Evelyn sits still for a mere few seconds, frozen to the spot after witnessing what had just happened. She had been released. The bars had been ripped off the cage. After jumping out of her shocked state, Evelyn scrambles forwards, attempting to stand but falling back onto her knees straight away. She welcomes the feel of the grass again, savouring it brushing against her free but excruciatingly sore ankles.
The person strides over to where she was now lying on the grass, grabbing her gently by her elbows and pulling her up. From this close, Evelyn could tell that her saviour was a man, staring up into his eyes as he moved her away.
"You-you broke the cage," Evelyn mumbles, attempting to focus on putting one foot in front of the other but having to rely on the man to help. "How?"
He pauses for a brief moment, looking down at her, his eyes narrowing at her pitiful state before continuing walking.
"I'm just like you. Special."
Evelyn feels tears rush to her eyes, a sob threatening to escape as she spoke, "Thank you, thank you so much."
She lets the tears free. She was no longer alone.
The man- Erik, he had said- had managed to sneak her out of the circus, the darkness of the night doing well to disguise them both as they stuck to the shadows cast by the vivid moon. He had told her about his mutation, the ability to control metal which manifested when he was in a Concentration Camp, and now he was on a journey to find the man who had killed his Mother and subjected to him years of pain.
"Why did you help me, Erik?" Evelyn asks, still leaning on him for support as he led her through an empty street. "You have your own mission to be concentrating on- not that I'm not grateful, but, why?"
"People like them, they see us differently. We're dangerous to them so we are kept close where we can be monitored on, for entertainment, for research, we are different. You were being treated as no more than an animal, all because you have this gift which sets you higher than everyone one else. Your gift should be encouraged, but not in a way that benefits them, in a way that benefits you."
Evelyn looks back up to Erik, seeing his gaze being set straight forward, his eyes taking on an angry edge.
"I'm tired of seeing us at the mercy of others, I endured much pain at the hands of Schmidt, just as you've endured a life of captivity."
She nods at his words and notices a sign for a hotel not far away from them, the thought of sitting down somewhere other than the hard ground bringing joy to her, and it was all down to the man by her side. Evelyn thinks back to his words on Klaus Schmidt, his life long mission of hunting him down.
"I want to kill him."
Erik glances over at her face, the dirt on her forehead creasing into a line with the wrinkle her frown had caused. He lifts an eyebrow, despite knowing full well what she meant.
"Ronald Anderson. The man behind the whole operation of the Circus, he was the one my Father gave me to and he was the one who kept me chained up and forced me to perform for 10 years. I want him dead, and I want to be the one to do it."
Erik nods. "And you shall be."
"I could've done it, Erik, as soon as you let me out I could've gone to his tent and fried him inside and out, I could've had his face pecked and eaten to pieces- I need to do it," Evelyn spoke, her voice getting faster and sharper with each word, taking on an angry edge.
"I understand Evelyn, but if you go back there now chances are nothing will change. They will be looking for you, more than just Ronald and you will find yourself going back into one of those cages for a much longer time. Look at you- you're weak, they've stripped you of everything and you need to regain that, I promise you, one day you will have your revenge."
As much as she hated his words, Evelyn knew he was right. She was drained from both the sedative and what she had caused earlier, she would barely be able to do anything against him in this state; she wanted him to feel the most pain he could possibly experience.
"I hate them all, Erik, not one person has tried to help me in all of those years except you, I hate them."
Erik says nothing as he guides her into the hotel, only squeezing her arm slightly as they walk. He understands.
Evelyn had forgotten what it felt like to use a bath, and what the experience of sitting down on a bed was like.
"It's a cheap hotel bed," Erik notes, sounding amused at the sight of Evelyn spread across the bed, her face gleeful as she runs her hands over the bobbly cover.
"I know, but it's a far stretch from the ground and cages," She replies, sitting back up to look at him across the room.
She was now wearing standard hotel pyjamas that had been left in the room, and she couldn't remember wearing anything that felt so soft and so nice. She had also been able to wash herself properly, with hot water and scented soap, a big changed from the cold water and rags she was usually given. Erik couldn't help but feel happy at the sight of Evelyn, he had rescued one of his own kind and she had completely transformed from what she was earlier; it was also nice to have some company for once from someone who understands, not that he would admit it out loud.
"It'll be the best sleep you've had in years," Erik adds after a few moments, moving to pick up his shoes from by the door.
"I most certainly will be," Evelyn says, watching him put his shoes on. "Where are you going?"
"I just need to sort something, I won't be long."
Evelyn nods, trying to quell the uneasiness that appeared at the thought of being left alone again. Erik leaves soon after, and Evelyn leans back down on the bed, releasing a loud sigh before closing her eyes.
