Sweat trickled down Rachel's forehead as her eyes jolted open. The rhythmic whop of helicopter blades reverberated against the window as she sat up and rubbed her mulberry eyes. Her pack of cigarettes fell to the floor as her trembling hands reached for them. She rubbed her hands across her face, then through her hair as she glanced out the window. Automobiles zipped past as a large crowd and news reporters stormed Clearwater.
Rachel's muscles were tense, her heart pounding in her chest as a phantom residue from her slumber. The world felt different, despite everything looking as she remembered. Her eyes drifted towards the flowers sitting on the entertainment center. She bit her lip, then looked at the walls as echoes of what she dreamt rattled against her waking consciousness.
Bright morning rays beamed into Rachel's hotel room as she reached down and grabbed her pack of cigarettes. Her eyebrow raised when she looked back and noticed Elijah was not in the room. She lit a cigarette, then grumbled while the fog of last night's fever dream lingered in her mind. Rachel got up, then put on her black imperialistic military uniform instead of the outfit she bought in Tyrial.
Knock.... Knock
"You dressed?" Elijah asked from the other side of the hotel room door.
"Yeah," Rachel replied as she put on her black military heel boots.
Elijah opened the door, then lit a cigarette. "We gotta go; the others are already up."
"I will be outside in a minute," Rachel replied as she fixed her hair. "Thought I would be more excited about Reunion Day."
"Life has a strange way of throwing curveballs, huh?" Elijah jested as he leaned on the wall. "Raised to be the next PRIME, inspired to be it, and now you realize the weight of being chosen."
Rachel sighed. "Yup, those helicopters are from Augustine, which means my family is here."
"Reunion Day is living up to its name."
Rachel scratched her face, then looked at the floor.
"What? I thought it was a good joke."
Rachel shook her head. "It's not that. I think Emily is here."
"How so?"
"I just feel it in my bones."
"Those eyes give you foresight as well?"
"No…not necessarily. I just… have something more reliable than a hunch."
"And if you are wrong?"
"I'm not, and to prove it. We will be walking through a field of mulberry flowers soon."
Elijah looked out the window. "Funny you mention flowers. My dream had flowers in it, and I never dream about flowers."
Rachel didn't respond, metabolizing his words as they pierced her psyche.
"Let's get this over with," Elijah suggested, breaking the silence. "If there is a field of flowers, don't say anything, got it?"
Rachel nodded and then followed Elijah out of the hotel. Her boots clicked on the cobblestone streets of Clearwater as they left the hotel. The morning sky was a display of reds, blues, and tangerine. Citizens and chosen congregated towards the beam of mulberry nestled in the countryside. Helicopters flew through the heavens, landing on rolling hills just out of view from within Clearwater. Merchants and drones promoted PRIME and Reunion Day merchandise. Florists buttoned roses and orchids onto chosen garments as they made their way out of town.
"There you all are," Alice said as she noticed Elijah and Rachel approaching. "We were about to head off without y'all."
"Rough night?" Arthur commented as he noticed the bags under Rachel's eyes.
"Nightmares," Rachel replied flatly.
"Your family is already here, by the way."
"Don't remind me," Rachel grumbled, then looked at the red, black, and gold helicopter descending on the rolling hills just outside of Clearwater. She then looked at Sarah, who was staring wide-eyed at the sky. "How is the flamingo doing?" Rachel asked as she looked at Shiyu.
"I hardly got any sleep," Shiyu sighed, then glared at Sarah. "I hope she snaps out of it soon... she is becoming a liability."
"They say the ENGINE chooses the worthy finds the PRIME," Sarah sang with her hands up towards the sky.
"Hopefully the ENGINE will give her the power of shutting up and not something dangerous," Rachel said as she shook her head.
"Speak for yourself; I can't think of anything more dangerous than you," Shiyu grumbled, then crossed her arms. "Let's get going," she ordered as Arthur carried Sarah on his shoulders as they began to walk towards the mulberry light.
Fresh grass crunched underneath Rachel's boots as they climbed the rolling hills. The scent of flora, honeydew, and machinery lingered in the air as they walked. Her eyes scanned the horizon, fixating on the mulberry beam of light. Sarah mumbled under her breath as Amos shook his head. Cars, Limousines, and helicopters came into view as they reached the top of a hill. Rachel's eyes dilated as she watched people walk through a meadow of mulberry flowers in the valley of the farmstead below.
"I was right," Rachel said to herself as she plucked an orchid. "She was here."
"Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing," Elijah said as he stood next to her, gazing down at the people congregating towards the farm.
"Who was here?" Amos asked as he approached.
Rachel shook her head. "My family."
"Why are you saying that in the past tense?"
Rachel rubbed her neck. "Did I?"
Amos looked at Elijah, then at Rachel. "Yeah…you did," he replied, then walked down the hill.
"He caught you slipping," Elijah said as he watched Amos follow Alice and Arthur through the meadow.
"Doesn't matter for now. We all are keeping secrets anyway," Rachel insisted as descend the valley.
Her eyes lingered on the middle-aged woman in a designer military uniform standing next to a helicopter. Her long strawberry hair fluttered in the wind as she stared death stares at the chosen who congregated at the farmstead. Her eyes narrowed as she turned her head towards Rachel as she descended into the farm. The woman's facial expression soured as she stared at Rachel's mulberry eyes.
