Chapter Text
The ice left over from the vodka cranberry swirls once, twice, and continues this cycle while Eve idly twists the glass in her fingers. She contemplates ordering a third, but the drinks are surprisingly strong. Her thoughts were already swimming, bouncing from one end of her head to the other. Niko sits beside her. There’s only two sips missing from his vodka cranberry. Eve suspects he doesn’t care much at all for the drink.
“The decor is nice,” says Niko. “It’s a lot nicer than I thought it’d be. You know, for a remote lodge.”
Eve nods. “Carolyn sure knows how to pick them.”
They were sitting in the communal building of the resort. Dark timber logs sit atop the cobblestone trim, which runs the length of the base around the outside of the lodge. Moss-green tiles slate the roof, sunbathed and faded. Large and open windows line the walls, revealing the ever-darkening evening and silhouette of the forest outside.
“When did the rest plan on arriving?”
“Should have been about an hour ago,” sighs Eve. “But their train could have been delayed. They might have missed their shuttle.”
“Shame if they don’t turn up at all.” Niko leans in to whisper in Eve’s ear, “We could have the whole evening to ourselves.”
Eve smirks for him. Niko deserves that much after she dragged him all the way out to this resort.
“Tell you what. Let me order one more of these,” Eve taps the empty glass. “Then maybe we can try wrestling into our room again. I think there’s someone new at the desk.”
Eve leans away from the bar and looks down the hallway toward the reception area. The reservation for their room was under Carolyn Martens. When Eve Polastri, who is not Carolyn Martens, tried producing her I.D. at the front desk, the large gentleman deadpanned.
“No Carolyn,” he said, his voice heavy with a Russian accent, “no keys.”
Eve ran a hand through her hair before marching away from the front desk towards the bar. Niko followed in tow, suitcases and all. That was two hours ago.
Eve lifts her hand to grab the attention of the bartender. She taps the rim of her glass, and says, “Another vodka cranberry. Under the tab Polastri.”
The bartender nods and grabs a glass. The bar is one of full stock, with many different languages on the bottles, some wide and stout while others are slim and tall. Clear and dark liquors of all shapes and sizes are framed by a cherry glow.
“One of the blokes from your work is here.”
Eve snaps her head up, only to feel disappointment flood her body. Frank Haleton nods from across the bar. There’s a glass in front of him, clear with carbonation, and Eve doubts there’s any liquor in it at all. She is to wave or perhaps nod back, but the two vodka cranberries convince her to toss her head back and groan. Of course, it’s Frank. Out of all her coworkers to arrive promptly, it had to be Frank.
Niko waves for the both of them.
A third beverage slides in front of Eve. She places the empty glass toward the edge of the bar and snatches the other.
“You may want to slow down.”
Don’t tell me what to do, is what she means to say. But it comes out as, “What? I’m just killing time before everyone arrives.”
“Yes and your liver.”
“Come on. We’re on vacation.”
“Yes and you hate being here.”
Eve fixes Niko with a glance. “Do you take pleasure in being right all the time?”
“Hardly. Students take away all the satisfaction in being right. But if you’re talking about us, then I’m only right about when you’re upset about work.”
“What makes you think I’m upset about work?”
Niko sighs before he chuckles. He crosses his arms against the bar while turning to look at Eve.
“Perhaps it was your reluctance to pack? Or how you said you didn’t want to go on this trip nearly every day two weeks beforehand?”
“What does that have to do with-”
“I know how important this is to you. Finding whoever is killing these people. I know that it’s eating you alive. You don’t want to be here. You’d much rather be in the office.”
“We’re just so close to figuring it out. There has to be a pattern to all of these kills.”
“I know, honeybunch. You’ll sort through it. You always do,” says Niko with a lack of enthusiasm.
Eve’s brow furrows as her brain scrambles to find something to say. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be here with you. This is also a great time for us to get away-”
Niko kisses her. Her eyes remain open for a moment in surprise before sliding shut. It lasts for mere seconds before he pulls away.
