198 Spiraling Down into Madness

"I'm back," replied the slender woman naughtily with black hair tied up. The yellow dress that she was wearing emphasized her curves as she walked seductively past the men staring at her ravenously.

She entered her private office after smiling at the people greeting her out of politeness. Once she locked the door, she looked at herself in the mirror.

"Val, this crazy hag has a habit of talking to herself in the mirror. She should be locked up in a mental asylum, not working in the town hall..." her deep voice sounded different from the normal tone she usually used. The woman rested her chin on her right hand, thinking.

On the desk, her nameplate was placed neatly in the corner. It read 'Eveline Herrick'. There was also a brown leather purse placed neatly on it.

Graham, who was pretending to be Eveline, the mayor's assistant, sat down at her desk and began looking at another stack of documents, pretending to be working. However, he suddenly stopped.

"What am I doing... Based on the memory of the people about her that I read, she never actually works. She uses her seduction to make the men in the office do her work for her. What a sly hag,"

After realizing how out of character working was for the woman, Graham stopped and instead, just got up and stood in front of the mirror.

"So that's what she does all day; talking to her reflection in the mirror. What should we do instead, Val? I quite literally cannot do that. I'm not crazy like her..."

Graham decided to get out of her office to chat with her co-workers. There were quite a lot of people in the common workspace, so he should be able to at least gather some juicy information about the mayor.

Just as he opened the door, someone was standing in front of it, about to knock. It was Jonathan, Eveline's childhood friend and also the first person whose memory about her he read. However, in Jonathan's memory, Eveline was just an innocent, pretty woman. That was why Graham had to also read the memories of other people in order to get the perfect character of Eveline Herrick.

"Jonny, is something the matter?" he asked, using his best Eveline impression. He also used the man's nickname that the real Eveline would often use based on Jonathan's own memory.

Jonathan looked hesitant. There was guilt on his face as his brown eyes stared at Graham's-- Eveline's light green eyes.

"You know what? I'm sorry for not believing you earlier. They just explained to me what happened, and now I know the whole story,"

Graham wanted so badly to start muttering, telling what he was thinking about to Valentine. However, it would break her character, so he held back. He could only keep his thought to himself alone until later.

"I agree that you were a little rough with those girls. They didn't actually mean you any harm,"

"I'm sorry, okay! I didn't know why I suddenly collapsed and they wanted to take advantage of me,"

His words were purely based on speculation of what had happened. He wasn't there to watch after he successfully planted a thought inside the real Eveline's head. However, based on Jonathan's words, he could guess what had taken place-- or almost taken place.

"Yes, they are at fault too. I'm just trying to say that I am sorry for jumping to a conclusion like that back then. It's just it was very not you to be violent like that. You seemed like someone else, someone I know nothing about," Jonathan paused. He looked down and started speaking slowly.

"We've known each other since we were young, so I should know you better than anyone else-- but it doesn't seem to be the case anymore. You know that you can always talk to me about anything, Eve,"

If he could, Graham would have probably knocked the man unconscious for putting him in an awkward situation like that. He wanted to get away as soon as he could, but he had to stay and maintain character. After all, it would determine the success of his mission.

"Thank you so much for caring about me, Jonny. I am fine. It's just that work has been taking a toll on me, so I'm a bit stressed out. The mayor's demands are also non-stop, so I can barely take a break. When this is all over, I'm sure I can be my old self again,"

"Is that so?" asked Jonathan with suspicion. He didn't seem to trust Graham's words right off the bat.

"Yes. You don't have to worry. And I'll be sure to come to your anniversary dinner. After all, it's your special moment with Diana, so I want to be there for the two of you," he said cheerfully.

His words seemed to have convinced Jonathan to some extent, especially at the mention of the man's anniversary that Graham had learned from reading his memory. If the man hadn't thought about inviting Eveline all morning, he would not have been able to see that memory when he was reading him.

"You'll be there? Then we'll be waiting for you! Don't forget, it's Tuesday-- tomorrow night at our house. We've also invited our other friends, so it should be fun!" Jonathan's voice was cheerful now.

