weakest spot: the past. The past she try bury, run away, forget. But he wake it up, turn it into tool to control her.
"If he want memory… I give him memory," she say, voice hiss through teeth. "But not the way he want."
Viktor look at her, a spark flash in his eye. "What you wanna do?"
---
Meanwhile, in secret basement under V.S. mansion, shadow people still hurry finish install the metal crate. It not just box, it complicated machine, pipe and wire everywhere, give off cold air.
V.S. stand there, eye glue to Evelyn photo on small screen. He gentle stroke her face, corner mouth lift in creepy smile.
"Eve of mine… you will come back to me," he mutter. "Memory… is what tie us together again."
One man in black suit come close. "Everything ready, sir. Just wait right moment."
"Good," V.S. say, eye turn ice cold. "Tomorrow night. Blackhaven will know what called resurrection. And Evelyn… will be mine." He sip red wine, look out window where city light sparkle like cut on black curtain. "Time for Blackhaven change owner."
Www
Back to Viktor penthouse.
Evelyn stand in front big window, look down at blurry city light. She feel tension rise in air, not only from coming war, but also from dangerous closeness of two men behind her.
"What he want from your past?" Viktor ask, stand few step away, but voice fill whole room.
Evelyn take deep breath. "He want what he think he lost. He want power, and he believe I am the key."
Diego snort. "Every greedy bastard think like that. But key can open door, also can lock it forever."
"I not wanna be key for anybody," Evelyn say, turn around. "I once was puppet in hand of people who use me. I not do that again."
"So what you gonna do?" Viktor ask, voice lower, testing. He know Evelyn not the type just accept.
"I use that same past against him," she answer, eye hard. "But I cannot do alone. I need know everything. About people behind V.S., about his plan. And why he so obsessed with me."
Viktor and Diego look each other. A silent understanding pass between two boss, reluctant agreement but no choice. Even they hate each other, they have same goal: stop V.S. and protect their empire. And for that, they need Evelyn.
"Fine," Viktor say, step closer, hand touch light touch her shoulder. "We tell you everything you need. But in exchange, you must trust us."
"Trust is very expensive thing in Blackhaven," Evelyn reply, eye sharp like knife. "You two think you deserve it?"
Diego step to her other side, one hand lean on wall next her head, make small cage between three people. "We not ask trust. We ask cooperation. And you… have no better choice."
Evelyn feel warmth from Viktor hand on shoulder and electric from Diego so close. She trapped between two fire, but in this moment, she know their fire can help her burn the common enemy.
---
Same time, deep underground Blackhaven, group in black moving long metal coffin-like crate.
V.S. stand above, look down.
"Tomorrow night," he say. "Memory will open. And they cannot stop anymore."
His eye turn to small scr Evelyn photo.
"Either you come back to me… or Blackhaven burn."