“Finish your drink. The party is here.” He nods toward the front, where the rest of MI5 shuffles in with their luggage. Niko rises from the stool, grabs their own bags, and smiles at Eve. It’s tight. The mirth doesn’t quite reach his eyes, but he’s already walking toward the front desk. “Don’t forget to close the tab,” he says over his shoulder.
Eve looks after him for a long time. Niko goes up to Bill, shaking his hand before bringing him into a bear hug. Elena waves to Eve, so she waves back. There’s Carolyn, Kenny, and Keiko even brought her baby. Making a trip with an infant sounds like the worst work vacation, Eve decides.
Eve slaps back the rest of her glass, only to shudder when it passes through her lips. She eyes the rest of Niko’s drink. It would be a waste just to leave it, but out of the perphilial of her vision, she sees Frank move toward her. She swallows the bile rising in her throat as his cologne catches her nose.
“You know we have a meeting tonight?” Frank asks. He peers through his glasses, eyes move up and down Eve disapprovingly. “Hardly professional.”
She licks her lips, the taste of the vodka faint on her skin. Her tongue clicks once before she says, “No, I did not know we had a meeting tonight.”
“Hm. You should read your emails. See you soon, Eve.”
Frank passes by and it takes everything in her being to not tell him to piss off. The vice grip on her glass relaxes as she considers finishing off Niko’s drink once again. She shakes her head though, curls bouncing about, before she stands and walks toward her coworkers.
Eve pauses, curses once to her herself, and twirls on the spot.
She did not forget to close the tab.
…
The Big Twelve Resort surprisingly only had eleven cabins. MI5, coincidently, would take up only five of them. They were spacious and nice enough. It reminded Eve of her summers in Connecticut when her parents would drop her off at camp. Her thoughts were having trouble surfacing amidst the alcohol in her system, but memories of heavy timber forests, cozy cabins, and a sense of becoming lost amongst it all felt both nostalgic and familiar.
She wanted nothing more than to bury her face in the large pillows of her bed. Eve did just that though as she sprawled unceremoniously on the mattress, face down in the sheets when they were finally allowed access into their rooms. Niko spoke gently to her, trying to coax her to come to the meeting, but it was Elena who all but dragged her there. Apparently, it was mandatory.
When they finally pried Eve off the bed, Niko raised his brows in question at Elena.
“Sometimes Eve just needs a firm hand is all,” Elena said. She then hooked her arm with Eve as they made their way to the community building of the resort. It housed the lobby and bar area where they had waited earlier in the evening. Apparently, there was also a small cafeteria, which they passed while making their way to the board room.
The large gentleman, who went by Konstantin, as Carolyn introduced him, was both an old friend and the owner of the resort. He had denied Eve access to their rooms earlier, but swept Carolyn into his arms with gusto. Carolyn had called him an arse and Eve could only agree.
The mandatory meeting was led by Konstantin, who stands before MI5 giving them a presentation about the resort itself. Eve kicks her feet against the carpet, trying not to appear bored while ingesting knowledge of when the resort was founded and how long it’s been in the family. On the grounds, there was an axe throwing range, archery range, a laundromat, among other camp-like facilities.
“The woods are quite dangerous here,” says Konstantin. “There are paths for you to enjoy, but it’s strongly advised that you stay on them. We have a curfew here, too. It is encouraged that you all retire to your bedrooms before ten in the evening.”
“W-what’s,” begins Kenny. He looks to Elena then back to Konstantin. “What’s so dangerous about these woods?”
Konstantin smirks. “All things. You could get lost. You could drown. The wildlife is absolutely vicious.”
“And what does the wildlife consist of?” Elena asks.
“Bears, wolves, lynxes.” Konstantin counts off on one hand. “There is also big big Elk here.”
“Is it often that people are attacked by this wildlife?”
“Only as often as people wander off in places where they should not.”
“What’s with the shit curfew?” Eve isn’t particularly sure why she’s feeling so volatile, but as the question passes through her lips, several heads turn in her direction. Niko puts a hand on her knee, but she swivels her chair slightly to the right.
“It’s hard to shoot things in the dark, no?” Konstantin’s smile is tight. His teeth are brilliant and sit in two neat rows. When he raises his eyebrows, the wrinkles around his eye smooth out ever so slightly.
Eve sinks into her chair as Carolyn clears her throat.
“Thank you, Konstantin.” Carolyn’s voice is an authoritative whisper. The room stills at her calm demeanor. “We appreciate the courtesy you’re extending to our operation. We’ve had a long year and are looking forward to the opportunity of relaxing.” Carolyn gives a pointed look to Eve, who only sinks further in her chair.
“Of course. Anything for an old friend.”
When they smile at one another, Eve wonders how long they’ve been old friends. Kenny wrinkles his forehead, and Eve feels a bit sorry for him. Having Carolyn for a mom would be a lot like having her as a boss: always seeking her approval, needing to be one step ahead, and learning a new truth about the enigma that was Carolyn Martens on every social outing. Unfortunately for Kenny, he had to deal with both.
Eve turns away from their simmering eye-contact to observe the rest of the room. Three long windows line the wall behind Konstantin, yet the wall opposite of that consists of a whiteboard and projector. A fireplace sits at the head of the room with a portrait of wildlife. As Eve squints, she can make out the thin lines that run between the puzzles pieces that make up the framed art print.
“One last thing,” says Konstantin. “I must tell you all the myth born from these woods.”
Carolyn chuckles. “Oh, please. Not his old tale again. You’ll give my team nightmares.”
Konstantin grins like a child knowing he’s about to get away with something. “What? It is one tiny, harmless story.
“If you insist.”
The large man claps his hands together. He rubs his palms as he walks over to the fireplace, where he stands by the puzzle portrait before turning to address the rest of the room.
“There was once a boar who fell in love with a bear. The boar was a brute and ugly, who slobbered everywhere through his tusks. But the bear was kind and gentle. If you came to her homestead, she would give you honey in exchange for stories. The boar brought the bear flowers. No one knows why she said yes to the boar, but they became a couple.
“They lived happily in the woods, but it would not last long. The bear’s beauty was coveted. Hunters wanted her nice fur pelts, so they tracked her relentlessly. The boar and the bear had to hide, and over time her fur pelts lost its luster. And when the hunters found her, the boar did not even protect her because she was no longer beautiful. The hunters skinned her. They took the rest of her light, but not before she gave birth to a baby girl.
“When she was born, the bear gave the girl the head of a rabbit. She wore the head of the rabbit to hide her beauty that she inherited from the bear so the hunters would not find her. And when she was older, she received an axe from the boar. The woods were her playground and the wolves her playmates. She was every bit as feral as she was human. The boar, however, was not as kind and gentle as the bear. When he disciplined her, it left bruises on her fair skin because she did not have fur to protect from his blows.
“But the boar, despite his brutish behavior, taught her many things. He taught her how to hunt, to fish, to be silent when stalking prey. Their favorite prey to hunt was Maksim the Great Elk, who had a big crown of horns. Maksim was the boar’s adversary, challenging him for the rights to the forest. The boar was relentless, but Maksim was elusive, only showing himself when he wanted to. The boar would drag the girl along on the hunts, but she was never safe when the two came to blows.
“One fateful day, Maksim revealed himself to the girl, but not to the boar. He asked her to stay quiet, so she hid under the brush. Maksim charged at the boar then, spearing the boar on the prongs of his horns. He wore his blood like war paint in victory. Maksim expressed his gratitude to the girl, but it was a miscalculation that day for him to let her live, for she grew big and strong.
“The girl became the rival to Maksim, fighting for dominance of the forest. She wore the head of a rabbit and took on the mantle of the Huntress. Without the bear and the boar, the Huntress grew up alone and without human companionship. She spoke with growls and marched over the cold forest floor with bare feet. She took the boar’s axe in order to hunt Maksim, and they began a dance once again. For years, Maksim evaded her, but she was not as simple as the boar was. Her cleverness cost Maksim his ear and he would never make the same mistake again.