"Will do, Jonny!" Graham gave his best, non-seductive smile that Eveline used to do back then; before she became a Romancer. The innocent smile looked better on her pretty face than the usual, suggestive smile she often gave men and women alike.

After that, Jonathan returned to his own private office, leaving Graham in relief. He quickly changed his mind about going out and closed the office door instead. Graham sat at Eveline's desk and rested his head on the backrest of the tall chair.

"Val, that was really tiring, and cringeworthy, especially when that guy mentioned their childhood. Thank the Deities we're out of that situation..."

Graham took out the watch that he hid inside his coat. Eveline never wore a watch, so him wearing one would raise suspicion.

"It's already two. She should be back any moment soon, and the mayor too. The show is about to begin, Val,"

As he was sitting leisurely, suddenly he heard a noise from outside. It was the cue for him that his plan had entered its next stage. With a smile, he got up from the chair and hung the black coat that he was still wearing, revealing Eveline's gorgeous body.

"Ms. Herrick, welcome back? But when did you leave?"

A slender woman walked past the cubicles in the common workspace with a confused look on her face. At the same time, people were also staring with as much confusion as she had, and some were even looking at her with suspicion.

Graham opened the office door and showed himself, which created even more puzzlement in the office.

There were two Eveline Herricks!

People began gossiping and talking, while the real Eveline was staring with a hostile look at the impostor, Graham.

"Who are you?" asked Jonathan, who had come out of his office because of the commotion. He was looking at the real Eveline with suspicion, instead of confusion, in his eyes. He had somehow 'instinctively' known which one the 'real' Eveline Herrick was.

"That should be my question. Who are you? How dare you disguise as me!" Eveline shouted at Graham with hostility, which created more commotion in the office.

"I'm Eveline Herrick. Who ARE you?"

There was a smile on Graham's face. Blood started dripping from his finger as an orange curtain began enveloping the area. People's expression suddenly became twisted and was looking down on Eveline as if she was some dirty impostor trying to take over the 'real' Eveline's position.

"Don't look at me like that! I'm Eveline Herrick, secretary to Mayor Hank Krammer! Now, drag this impostor out of here!"

In reality, people were looking at both sides with puzzled looks. Only Jonathan and a few other people of high position took Graham's side because of his Thought Implant. He had inserted the idea that he was the real Eveline and Eveline was the impostor.

His Mass Illusion had caused Eveline to see people looking down on her; the kind of look that she despised from the bottom of her heart. It caused her to be enraged and lose her cool.

"What proof do you have that you're Eveline?" asked Jonathan straightforwardly.

"Proof? Jonny, you're asking me for the proof?! We've known each other since childhood!" she shouted.

"Don't you dare call him Jonny! He's my childhood friend, not an impostor like you! And I'm sure you can't show any proof that you are me, since I am me," Graham didn't back down. He said confidently with a little disdain in his voice.

Eveline was looking around, cornered by people's condescending stare. She knew that she had to show her identity card if she wanted to prove herself. She began reaching into the pockets of the coat that she was wearing to try to find something. After not being able to find it, her expression suddenly sunk.

Her purse was gone!

Graham raised the brown leather purse that he had been holding and took out an identity card that belonged to Eveline Herrick. With that, the expressions of the people who trusted him showed relief. Most of the people in the office were now looking at Eveline with contempt and suspicion, so he didn't have to maintain the illusion. After all, keeping the illusion going for that many people took too much of his blood.

The illusory orange curtain ascended back before disappearing into nothingness. Eveline, being stared at scornfully, began freaking out. She had always been the one in control, and now that her control over the people was slipping out, she felt furious and enraged. The calm and seductive Eveline that she always showed the public was now gone.

"That's mine you bitch!" she screamed and lunged at Graham; her sharp nails had grown long enough to claw 'his' slender body open.

"Security!" shouted Graham for help.

