Heroes of Veridia: Evelyn's Journey

Evelyn took a cab to the serum factory, a place she had never visited before. She hadn't been able to watch the tour that Victor had given to the journalists, so this was her first time seeing the facility. As she entered, she noticed a guard standing by the door. Looks like not everyone is allowed in there, she thought.

"Good evening," she greeted, approaching the guard.

The first guard looked at her with a questioning expression. "Good evening. Who are you, and what is your purpose here?"

Evelyn was taken aback by the question and pointed to herself. "You... don't know who I am?"

The second guard, overhearing the exchange, was equally surprised. "You've been working for Victor for five years. How do you not know who this is?"

The first guard, looking dumbfounded, asked, "Is she that important?"

"She's the reason this project was started in the first place," the second guard snapped.

Growing impatient, the first guard demanded, "Can't you just tell me who she is?"

"She's Victor's daughter," the second guard barked, causing the first guard's face to drain of color.

The first guard, now scared, stammered, "Really? How come I've never seen her before?" Turning to Evelyn, he added, "I'm so sorry. I had no idea who you were. Please don't tell Victor about this."

Evelyn, shaking her head slightly, responded, "I'm not going to tell him anything. But I'm surprised you're still working here. Five years, and you don't know certain things about him?"

The second guard quickly interjected, "No one has tried to rob or attack Victor, so we don't get much action. Plus, Victor doesn't exactly talk to his guards much. We mostly just stand here until our shift ends."

Evelyn chuckled and patted the first guard's shoulder. "You should start doing your research. Victor wouldn't let you off so easily if you did this in front of him." The guards, now fully aware of who she was, opened the door for her to pass.

As she entered, a female factory worker approached her. "Welcome. If you're here for the serum, we haven't started distributing them yet."

Evelyn, visibly shocked, asked, "Has anyone ever come here asking to buy a serum?"

"No," the factory worker responded.

Evelyn gestured toward the door and the factory floor. "Do people come in here and go as they please?"

The factory worker nodded. "Well, after the tour given by Victor, people were allowed to come and watch some of the successful tests. But right now, it's not allowed, and we haven't started selling the serum yet. Please come tomorrow."

Evelyn facepalmed in frustration. "For your safety, I am Victor's daughter. If he were here, what do you think would've happened to you? Why doesn't anyone know who I am?"

The factory worker's face paled as she apologized. "I'm so sorry for my mistake. We've all been working hard lately, and we're not allowed to leave the factory. But now that the serum has been successfully created, we might get some time off. Victor informed us that the serums will soon be automated."

Evelyn sighed. "I came to see what was happening, but I'll see you tomorrow." She turned to leave.

As she walked away, a male supervisor approached the factory worker and asked, "What's going on?"

The worker replied, "Victor's daughter came to visit."

Evelyn stepped out of the factory, the cool night air brushing against her skin. She muttered under her breath, "I wonder why they are still working for Victor."

Just as she started walking away, she heard hurried footsteps behind her.

"Miss Blackwood, please wait!" the supervisor called out, chasing after her.

Evelyn paused and turned to face him, her expression calm but curious.

"I'm so sorry about what happened earlier," he said, slightly breathless. He gestured toward the factory. "Please, come back inside. What can we do for you?"

Evelyn gave him a small, understanding smile. "I accept your apology, but I may or may not come tomorrow. It depends on how my day goes." She shrugged. "Thanks for your concern, though. Don't worry—I have nothing against you, and Victor won't harm you."

The supervisor sighed in relief, his shoulders visibly relaxing. "Thank you, Miss Blackwood. We will be expecting you."

She gave him a pointed look. "Don't. I already told you I might not come."

The supervisor nodded awkwardly. "Should I let one of the guards escort you home?"

"No," Evelyn replied curtly, turning to leave.

As she walked away, she overheard the supervisor muttering to himself, "Can't wait to complete this and get my serum." He then barked at a passing worker, "Hey, you. Get over here."

Evelyn's thoughts were elsewhere, reflecting on the strange tension in the factory. This serum is going to help a lot of people... but it will also bring chaos. There will be both good and bad outcomes for Veridia.

Something felt off. She paused and glanced back toward the factory entrance, her gaze narrowing. The guards who had been standing by the transparent door earlier were nowhere to be seen.

"Where are the guards?" she muttered.

The supervisor, distracted, looked up. "Did you say something?"

Evelyn pointed toward the now unguarded door. "Where are the guards?"

His face hardened with frustration. "These people can't do their damn job." He stormed outside, yelling, "Kevin!" His voice echoed through the night, but there was no response.