“Maksim went into hiding, so the Huntress bides her time by hunting people instead. For her, those kills are far more intimate because humans bleed their weaknesses. Her beady eyes need only flit over her prey once before she knows exactly how to kill them. She does not have to be as quiet when she hunts humans, so she hums the lullaby that the bear taught her. She sharpens her skills with every hunt, preparing every day for when she comes face-to-face with Maksim, once again.”
There’s a pregnant silence in the room. Eve’s mouth is slightly agape and she looks to Bill. He wears much of the same expression.
When the silence is broken, it’s done by the awkward and brave Kenny.
“So this Huntress,” says Kenny. “She’s a fairy tale? Sort of a myth then?”
Konstantin shrugs. “Kind of. It’s a story we tell the guests when they arrive. My wife tells it much better. It helps sets the tone for the stay here.” The large man moves to peer out the window into the darkness. “It also encourages people to stay on the clearly marked paths.”
“And my team will do so,” says Carolyn in a rather chirper voice. “They’re a smart bunch.”
“For their sake, I hope so.”
…
The gray of the morning greets Eve when her eyes creak open. A trail of fuzziness runs up her arm before she feels thousands of needles penetrate her skin. She groans as she rolls out of bed and shakes out the numbness in her limb. There’s also a fuzziness that hangs over her head like a fog. Her mouth is dry and she’s groggy, but at least she’s not hungover.
Her bare feet skim over the cool wood floor as she makes her way to the bathroom. Niko’s snores ricochet off the pillow behind her. While retreating to the solitude of her morning routine, Eve searches through her thoughts for a time when she considered Niko’s snores endearing. Amidst the fogginess, those memories seem farther and farther away.
She ties her hair back, washes her face, and brushes her teeth. When Eve feels a bit more human, she exits the bathroom and sees Niko has rolled over so his back is facing her now. She sighs as she considers him, but rather than waking him up she just gets ready for her day.
The cabins at the resort were fairly spread out. Six cabins made a the shape of a U, surrounding a large field of trees and the community building resides at the mouth of the U. The other five cabins were nestled further into the woods. Eve could not see said building when exiting her cabin, but the three minute walk there allows her to collect her thoughts before the day.
The past year had been made up with more failures than successes. MI5 and MI6 united under Carolyn to track down an assassin who had been working internationally for what she believed had been three years. Eve was attracted to the job prospect when Carolyn presented it to her, for she had a certain fascination with murder and how assassins do what they do. Eve’s cleverness proved to be resourceful when she commented on the killer’s style. It landed her the job on the spot.
Many sleepless nights, declarations of frustrations, and coffee cups later, the team was at their wits end. They were no closer to the killer than when they started. Carolyn decided for them that they were taking a vacation to the remote Russian wilderness, which Eve considered a joke. But Carolyn doesn’t have a humorous bone in her body. Flights were booked and calendar space was penciled out. She could not fathom the expenses of the trip, but imagined that Konstantin had something to do with how affordable it was for the lot of them.
Work vacation, including spouses and children, hardly seemed like the ideal scenario for anyone, let alone Eve. She wanted nothing more than to stay back in London in order to work on the case, but Caroyln said she needed this trip the most. Whatever that was supposed to mean. Niko appeared relieved in tandem with being on edge at the idea of this vacation.
“Are you sure you want me to go?” Niko asked.
“Of course I want you to go. Why wouldn’t I want you to come?”
Eve releases a slow, even breath as she twists her wedding ring. The walk to the community center is quiet and contemplative. The overcast starts to break above, spots of blue sky poking through among the clouds. She reaches the dark timber building and her sneakers thud against the steps up to the door.
Once inside, she sees a bald man in a trench coat speaking quietly to Konstantin at the front desk.
“I am sorry- What was your name? Anton?” Konstantin clarifies. “Well, Mr. Anton Zykov, it is too early for you to check into your room. Cabin six is still in need of cleaning. I don’t know how you got a cab from town out here so early.”
