THREE DAYS BEFORE EVA RETURNS
"Do you have all the materials?" Hopper asked as he went through the list again.
"You've asked the same question a hundred times already. Yes, we have them all," shouted Eva as she tied her shoelace.
"We're all set, boss," said a guard as Eva dismissed him with a nod.
"Let's go. We have to be at the meeting by nine... Oh my, Eva, you're bleeding," Hopper gasped as he threw his bag and rushed to her side, looking at her jacket which was soaked in blood near her sleeve.
"Oh, I didn't feel that," Eva said as she removed her jacket to expose the slash wound on her arm, which had reopened and was bleeding.
"I did that," Hopper said, looking at her wound in shock.
"I did that," he repeated.
"No, you did not. You hear me? You did not harm me, nor should you blame yourself," Eva shouted at him.
"But I let him, I let him. I was the one, I... oh my God," he started hyperventilating.
"Hey, hey, Hopper, look at me. Calm down. Breathe," she said, starting to comfort him.
"It was him, not you. He was the one who did it," she said as she hugged him.
"I never should have let him out."
"It's not your fault. Repeat after me."
"But..."
"Repeat, 'It's not your fault.'"
"It's not... not my fault."
"I know you blame yourself, but you're trying your best to control him and it's working, isn't it?"
"I... I'm sorry. I'll never skip my meds again."
"I know. I know you won't ever."
"Did he do anything extreme?"
"You don't remember everything?"
"No, only bits of his memories."
"It's alright. Nothing extreme. Remember, it's not your fault. Try to go to the sessions and take your pills regularly. He'll be out of your life soon."
"I promise. If only I didn't have this disorder," he mumbled, but she heard it.
"Don't guilt trip yourself. It's not your fault for growing up in a shitty environment. Anyone could develop DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) in that situation," she said.
"Okay, no more of it. We should get me treated and go to the meeting," she continued as he nodded and helped her dress her wound.
"Let's go. It's my final day here, and I want to be home as soon as possible," she smiled.
"Yeah, just hope those oldies don't come up with a new way to keep you here any longer," he said as they both headed to the meeting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So this concludes it. I don't think there's any more reason for you to doubt my leadership anymore," she said as she shot a man who appeared to be in his 60s.
"Yes, ma'am," the whole meeting room said as they looked at the dead body in fear.
There was no doubt that everyone in the room was thinking about the same thing right now.
She is ruthless.
The scars on her face added to the terror with her words and actions during the whole meeting.
"So, that ends the meeting. I will be taking over the Lotus starting now, and all the changes I'm listing will be implemented starting tomorrow."
"But the rules are set by..."
"I don't care. He is dead, I am alive, and I am in charge now. Anyone opposing can join him," she said, pointing to the dead body as everyone looked down.
"Good. Meeting is done. Now, everyone scram."
As everyone left as fast as they could, only two people stayed back.
"You're not leaving, doctor?" asked Hopper.
"No, I'm here to give the boss one last report," he said, handing over a file to her.
"What are the results?" asked Hopper as Eva went through the file.
"The experiment was successful," the doctor said.
"Good. I need these in pill form by next week and start preparing to evacuate this place," she said.
"Yes, huh? Evacuate why?" asked the doctor.
"I am blowing this place up," she said, leaving both of them shocked.
"What?" both asked at the same time.
"I don't like it here," she said as they both looked at her with wide eyes.
"It doesn't work that way," Hopper said.
"I want it to work this way."
"You can't."
"Why not? I am in charge now."
"This place has been the base for decades and has files from a long time. Shifting everything will take a minimum of two months, and we can't change the base just because you like it."
"Fine, let's leave this for now," she sighed but did not give up, and Hopper knew it too.
"You can leave now. Try to come up with the pills within this week," Hopper said, dismissing the doctor as Eva looked at him with squinted eyes.
"What?" he asked, annoyed.
"I am in charge, not you. Stop dismissing my people," she said as Hopper sighed.
"Not the time. You do remember you have to fight me to go home, right?" he asked.
"Yes, don't worry. I will win."
"I am not taking chances. To the training room now. What if he is the one you will be fighting?" he asked as Eva froze for a second, looking a bit fazed.
"Don't worry. I will be fine," she said.
"It's not a joke. He is a beast, and I don't think I can be myself ever again if anything happens to you because I couldn't be in control," he said, sounding broken.
"Don't worry. Everything will work out well."
TWO DAYS LATER
"Why the heck is it you?" Eva sighed as she stood in the boxing ring with Hopper.
Well, technically, his second personality.
Jones.
"Well, couldn't miss the chance to mess you up, little girl. You won't be getting out of this walking with your own legs," he smirked as he punched her in the face.
"Hey, fair match!" she shouted, but only got a smirk in return.
"Play with all you've got if you want to live, that is."
Soon, they were fighting intensely. By the looks of it, Jones had the upper hand, and Eva was pretty beat up now.
"That hurt," he shouted as Eva kicked him to the ground and punched him in the ribcage.
"Pussy," she taunted him as he tried to punch again, but she dodged quickly.
After another hour of fighting, he was on the floor with Eva pinning him down.
"Fine, you win today," he said, his eyes flickering before returning to normal.
"Oh my God, you look terrible," Hopper said as he scooped up Eva in his arms.
"I'm so sorry. I should have taken control sooner," he said.
"No, this was the perfect timing. Everyone else saw our fight and will never question my authority again," she said, slightly slurring her words.
"Let's get you to the hospital," he said, but Eva stopped him.
"Take me home," she said as she passed out in Hopper's arms.
"Happy birthday," he said, kissing her forehead and carrying her to the car.
"I'll be dropping her home. You all be set for the meeting next week and do your work," he said, dismissing everyone and taking Eva home.