Payback's A Nightmare | ✔

CHAPTER THE SIXTH

Hey, my fists are tight and I'm afraid

Because I cannot explain

Your heart is like a hurricane

But can't you see I'm so in pain?

Sophie drew in a sharp breath to calm herself down as she stared at the swirling whirlpool that would lead her down to Atlantis, the underwater Lost City. She'd always been scared of jumping into the whirlpool, ever since the first time she’d came to the Lost Cities. And Fitz had been there too.

She closed her eyes as the first time she'd been there replayed in her mind. But when she thought of Fitz, she thought of Evelina. Evelina had always been angry at Fitz, and now her for not moving on off Fitz. Sophie wasn't sure how to feel about that. She knew why Evelina was angry at her, but she couldn't help feeling that Evelina didn't understand her at all.

Guess not because I don't talk

And then you write me off again

And I don't think you understand at all

I don't want to use my mouth

Don't know how to spell it out

Every time I try, it sucks

I just wish you could open me up

Sophie opened her eyes and stared down at the whirlpool again, suddenly im-agining that the whirlpool was Evelina's emotions, feelings, and opinions all squeezed into one, directed at her. A tear trickled down Sophie's cheek and landed in the water, merging with the rest as she jumped down into the sea.

And see all the confusion, the love, the hurt, the wrong words I'm using

Because tonight, it feels like you don't know my heart

Why, you say I never really see

That it's only ever about me?

Like I don't listen when you speak

Like it doesn't kill me when

Your tears fall out

And I cannot catch them

I do not have the perfect expression

And I don't think you understand at all

The raging whirlpool spun Sophie around in circles and circles, the same way she felt when Evelina had confronted, demanded, and faulted her. Was it Sophie's fault? Perhaps, but Evelina was young. She had no idea how bitter everything could taste when the whole world came crashing down on her.

I don't want to use my mouth

Don't know how to spell it out

Every time I try, it sucks

I just wish you could open me up

And see all the confusion, the love, the hurt, the wrong words I'm using

Because tonight, it feels like you don't know my heart

Evelina didn't understand at all.

And Sophie wanted to make it a point that she did. But first, she had to visit someone very special in Atlantis.

*

The Matchmaking Offices were grand-looking and shining with pristine colours when Sophie stepped out of the coach. The front entrance was a pale pink door with two twisted stretches of glass forming together to create two hearts bound together.