“Good fortune, I suppose. How long will it take until my room is ready?”
“An hour? Maybe two? Best if you maybe waited in town.”
“That’s alright. I can just become well acquainted with your breakfast bar, hm?” Anton rasps his knuckles twice against the front desk and Eve can see the rings on his fingers. When he twirls on the spot, his gaze lands on her.
“Good morning, darling,” greets Anton. He saunters past her, rolling his luggage behind him.
The man’s appearance makes her wish the bar was open, but when she looks in its direction she sees that the cherry lights are off. The bottles appear dull in the morning.
When she walks past Konstantin, he gives her a knowing smile.
“Yes, good morning darling,” says Konstantin, his tone mocking Anton.
“Don’t.”
Eve hastily retreats into the cafeteria. Linoleum floors framed by white-blocked walls greet her. There are paintings on the walls of wildlife, not professionally done, that remind her precisely of summer camp. Posters hang over them, many of which she can’t read. The smell of sausages and eggs beckons Eve to the breakfast bar.
Eve idles by the posters, eyes flicking restlessly over the text. They appear to be about safety or a set of rules. A generous portion of the wall also holds faded photos of previous campers. Out of the corner of her eye, she notes Anton walking away with a tray in hand. Once he’s a respectable distance away, she closes in on the food. Her modest plate includes fried eggs, sliced sausages, and rye toast. Instead of finding a seat in the cafeteria, Eve marches out into the hallway and makes her way to the boardroom.
From her pocket, she pulls out the key card and slides it through the electronic scanner to get access into the room. Admittedly, the spaces within the community center seemed more on the end of high-tech. Kenny paled when Konstantin handed out metal keys for their cabins instead of plastic cards. They were cut off from most day-to-day luxuries: decent wi-fi, cellular service, good plumbing.
She set her plate on the edge of the large table and went to work. MI5 deposited boxes of their case files the previous evening when they had the mandatory meeting with Konstantin. Eve lifts the lid and gingerly places it to the side. Files, photos, and tape collect in her hand as she begins to spin her web. Little under a half hour passes before she has half the wall layered with the past year of MI5’s work.
She chews thoughtfully on her rye toast as she considers the threads that connect the photos.
There’s a click of the door unlocking behind her and she sees a balding head of someone she actually enjoys.
“There you are, you scoundrel,” says Bill. He uncharacteristically wears sweats and a t-shirt. Eve does a double take. “What are you doing? You’re not suppose to be in here.”
“What am I doing? What are you doing? What are you wearing?”
“Don’t dodge the question. You’ll be in big trouble if Carolyn finds you in here.”
“Oh piss off,” says Eve softly. “I just wanted to get a head start. If I get some work done now, I can be present for our ‘recreational staff bonding.’” Her voice drops an octave as she brings her hands up to make quotations.
“That’s a load if I’ve ever heard one. You’re never one to pay attention, whether there is or isn’t work to be done.”
Eve scoffs and she fights a smile at her lips. “You’re ornery this morning.”
“Sorry. It’s the baby. Can’t sleep a wink for more than three, four hours at a time. I was up with her a majority of the night. Keiko was having nightmares.”
“Nightmares? About what?”
“About that bloody huntress bullshit the one bloke told us about last night. She swore she heard the humming of the lullaby.”
“Oh. Oh, jesus. Yeah, that was weird. Konstantin? He’s kind of a weird guy. Do you know how he knows Carolyn?”
This time Bill raises his fingers in air quotations.
“They’re ‘old friends.’”
Eve snorts and nudges Bill in the shoulder.
“I’m so glad you’re here to keep me sane. I swear I’d be losing my mind if I didn’t have you here.”
They both relax against the table behind them. Eve picks through the rest of her breakfast while Bill admires her handiwork. He flicks his wrist to check his watch.
“Are you every bit as excited for axe throwing today as I am?”
“What the fuck is axe throwing?”