Before Eveline could reach Graham, she was grabbed by Jonathan and several other men. She then started kicking and lashing at anyone close to her, injuring them with her sharp nails. Luckily, security came not long after and pinned her down to the floor. Two big men in black uniforms were overpowering her, preventing her from breaking away.

"What's happening here, Mr. Herrick? Who is this woman? Why does she look like you?" asked one of the security guards.

Graham pretended to be shocked by her attempt to attack her and was hiding behind Jonathan, whose forearm had a deep scratch wound.

"She's a crazy woman who tried to kill me! Thanks to Jonny and the others I am safe. You can ask everyone here that she is the one starting it."

The security guards looked around and got a nod of confirmation from everyone. Even though some of them were still confused, after seeing how Eveline tried to actually kill someone, they couldn't help but join Graham's side. Especially since all these times, Eveline in their eyes was a frail woman who needed their help to defend herself against the evil world.

Eveline, who was pinned down on the ground, began mumbling something, but so did Graham.

"!!"

Her mouth was suddenly closed against her will and her words failed to come out. Whatever she was trying to do had failed!

"Mmph!!"

She kept trying to scream and shout, but it was not successful. Graham had used Order to forcibly shut her mouth!

He knew that she would try to make the security guards fall in love with her and let her go. Luckily, he was faster than her.

After making sure it was safe to do so, Graham walked closer to her and stared at Eveline right in the eye. He then brought his lips closer to her left ear and then opened his mouth.

"Look deep inside your heart. Are you really the real Eveline Herrick?" he whispered quietly and gently, but his words were sharp like knives.

Eveline's eyes opened wide. Her face looked like she just had a sudden realization. After that, doubt began blooming in her heart as she questioned herself. She tried to fight back the doubt that kept on growing bigger, but it was too powerful. It was like a seed that began manifesting and turning into a big tree, without her having any control over it.

"Am I... Eveline Herrick? Yes, I am!" she shouted, finally her mouth could open.

"Are you sure?" replied Graham.

With the words coming out of the 'real' Eveline, she the doubt became even more uncontrollable. She looked at 'Eveline' with contempt and confusion. Her mind went crazy, trying to find the answer to the question that she had repeatedly asked herself.

"Who... am I?"

"I'm Eveline Herrick. I don't know who you are,"

Graham's voice was loud and confident. It was as if there was no doubt about what he had just said. Everyone also took his words without a grain of salt like it was the absolute truth.

"I don't know who I am..." she mumbled.

She looked around and got the same contemptuous looks from everyone in the room. It didn't remind her of her identity, but it reminded her of her fury. She began struggling again to break free, which made people look at her with even more scorn.

"Stop looking down on me! You will regret this! You should kneel before me!"

She couldn't use her sharp claw because her arms were pinned on her back. The only thing she could do was wriggle and shout.

"Let me go, you bastard! Let me go!! I swear you will regret this!!"

Jonathan and the rest of them felt slight pity for the woman, not because of her situation, but because of her delusion. She looked like someone whose lies had been just bared out for the world to see, but she still refused to accept her defeat.

"Escort her out and call the Police. Don't let her go until they're here," ordered Jonathan.

The two security guards nodded and dragged the struggling crazy woman out of there. As they were just about to exit the office, the mayor entered and looked at the woman with confusion.

"Who is that? What happened here?"

"Arghh!! Let me go!! Mayor, help me!!" she began struggling even harder.

Jonathan quickly gestured at the security guards to take her away. He then approached the mayor and explained the situation.

"To think there was something like that happening here," his expression showed contempt. He then walked closer towards Eveline, who was standing in front of the door to her office, "Ms. Herrick, I need your help with something. Please come to my office soon," he said.

After that, the mayor left Eveline and walked towards the office of another person.

Everyone's expression gradually returned to normal after the incident came to an ending. They were glad that their Eveline was unharmed. After that, they returned to their own work, leaving Eveline alone with Jonathan, who was still worried about her.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" he asked with genuine concern.

With a meaningful smile, Eveline replied, "Yes, Jonny, I'm alright. Now, it's time to get back to work. Mr. Krammer needs me for something apparently,"