JP - Hello Evie

Kiana was dozing off when there was a knock at the door and Frisk let herself in.

“Hi, sorry, I meant to come back sooner.” Frisk said softly and went over to check on Evie.

Evie was awake again when the knock occurred, playing solitaire with some of the cards that Riven had left them. Looking up, she smiled meekly at Frisk. “H…h…hello.” She said, always happy to see the medic.

“Hi Evie. How are you feeling?” Frisk asked.

“I’m not h-hurting right n…n…now.” Evie said, a smile brightening as she moved a car into place. “R-Riven visited and brought us all these c-c-card games. We enjoyed Uno!” She looked at Kiana when she said this so the red head would know she really had enjoyed herself with them.

Kiana smiled, she was glad that Evie had a good time. Whiskers gave a sleepy purr then went back to sleep curled at Evie’s side.

“That’s great.” Frisk said. She took a quick look at Evie’s chart. “It looks like you’re healing well.”

Evie nodded. “I…I know they wanted to keep me here for t-three days…to be safe?”

Frisk nodded. “They want to make sure you don’t come down with any infections or other complications.” She affectionately smoothed Evie’s curly hair back from her face.

“W…will I get to…uhm…bathe?” Evie finally asked as she blushed darkly. “I…I smell…I think…”

Frisk nodded. “We’ll just have to change your bandages afterwards.”

Evie nodded and started to climb out of the bed slowly.

“Mrrt.” Whiskers quietly complained, trying to climb on Evie’s lap.

Kiana scooped up Whiskers.

Frisk reached over to help steady the lightning wielder.

Evie grimaced a bit but was able to stay steady with Frisk’s help. Getting to the bathroom took a bit and bathing took even longer because she had to soak a bit in order to make the bandages come off without risking tearing at her injuries. “Thank…thank you, Frisk…” She said as she slowly patted her skin with the washcloth, not wanting to open the injuries.

“You’re welcome. Just be careful.” Frisk cautioned, laying out some dry towels and clean clothes for Evie to change into.

Whiskers lost his shit when he realized that Evie was getting in water so Kiana had to stuff him into the carrier and carry him down the hall.

Evie jumped at the sound of Whiskers losing it and let out a soft sigh. “I wish…h-he would l-learn that I’m f-f-fine in the bath. Water doesn’t h-hurt me.” She said and rinsed off before climbing out of the bathtub. Frisk would see just how thin the girl was now - she needed more food and protein in her life.

Frisk made a mental note to get a nutritionist to work on Evie’s diet to help her gain some weight. She handed Evie a towel. “That cat really cares about you.”

Whiskers yowled mournfully.

“I k-know…but…he sh-should know water won’t h-hurt me.” Evie said and slowly - very slowly - dried off.

“I’m surprised Kiana can make that cat understand as much as she has.” Frisk said, handing Evie another towel to wrap her hair.

Evie took the towel and had to fight the wild curls, but eventually got the job done. “S-she is very good w-with him, I think. He…he is just a brat at times.” She let out a soft giggle.

“He seemed to be behaving well before.” Frisk agreed, handing Evie pieces of clothing.

“Y-yes, but…h-he had to…to go five years…without…me…” Evie reached for the clothes, forgetting that they needed to put new bandages on her.

Frisk had almost forgotten about the bandages herself. “Oh- wait.” Frisk said and pulled out some fresh bandages and ointment from her bag.

“Oh…” Evie nodded. “Right,” She let Frisk apply the ointment and bandages, both more difficult for the lightning user than it should have been. But, that’s what happened when you got cut into over and over again by a psycho who was finally going off the deep end.

Frisk worked quickly but gently. After the bandages were replaced she started handing Evie clothes.

Evie stared at the clothes for a long time, wondering if she’d ever seen her own clothing ever again. Thrane had taken hers upon her arrival in that hell. He had stripped her of all that was…her. Each cut had felt like a reminder of how little importance she had at the end of the day.

Tears started to fall and she gulped. “S-sorry…I just…” She couldn’t think of what to say.

Frisk gently hugged Evie. “You don’t have to be sorry.”

“I…I shouldn’t be crying, though…” She stuttered and leaned into Frisk. “Why me? Why hurt me? What did I do wrong?”

“You can cry if you need to.” Frisk said softly, gently rubbing Evie’s back. “I don’t know why he picked you but you did not do anything wrong.”

Evie let herself weep for a bit before cleaning face up and getting fully dressed. She wanted to lie down and rest, already exhausted again.

Frisk helped Evie back into bed. “Things will get better. You’ll be safe on the farm again soon.”

Evie nodded and curled up in the bed, gripping onto her pillow as if it would save her from the pain and memories. “Thank you again, Frisk…y-y-you’re very kind.”

Frisk pulled a blanket over Evie. “You’re a sweet girl who doesn’t deserve so much pain.”

Evie smiled weakly. “I…I hope that’s true…”

“It’s true.” Frisk assured her.

Evie still couldn’t agree. If she was someone who did not deserve pain then why was she tortured and ruined so harshly by Thrane? Every part of her body felt vulgar and used - disgusting. She wanted to hide from the world, hide the scars and her misery.

She could not sleep.

Frisk sat by Evie’s bed and could see that the girl could not sleep. “You haven’t been the only person to be tortured and abused… There are others in the Underground like you.” Frisk had been debating the pros and cons of introducing Evie and Tzeitel to each other. They might be able to help each other with their similar histories and be able to understand each other. Or they might just trigger each other and be a huge unnatural disaster that could kill hundreds.

“What’s wrong?” Evie suddenly asked after a bit. “Yo-you have a fo-focused look on your face…”

"Leimomi has been thinking about starting a support group for girls like you." Frisk said.

Evie sat up and looked at Frisk. “Will…will it h-h-help?” She asked.

“It could, you may feel less alone.” Frisk frowned when her phone started ringing.

Evie was patient as she waited for Frisk to get done on the phone.