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Eiffelia smiled throughout the day, just as she always did. She was known by most for her kind smile and cheerful demeanor, though deep down she wasn't feeling the greatest. Through all the years she had been running this park, starting in the year 2008, she had always tried to be a good role model for everyone around her, that's what she had always done with all of her siblings, after all. It was what she was good at. But either way, Eiffelia's smile was false that day.
She made her daily rounds about the park, making sure everything was in order. At least, as much order as it could be in. Of course, there were always a few outliers when it came to the word calm. Wysteria had been messing with the trash can placement, so Eiffelia calmly moved them back. Half the ghosts were busy stopping the skeletons from revolting against them, so Eiffelia sent the skeletons back to where everyone who lost their rides went. Which, at least in Eiffelia's eyes, was a nice place. Apparently not, because the skeletons kept sneaking out to try and take the theater for themselves.
Through all the chaos, Eiffelia's happiness, if you could really call it that, never wavered. It was only when she was leaving to continue her rounds when one of the skeletons shouted back at her "This is your fault, Eiffelia! You should have just made another building for them!" that she hesitated. Slowly turning her head back where the shout had come from, her smile dropped into a hurt expression. But they didn't care, no one typically does when it comes to her.
From what Phear had told her, everyone saw her as some overarching tyrant, and that she only ever did stuff for herself. Which wasn't true, but looking back on all the things she had done, there wasn't much she could do to defend herself. Miami liked her, or at least, Eiffelia believed Miami liked her, but that was probably only because Eiffelia pulled her out of her self-deprecating episodes and gave her something to do.
After her rounds were over, Eiffelia made her way to the Eiffel Tower at the center of the park, it was closed for the day. Eiffelia made sure of it. When the park closed, she went up there and stared at all the lights around her. It was beautiful, really. But she just couldn't get her mind off of what everyone has been saying about her. It's not like it was something new, no, people have been making comments about her for as long as she's been running the place.
Madelyn has always believed there was something off about Eiffelia and her family as a whole. All of the disappearances tied to them but never proven, something just didn't add up. Eiffelia knew that Madelyn was onto something, of course, Madelyn had known Eiffelia's mother more than Eiffelia did herself, but she couldn't let her know that. So whenever Madelyn had said something about Connie Isla to Eiffelia, she just grinned and replied "I don't know what you're talking about." and continued on with her day.
Eventually, Madelyn got to be such a problem that Eiffelia had tried to get rid of her, but that wasn't her fault, Madelyn was being an awful person to her, right? That's where Maddie had come from, but the others still managed to find Madelyn and bring her back, so now the Monster had two people for it, and Eiffelia was hated by Madelyn even more.
Then there was all the drama with the ghosts and the skeletons. The Phantom Theater had opened first, but when it closed, the skeletons took their place. Then the ghosts kept trying to sabotage all of them. After Boo Blasters had closed, the ghosts got their ride back, and now the skeletons were trying to do the same thing. Eiffelia didn't bother much with getting in between them, but it did still make her feel bad that they all blamed her for their problems.
A distant noise filled the Eiffel Tower, and Eiffelia quickly turned to see what it was. The elevator was bringing someone up to join her. Eiffelia just stood there, not knowing who was coming or what to do about it. Upon hearing the voice of her surprise visitor, relief flooded her mind. "Good afternoon, Ms. Faire." Said Phear, calling her by her professional name. He must have came up the Eiffel Tower to meet her. "What brings you all the way up here after closing? Shouldn't you be going to sleep?"
Eiffelia's breath caught in her throat. "Phear, am I a bad person?" She said, unable to hide the hurt welling up in her eyes. She knew better than to be asking him this question, he would only answer in a manner she no longer believed.
Phear faltered at Eiffelia's question. "I don't understand your question, what have you done that is truly bad?"
"Answer honestly, just because you're my assistant doesn't mean you have to pretend that I'm amazing when I'm the one who took you away from them." Phear hated talking about the missions, despite the fact that he used to be one of them, before they all disappeared. "You had better friends, and I thought they were dangerous, so I took them all away and left you here alone, yet you still tell me I'm good. Why do you still defend me? Phoenix-"
Phear's gaze moved away from her, and to the lights surrounding them. "Phoenix is still believing in something that was doomed from the start. You saved me from becoming like them, dependent on one another, unable to do anything alone. If you hadn't 'left me here alone,' then I would be just as screwed as the eight you keep in the labs." Eiffelia knew he didn't mean that, not truly. She had seen the connection him and Phoenix had before Eiffelia took her away. He had cared about her deeply, but maybe not anymore. "They were all dangerous and I'm glad that they're gone, you did something right by doing that. You're only unsure because of Ssnakina's intervention."
Eiffelia's breathing was heavy. Tears were flowing freely from her face. "I just-I just feel like I'm not doing anything right! Everyone thinks I'm horrible, but you keep telling me otherwise! Why is this so...HARD?" Eiffelia sobbed.
Phear knelt down to meet where she was sitting, his face riddled with concern. "I don't understand why you feel sorry for eradicating the missions. You did everyone a favor, and they don't even know it. You've been solving our problems since you came here, if everyone fails to see that, then they're the ones in the wrong." He said it like he believed it, but tears kept freely flowing from Eiffelia's face.
She had nothing left to say, backed up against the wall, she let herself slide down to the floor, bringing her knees close. Phear sat down next to her, unsure of what to say. "Even if you are bad, there will always be people that care about you." He said.
"Who? You'd be the only one. I'm an awful person with a fake smile, there's nothing I can do to change it. Even my family doesn't want to talk to me anymore." She said between breaths. She had been the sole caretaker of her siblings, especially in light of their mother's absence. Ferrina had made them all hate each other.
"Your family can stay in the places they own, Eiffelia, and you can find better people than them easily. All you have to do is try." Phear said, attempting to console her. He looked at Eiffelia, in her tears and sorrow, he couldn't possibly understand why the others couldn't see her for who she was. They all threw around the knowledge that she was out to hurt people, and was just good at hiding it. He wanted to help, but he knew everyone saw him as nothing more than "Eiffelia's helper" nowadays. He sighed, stood up, and helped Eiffelia to her feet.
Eiffelia sniffled, turned back to look at the skyline covered in its lights, and continued to watch them as the elevator that had brought her up there descended to the ground. Once the reached the cold pavement, she donned her typical smile. "Thank you, Phear. I honestly don't know what I would do without you," She said, her cheery, slightly sing-song voice returning. "I'm glad you've stayed around, despite these...'episodes.'" She continued with a laugh.
A faint smile curved onto his face and he walked away, returning back to Area 72 alone, and once more, Eiffelia was alone in her emotion.
THE END: