Yesterday, I encountered Evelyn. On my own terms, this time. Or rather, instead of her approaching me, I approached her.
I was at the local supermarket, getting myself some groceries, when I saw her at the other end of the aisle. She looked different. Tired.
I tapped her on the shoulder and she turned to look at me, raising her eyebrows. "Looks like the man with no name got away in time." she said, crossing her arms. "I was wondering if you'd made it."
I asked her why she did it, and she shook her head. "You're a dangerous man." she said, smiling. "People like me like having those around."
I gave her a skeptical look, and she shrugged. "Runners armed with guns and blades are dangerous. They kill Indoctrinated. Runners armed with kindness are dangerous, because they make Indoctrinated doubt themselves. Ours is a world with little room for compassion. And you're motivated by it."
"And you like having dangerous people around." I replied flatly. "On the other side."
She snorted. "You know as well as I do that your people versus my people is a fucking lie. It's us versus It. All of us."
I shrugged, and turned to leave. "I still don't trust you." I called over my shoulder.
"I never said that wasn't a good idea." she replied, and then I left, feeling thoroughly disquieted