Suddenly, Evelyn watched in horror as the supervisor collapsed, blood spurting from his neck. A man stood over him, his hands drenched in crimson. The intruder, a dangerous-looking man, smiled eerily as he saw Evelyn. His eyes gleamed in the faint light, and he licked the blood from his fingers, revealing sharp fangs.

"It's my lucky day," he sneered, opening the door with his blood-stained hands. "To think I'd meet Victor's daughter, unguarded and vulnerable. You'd expect more protection for a place like this."

"What do you want?" Evelyn demanded, her voice steady despite the rising danger.

The vampire tilted his head, amusement playing on his face. "What do I want? Isn't it obvious? This factory holds something precious—the serum. Give me a gallon of it, and I'll spare everyone here."

Evelyn crossed her arms, unflinching. "Why would I help you?"

His smile grew wider. "You've encountered our kind before. You know what we're capable of." He gestured toward the blood on his hands, licking it again with a sinister grin.

Evelyn's mind flashed to Selene and her blood manipulation during the Phantom Edge test. "You could've asked the supervisor, but you killed him without hesitation. I don't know anything about the factory operations, and if you harm me, you'll be putting your allies at risk."

"Oh, we're not scared of Victor," he laughed, clapping his hands. Two more men, armed and dangerous, entered the factory.

The first man pulled out a gun and smirked. "So, what's it going to be?" he asked, flashing his weapon at Evelyn.

"You two aren't vampires like him, are you?" Evelyn asked, her voice calm.

The second man sneered. "No, but so what?"

Before they could continue, a factory worker entered the scene, her face pale with confusion. "What's going on?"

The first man pointed his gun at her, ready to fire, but the vampire raised a hand to stop him. "Perfect timing. Get us a gallon of the serum, or she dies," he threatened, redirecting the gun toward Evelyn.

The factory worker stammered, clearly terrified. "We're not allowed to distribute the serum yet!"

A warning shot was fired beside Evelyn, causing the worker to jump in fear. "Do you want her to die?" the man with the gun growled.

Evelyn remained unfazed. "Leave her alone," she said coldly.

"Shut up!" the second man shouted.

Suddenly, a mysterious figure appeared behind Evelyn, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. She didn't react but glanced over her shoulder to see a man in a face mask and hood.

"Tell them to bring the serum, and no one will get hurt," the mysterious man said quietly.

Evelyn locked eyes with him. "I already told you—I don't know anyone in this factory."

The masked man made a signal to the others, directing them to the elevator. "Get rid of everyone," he ordered.

Evelyn stepped forward, placing herself between the intruders and the factory worker. "Not today," she said firmly. "I'll be the one to stop you."

The factory worker tugged at Evelyn's sleeve, panicked. "Please, don't do this! Victor will be furious."

"If I don't protect you," Evelyn replied, her eyes narrowing, "these people will do worse than Victor ever could."

The vampire laughed mockingly at Evelyn's statement. "And what's a harmless, giftless little girl going to do?"

A serene smile spread across Evelyn's face, one that could charm anyone. "A harmless, giftless little girl wouldn't smile at death... unless she was a suicidal maniac."

Her smile disappeared, replaced by an icy glare. "Leave, or I'll hang you in front of this factory to show Veridia that no one messes with Victor."

The masked man chuckled darkly. "Do your worst."

Evelyn turned to the factory worker. "Stay close."

As the worker nodded frantically, Evelyn walked toward the door. "Let's take this outside," she said, opening it and stepping into the night. Vines shot up from the ground, coiling around the men like constricting serpents.

The vampire grunted as the vines tightened around him. "You've been hiding your gift all this time?"

"I wasn't hiding it," Evelyn replied coolly. "You just never had the chance to see it."

As the vines lifted the intruders off the ground, Evelyn smirked. "I warned you."

Vines emerged from the ground, impaling the vampire through his stomach as the others fell unconscious from the sedative within the thorns. The masked man struggled for a moment before succumbing to the vines as well, collapsing before Evelyn.

"You'll join him soon," Evelyn said, turning to the vampire who remained conscious.

"You'll pay for this," the vampire growled, glaring at her with pure hatred.

Evelyn waved her hand, and the vines hoisted the vampire and his unconscious allies up, displaying them like trophies against the glass wall of the factory. She created a tree whose branches formed the word "Victor," before walking away, leaving them bound and helpless.

Turning to the stunned factory worker, she said, "If anyone asks about this, tell them a mysterious hero came to save the day. Don't mention my name."

The factory worker nodded rapidly. "Thank you for saving me."

Evelyn smiled softly. "You're welcome."