"I knew I shouldn't have allowed you to leave on your own," the woman grumbled as Rachel approached. "What in the PRIME happened to your once beautiful eyes, Rachel?"
"Good to see you as well, Mother," Rachel replied, then bowed. "I had a bit of an accident on the way," she explained before her mother put a finger on her lip.
"There is no such thing as accidents for the chosen," her mother said as she lifted her finger off Rachel's lip. "Spent my whole life getting you prepared for this, and now you look like a fucking freak."
Rachel's lips quivered as her eyes lit up with anger, but she did not reply.
"Wasted potential...at least your brother will take the throne."
"Hey, what the fuck is wrong with you treating your daughter like that!?" Elijah growled as he stepped in front of Rachel.
"She is my daughter, and I suggest you mind your business, Elijah Thompson!" Rachel's mother growled back.
Rachel grabbed Elijah's shoulder and then shook her head.
"How ironic you are judging my mother, Mr. Elijah, when you are the reason for a whole town being killed," a youthful male voice mocked as the helicopter door opened.
Rachel's nostrils flared as she looked at the violet chosen mask on the right side of his face. His long black hair whipped in the wind as he stood next to Rachel's mother. He wore an elegant black and gold military uniform with a royal cape made of the finest silk. Piercing blue eyes gazed at Rachel with an arrogant, bitter smile.
"Sister, disappointing our bloodline by keeping careless murderers as company. Tsk...tsk."
"Save your judgment, Sylas. Nobody asked you," Rachel grumbled.
Sylas smirked, then glanced at Amos, Arthur, Alice, and Shiyu. His eyes narrowed as he noticed Sarah being carried on Arthur's shoulder. "Isn't that Sarah of Tyrial?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. "I heard tales she lost a duel to an orphan...is that true?"
"What's it to you?" Elijah asked.
Sylas shrugged. "Just curious to meet the person who turned what I thought was the best musician into whatever that is over there," he jested, noticing Sarah mumbling to herself.
"Come, Sylas, we've got things to prepare for, then waste our time with them," Rachel's mother instructed as she flipped her hair. "Oh, and Rachel, your father will not be so kind as I am with this turn of events," she explained as she walked away with Sylas.
Tears trickled down Rachel's face as her family walked away. Her heart raced as she balled her hands into a fist, and she glared at them as they talked with Lex nearby. Mike turned his head towards Rachel as he stood behind Lex, shaking his head at her. Melancholy mixed with rage poured down her spine as she bit her lip before walking with Elijah back to the group.
"You alright, kid?" Elijah asked as he watched Rachel place a cigarette to her lips.
"I am fine... been through way worse," Rachel replied as she lit it.
"That was difficult to watch," Alice said.
"Her family is vicious even for most of Augustine nobility standards," Arthur explained.
"Seen it all the time when I was instructing Rachel and Sylas about the pilgrimage," Amos added. "They are much worse behind closed doors."
"Don't need you reminding me of nobility abuse. I am well aware," Rachel grumbled as she rubbed her hands through her hair. "Good thing Emily isn't here."
"That's an understatement," Arthur replied with a thin-lipped smile.
"Are you alright?" Rusev asked as he approached.
Rachel turned around with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, it's you again."
"Who is he?" Elijah asked as he looked at Rusev's steel mask.
"Rusev Reigns met Rachel in Clearwater yesterday. That was your family?"
"Unfortunately," Rachel sighed.
Rusev rubbed his neck but didn't reply, staring at Rachel's family talking with Lex.
"Who is this guy?" Mike asked as he walked over.
"Can you not?" Rachel groaned as she rolled her eyes.
"I am just asking a question, and you roll your eyes at me?"
"That's because you're a piece of shit in every fucking universe."
Mike laughed. "And you are probably a slut in all of them."
Elijah grabbed Rachel's arm as she balled her hands into a fist. "Don't."
Rachel sighed, then rubbed her face as she glanced around at the other chosen. She noticed their stares as they gossiped amongst themselves while taking questions from reporters. She looked up at the mulberry light and the ENGINE hovering in the air. Its gears churned, unbothered by the commotion and festivities happening below.
"You are going to die, Mike. And I will feel relief when you do," Rachel whispered in Mike's ear as she walked off.
She looked at everyone's smiling faces, her attention zeroing in on her brother. Lex grinned at her as he chatted with Sylas and Rachel's mother. Chosen stared at Sarah, humming a tune while sitting on the grass. Everyone was playing a game with limited knowledge and assumptions. The ENGINE didn't specify; it didn't explain that the rules didn't apply to someone who wasn't even there.
But that didn't stop the chosen from thinking they had a shot at becoming PRIME.
"They say the ENGINE chooses the worthy finds the PRIME," Sarah cackled as she looked up at the ENGINE as chosen and chuckled at her.
Rachel felt eyes on the back of her head. She turned around and met Amos' stoic gaze, arms crossed. He looked at Sarah, then the ENGINE. Amos didn't say a word as he turned his attention back to Rachel, staring into her mulberry eyes with cold, calculating intensity. It didn't matter, though. Rachel could feel what he was thinking as his face turned sour.