Married to my nemesis

Just before the incident took place, Enim was seated before the mirror, carefully applying oil to her scalp. The repetitive action was calming, but her thoughts were a chaotic storm. Recently, she had been overwhelmed by the surrounding chaos—lies, betrayals, and the daunting pressure of what lay ahead. Amidst this upheaval, she felt a stab of guilt for not contacting Eva in days. 

"Eva? Are you there?" Enim called, her voice carrying a blend of hope and doubt. 

Without hesitation, Eva entered, her presence exuding a comforting warmth that eased Enim's nervousness. "Hey, what's going on?" she inquired with a cheerful tone, her energy lighting up the shadowy room. Enim paused for a moment, taking a deep breath as she considered her words. "Eva, I have to ask you about this situation... do you think I should tell Phoebe everything that's happening?"

Eva's expression changed subtly, a hint of worry appearing in her eyes. "What do you mean by that? Aren't you afraid she might try to do something to you?"

The gravity of the question loomed over them. Enim's heart pounded as she pondered the consequences. "That's precisely why I'm reluctant. I'm afraid she might retaliate and conjure something harmful against me. Yet, if she genuinely understands who I am... perhaps she could aid me in navigating this situation. I have fifty-four days to figure everything out, and I urgently need her help to resolve this issue." 

Eva gave her a knowing nod, her usual playful nature becoming more gentle. "Alright, if you believe it's the right course of action, why not pursue it?"

Before Enim could reply, Eva's figure started to flicker, vanishing as swiftly as she had appeared, leaving Enim alone with her chaotic thoughts. The decision hung over her like a storm cloud, heavy and ambiguous. Would disclosing the truth to Phoebe reinforce their connection or drive them even further apart? With the burden of her options pressing down on her, Enim inhaled deeply, readying herself for what lay ahead. Time was running out, and the urgency coursed through her veins.

***

Phoebe gently blinked, her eyelashes flickering in a delicate rhythm as she slowly came to terms with the harsh brightness that had broken through her sight. As her eyes adjusted, a cold truth dawned on her: she lay in a dim, shadowy space, forsaken on the hard, chilly ground. The darkness surrounded her like a cloak, an eerie counterbalance to the intense light she had struggled to grasp. A heavy sense of dread filled the air, enveloping her like a stifling mantle.

A low, tormented groan slipped from her lips as she gripped her pounding head, the pain a constant reminder of her situation. It felt as if her thoughts were shrouded in a thick mist, each throb of pain reverberating through her mind. That cursed substance they had injected must be the cause, she thought, frustration blending with her discomfort. The pain seemed to dig deeper, an unwelcome intruder refusing to let go. In that moment, Phoebe felt a mix of helplessness and a flicker of defiance, trying to piece together the fragments of what had brought her to this bleak place.

Fully acclimating to her surroundings, she realized the place seemed familiar, yet she couldn't quite pinpoint her exact location.

"Are you fully awake?" a voice echoed, followed by the sudden brightness of the lights. Phoebe instinctively shielded her eyes with her hand.

As she slowly lowered her hand, she spotted Enim standing before her. Rage surged through her, and with her jaw set and fist clenched, she advanced toward Enim, aiming to slap her. However, Enim intercepted the attempt before it could make contact with her cheek.

"No, don't attempt that, sister," Enim said in a teasingly annoying tone, provoking Phoebe. She pulled her hand back but quickly reached out to Enim again, only for it to be caught once more. 

"That's enough!" Enim exclaimed, tossing it back to her. 

"You harlot, go on, tell me what you want to say." 

"I didn't invite you here to be insulted, Phoebe. I brought you here so you could find something out," Phoebe furrowed her brow, puzzled by her words.

As Phoebe's eyes scrutinized the environment the environment, she recalled a memory. 

Two sisters ran around the environment, playing hide and seek, their joy knew no bounds as the echo of their laughter was clear and then the next moment, something happened that she couldn't remember what happened. 

She turned to Enim who seemed to understand what was happening to her, Phoebe was sure she had been in that place before. 

"What happened? Why are you staring like you're seeing a ghost? I'm sure you're trying to recall everything, Phoebe. The time when we were kids and we used to play in this environment, we would play hide and seek, play with the swings, and make fun with the sand. Besides, do you remember the one time we were at this play yard and we were having a time of hide and seek? The time that you fell and got injured, I was there, you were crying and I— instead of helping you, I laughed and—" 

"Father came and saw what happened, he ended up scolding Prudence for laughing instead of helping," she completed and then she looked at Enim, in awe. 

"How do you know what happened?" 

"Is not just about how I knew but just like you, I have an attachment to this place. If you don't believe me then you should look at that side," Enim stretched her hand to the right side of the area and there, a swing was built. 

The play yard was mainly a small area with sand but since it was a long time since they had been there, there were moss and bushes around the environment. 

"Father gave us this place as our secret play out, we would play hide and seek and then, when Max came to play with us, you would ask him to move away. After all, it was the sisterly bond and since he's the boy, you pushed him out and asked him to go meet Mum instead. "

"What inquiry have you gotten?" 

Enim scoffed. 

"Is not about my inquiry, is about what I already know, the memories I remember." 

"You're lying." 

"Phoebe, do you think Vixen is a handsome guy? He looks fun and then you replied I should stop making illusions about Vixen." 

"Who are you? How do you know all this?!!" 

"Because I'm not Enim! I'm not Enim!! I'm someone who got wronged and just because I wanted to save my entire family, I ended up as the soon-to-be bride to the one I hate the most. Why? Because my spirit got into the body of another, I got into the body of a prostitute!" Enim voiced out as Phoebe looked shocked, shaken by her words, she wanted to deny all her claims, her lips mumbled as she tried to speak something that would make it clear she was lying but she couldn't help but accept that each word she said was truth. 

To believe that Enim was lying and nothing else though there was confusion. 

"How? How? How? How can this happen? Is impossible, it can't be right," Phoebe shook her head in refusal not wanting to believe a whiff even if she was shocked with what Enim said. 

It was likely Enim could be her sister. 

It was unthinkable. 

"You, you can't be Prudence." 

"I'm Prudence, I'm your sister and now, is better for you to believe this because I need you-" Before she could complete her words, Phoebe unpredictably hugged Enim with tears. 

"You're? You're Prudence? This is impossible, it can't be right. I miss you so much, why did you have to do this? Do you remember? Do you remember how we had spent our days? You should remember how much I've cared about you, and yet you still left us without a warning, you're such a fool! You shouldn't have left, do you still remember how I used to scold you like this? You should know I'm still going to," Phoebe blabbered as she held her closer, Enim smiled about to respond but then she rasped in pain. 

She felt the penetration of a sharp object entering her body the pain surged in from behind, just then Phoebe released herself with vicious eyes and an impish smile. 

"You should have known you can't just pretend to be Prudence, I know who my sister is and you, you can't just pick up memories to fool me," Enim fell to the ground. 

Her eyes were drowsy but before she could fall dizzy she said something she was sure Phoebe would believe it was her. 

"Pumpkin, are you eating the food or the whole house?" Enim said in pain and then she huffed in a last breath. 

Just then Phoebe realized she had her sister in front of her. 

"Prudence," she squeaked dropping the knife in awe.