…
Wood chips crunch under feet as MI5 shuffles toward the axe throwing range. A large timber wall, standing a head taller than Konstantin, lines the back of the area. Makeshift targets made of tree stumps hang from the peeled wood logs. A thin line of red spray paint acts as the throwing line. The same spray paint that circles the inside of the targets.
Konstantin ambles towards a thin metal shack, no bigger than an outhouse. Keys jingle in his hand as he twists one through the lock on the door. It springs open to reveal five rows of neat and pristine axes. They’re far nicer than Eve anticipated them being. Konstantin slides one out to display to the rest of the group.
“Axe throwing, like any sport, has the potential to be fun, but also dangerous.”
Eve files the phrase ‘long-winded’ underneath arse and balding, for words she would use to describe Konstantin. He instructs the group on proper axe throwing etiquette and technique, but her ears seal off as a mass of tension slithers from her head down her spine. Her back tightens and she rolls her neck a few times, holding a gaze to him like a candle flickering out. Her eyes dart around the group, but she finds it particularly difficult to look anywhere in Carolyn's direction because she is the reason they’re on this silly trip.
And god, she can’t look anywhere remotely close to Niko because he’s enjoying this. The smile on his face radiates too much excitement, too much of anything compared to what Eve is used to seeing.
Her hand snakes up into her hair and undoes the bun. Her fingers claws their way through the black curls, running her nails over her scalp several times. She draws in shallow breaths. She’s lightheaded. A scream dies on the inside of her throat, so she resorts to shouting internally as her co-workers step up to the red line with axes in hand.
There is a wide scale, international murderer on the loose. Professionally killing people. And her staff was killing time and any possible leads by partaking in recreational camp-like activities.
Eve wishes she had vodka.
“Come on you,” says Bill. “Let’s give it a shot.”
For once, Eve considers impaling Bill with the axe he just handed her, but instead her body is guided numbly to the throwing line. She stands motionless and watches Bill go into a slight squat, brings the axe above his head, and launch it at the target. The axe makes the outer ring and Bill emits a tone of pleasant surprise.
“Something wrong here?”
Eve turns to Konstantin on her left. He rests his hands on his hips while looking at her expectantly.
“Could you,” Eve mumbles, hardly able to believe what she’s about to ask. “Could you show me the technique, once more?”
“Of course.”
Konstantin grabs another axe from the shed and saunters back over to Eve. She can feel the eyes of her coworkers, but she tries to roll out the tension by stretching her neck.
“You must keep one foot planted behind the line, like this. You can go over the line when you step forward and throw, but only one foot goes forward.”
Eve mimics stepping forward with him, but she also feels her soul sink deeper into her stomach.
“Hold the base with both hands and brings above your head. When you go to throw the axe, follow through with your arms. Do not stop short. Do not blink. Look at your target just above the head of the axe and that helps to align with where you will want it to land. Does that make sense?”
No. “Yes.”
“Good, here watch.”
Konstantin goes into the same slight squat as Bill did, bringing his arms above his head, and in one fluid motion releases the axe. It buries itself in the center of the target and Eve can feel all the air squeeze out of her lungs. This is ridiculous. This is the most ridiculous thing she has ever done for work.
Konstantin looks expantantly at her once more and Eve sighs.
“No? Do I need to show you once more?” He asks. He doesn’t wait to respond as he shuffles toward the targets. “And Carolyn said you were a sharp bunch. Not as sharp as these axes, eh?”
Eve inhales. She grips the handle of the axe in both hands and flings it overhead. She doesn’t mean to blink, but she does and she’s not aiming for anywhere in particular. The axe goes to the wayside, narrowly missing the back of Konstantin. The blade embeds itself in the log wall behind the targets.
Konstantin spins and his eyes are alight with fury.
“Don’t do that,” he bellows. “Do not throw an axe when a person is retrieving from the targets, especially when they’re back is turned to you.”
Eve feels as if she’s being scolded by a parent. The muscles in her back tighten and she finds it hard to breathe. She feels exposed before her coworkers, refusing to make eye contact with them when she goes to retrieve her own axe.