Though it was the most comfortable and best sleep Evelyn had experienced in a long time, she still awoke various times during the remainder of the night, seeing Erik's figure illuminated on the sofa by the light from the window each time. It helped her calm down each time, convincing her what she saw in her dreams would never be happening again.
When she heard Erik get up and go to the bathroom, Evelyn opened her eyes and sat up in the bed. She could see much more intricate details of the room now it was light, a new one being a packed bag parked on top of the little coffee table in front of the sofa. She listened as the sound of a shower being turned on filled the room, looking down at her hands with their green faded vine-like imprints. They would usually disappear after a few hours, especially if she had only used her powers for a short while, but they were still there. The thought finally hit her that she would never have to use her power for the benefit of others ever again, the feeling of a wave of tears coming over her- she managed to push it down however, she had done enough crying in the last day.
Erik finally emerged about 10 minutes later, dressed although his hair was slightly damp. He nodded at Evelyn in greeting, and Evelyn returned it with a small smile.
"Sleep well?" He asks, sitting himself down back at the sofa.
Evelyn shrugs, moving the cover off of her before standing up. "As good as I could. It was the best sleep I have had in years though." She opens the little drawer next to the bed, picking up the small notepad and pen that was in there and then sitting back on the bed.
"What are you doing?"
Evelyn uncaps the pen, looking up at Erik. "I want to see if I can remember how to write, it's something i'll have to start doing now."
Erik doesn't answer, only watching as Evelyn's face scrunches up in amusement as she writes on the paper, her hand shaking slightly as she does so.
"Are you leaving today?" Evelyn comments, remembering the bag from earlier, feeling slightly strange as she asks.
Erik answers after a moments silence. "Yes- You're welcome to come with me."
Evelyn pauses in her writing, meeting his gaze from the side of the room, a strange look appearing on her face.
"We're the same, you and I, we can understand each other like no one else will ever be able to. You will never have to return to a place like you were at before ever again, I can promise that."
Evelyn gulps, feeling emotional and extremely grateful at the offer she was being given- knowing one day she would regret her words.
"Erik, I-I can't thank you enough for that offer, I don't think you know how much that means to me that you're willing to let me, a stranger come along with you-", She pauses for a second, before continuing, "-But, you have your own revenge you are seeking, and I have mine, I don't want to distract you from that. And after I have got my own revenge, I want to know what it feels like to live again, to not be in a constant move- I want to stay in one place."
Evelyn watched Erik's face as she spoke, hoping he wouldn't take it the wrong way. She was extremely grateful for what he had done, she was in a debt to him she would never be able to repay. But she had been constantly moving her entire life (which is ironic considering the amount of freedom she actually had) but she wanted to live a life once more.
"I understand. I can't force you to join me." Evelyn could tell he didn't get the answer he was hoping. "I'll be leaving later on today. I'll pay the hotel for another week and leave you with enough money to get you started."
"Erik-"
"If you're not coming with me you need to start rebuilding a life, and at the moment you have nothing. The week will give you enough time to sort something out, the money won't be a lot but it will be enough. I know what it is like to start over again."
"You didn't have to do any of that, Erik, thank you, I don't know how I will ever be able to repay you."
Erik gives a small smile in response.
Evelyn runs a hand through her brown hair, thinking as Erik picks up his bag that at the first chance she would get she would buy a pair of scissors to cut it. She can't help but feel sad that Erik was going, he had given her more in a day than anyone had in ten years, she would have loved to have gone with him, though deep down she knew it wouldn't be the right decision.
When he moves in front of her, Evelyn launches her arms around him, not caring as he stiffens slightly at the contact, before relaxing and cautiously patting her back. It was the first caring action she had given in years.
"I'll never be able to thank you enough, Erik," She mumbles, her voice muffled by Erik's jacket. "Honestly, I have no words for how grateful I am, I'll never forget you, ever."
Erik chuckles slightly, pulling out of the hug. "Neither will I."
They say their goodbyes and Evelyn watches as he shuts the door behind him, his footsteps fading the further away he gets.
When outside, Erik goes to put his hand in his jacket, feeling a piece of paper as he does so. He pulls it out and unfolds it, confused to how it had gotten there as he never usually keeps paper in his jacket. He is greeted by the sight of wonky writing, each letter attempting to be joined though failing slightly; he could still make out 'Thank you- Eve', bringing a fond smile to his face as he folds it back up to place back in the pocket.
AN- Thank you so much everyone for the follows and favourites, I hope you all enjoy this chapter! We will be moving into First Class in the next chapter, and I also have plans to take this into DOFP and Apocalypse as well, as long as people are enjoying it!
Please leave a review letting me know what you all thought of this chapter! I'd love to know what was liked or how I can improve.
Thanks for reading!