There’s a shuffling behind her and she turns her head a fraction to see Niko approaching the targets with her. He wears a well intended, good nurturing husband face that causes Eve’s stomach to roll over.
“Oh, jesus,” she mumbles.
Upon a closer look, Eve can see the blade has wedged itself between two logs. When she goes to pull it, it doesn’t budge.
“Everything okay?” Niko asks behind her.
“Yep. Just fine, thank you.” She pulls harder on the handle.
“Are you sure? You just seem a bit on edge. Is there anything I can do?”
“I’m fine, Niko. I just need this stupid axe to-”
“Do you need help with that?”
“No!”
Eve growls as she gives one final heave and the blade comes free. She loses her balance a bit. The axe flies back and bounces off something behind her. She hears Niko groan. When she turns, her husband clutches his face with both hands and blood seeps from between his fingers.
“Christ, Eve.” Niko doubles over. Crimson drips freely from his face and onto the wood chips below.
“Oh, Niko. Niko. Niko. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Here,” says Eve. The axe drops to the ground. She undoes the buttons on her blouse and is thankful she wore a tank top underneath. She comes up to Niko tentatively and presses the fabric against his nose.
There are tears in his eyes that refuse to fall.
“That’s your nice blouse.”
“I know. I know.”
“It’s your favorite. You wear it all the time.”
“Just stop talking for two seconds.”
The crunching of wood chips becomes apparent once more as Konstantin and Bill approach.
“You okay, mate?” Bill asks.
Niko’s head tilts up and he holds very still for Eve, but he nods just a fraction.
“So you are the accident prone one of the group?” Konstantin asks. “I will have to keep my eye on you.”
Eve wishes she hit Konstantin in the back rather than Niko’s face. Her husband leans slightly away and brings his fingers up to gently graze his nose. There’s an odd ruddy twinge to his mustache where the blood fell.
“I think it’s stopped,” says Niko.
Eve pulls the crumpled, scarlet stained blouse away and lets her hands fall to her side.
“I think,” Eve says slowly, “ I am finished with axe throwing for today. I am going to popover to the laundromat before the stain sets.”
Eve does not wait for the protest of her husband or the rest of her team. She marches away from the group, not quite feeling how her feet connect with the ground. She feels like she’s floating. The altitude of her thoughts makes her feel lightheaded once again. She’s thankful though that no one chooses to follow her. Eve does not know how much more of people she can do today.
The laundromat is a surprising gem among the facilities at the resort. It feels as if it’s been plucked out of some suburban area in the nineties and thrust into the remote wilderness. Eve pulls open the glass door and shuffles in absently. It’s once she’s inside, under the hazy lights, does she realize she has nothing to wash out the stain in her blouse.
There’s another person inside. They stuff clothes into something that resembles a large cream duffle bag. They pause upon Eve’s entrance.
I must be a sight, Eve thinks. Her hair unbound. Blood staining her fingers and the shirt in her hands. In nothing but a tank top and slacks in front of this stranger. Jesus, her work vacation could not get any worse.
The stranger peeks their head up from the dryer and Eve crashes back to earth. The woman before her gorgeous, her skin glowing and eyes wide. She closes the drier slowly as if not to startle the Eve and gathers her laundry bag over one shoulder.
The woman wears crisp, denim suspenders with a bright lemon shirt. There’s an image of a potted cactus centered just over her sternum. Her hair is in a low ponytail and it’s hard to make out in the light, but Eve believes it to be a honey blond. They stand there for what feels like ages.
Eve edges back into her senses, although she feels as if she’s in some stark twilight zone, in the middle of a wood, in a laundromat, with this woman whose eyes are far too wide and face vacant of any emotion. There’s a shine to them and Eve wonders if she’s about to cry.
Eve speaks first.
“Are you alright?” She ventures
The woman’s eyes jump up and down Eve’s form, resting briefly on her hair. Her lips quirk up slightly.
“Are you alright?”
Eve looks down at her tank top and remembers the bloody fabric balled in her fist.
“You should see the other guy.”