"Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥....₥₥₥.. Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥...₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥..₥₥₥₥."
The neon red light pulsed as the door remained slightly open. Rachel listened to the tune echoing from behind the door. A flicker of mulberry shimmered underneath the door. Doors glitched and faded as the hallway collapsed behind her.
She breathed deeply as she stared at the door. Her mind raced as she listened to the tune coming from behind the door. A melancholic yet beautiful tone that felt alien but strangely familiar. Rachel's heart thumped in her chest, half expecting to see Emily Prime behind the door, the other half expecting something else.
"Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥....₥₥₥.. Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥...₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥..₥₥₥₥."
The door creaked open as Rachel pushed it. A flood of mulberry light blinded her briefly as she stepped inside. A decorative, ornate music box sat on a coffee table. The door locked behind her as the music box continued to play.
"Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥....₥₥₥.. Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥...₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥..₥₥₥₥."
There were no windows, no appliances, posters, or furniture. Just a lone music box, a coffee table, and Rachel's static doppelganger standing next to the music box, who hummed along. Its static, hollow eyes stared at her with a stoic expression as it closed the music box.
Rachel stared at it, slowly blinking as she walked towards her static doppelganger. It glanced back then and gestured for her to take a seat as two wooden chairs materialized around the coffee table. It looked at the music box as Rachel sat down; it frowned, then sat down. They sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity, both staring at one another with a stoic expression.
"ⱧɆⱤɆ ₩Ɇ ₳ⱤɆ ₳₲₳ł₦," Rachel Static Doppelganger spoke as it crossed its legs. "ɎØɄ ĐØ₦'₮ ₴ɆɆ₥ ₴ɄⱤ₱Ɽł₴ɆĐ ₮Ø ₴ɆɆ ₥Ɇ ₮Ⱨł₴ ₮ł₥Ɇ."
"I knew you would be back," Rachel replied as she crossed her legs as well.
Rachel Static Doppelganger smiled, then looked down at the music box. Its sharp claws tapped on the coffee table. "ĐØ ɎØɄ Ʉ₦ĐɆⱤ₴₮₳₦Đ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ ł'VɆ ฿ɆɆ₦ ₮ⱤɎł₦₲ ₮Ø ₮ɆⱠⱠ ɎØɄ?"
Rachel nodded.
"₮ⱧɆ₦ ɎØɄ ⱤɆ₳ⱠłⱫɆ ₮Ⱨ₳₮ ₮Ⱨł₴ ł₴ ₩ⱧɆⱤɆ ɎØɄ ₣Ʉ₵₭ɆĐ Ʉ₱ ₴Ø ₥₳₦Ɏ ₮ł₥Ɇ₴."
Rachel glanced down at the music box and rubbed her shoulder. "I can't save Emily."
"₮ⱧɆ ₣₳₮Ɇ Ø₣ ₮Ⱨł₴ ₩ⱧØⱠɆ Ʉ₦łVɆⱤ₴Ɇ ⱤɆ₴₮₴ Ø₦ ɎØɄⱤ ₴ⱧØɄⱠĐɆⱤ₴, Ɽ₳₵ⱧɆⱠ. ł₮'₴ ₦Ø₮ ₳฿ØɄ₮ ₴₳Vł₦₲ ɎØɄⱤ Ɇ₥łⱠɎ," Rachel Static Doppelganger explained; its hollow eyes were like daggers as it looked into Rachel's mulberry eyes. "ł₮'₴ ₳฿ØɄ₮ ĐØł₦₲ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ ₦ɆɆĐ₴ ₮Ø ฿Ɇ ĐØ₦Ɇ."
Rachel sighed as she crossed her arms. "You know I can't do it. Emily Prime knows I can't do it."
"₮ⱧɆ Ɇ₦₲ł₦Ɇ ₩ØɄⱠĐ₦'₮ Ⱨ₳VɆ ₵ⱧØ₴Ɇ₦ ɎØɄ ł₣ ɎØɄ ₵₳₦'₮ ĐØ ł₮, JɄ₴₮ Ⱡł₭Ɇ ⱧØ₩ ł₮ ₭₦Ø₩₴ Ɇ₥łⱠɎ ₱Ɽł₥Ɇ ł₴ ₮ⱧɆ Ɽł₲Ⱨ₮ ₵ⱧØł₵Ɇ ₮Ø ฿Ɇ₵Ø₥Ɇ ₲ØĐ."
"How could she be the right choice?"
"฿Ɇ₵₳Ʉ₴Ɇ ₴ⱧɆ ĐØɆ₴₦'₮ ₩₳₦₮ ł₮, ₳₦Đ ₴₮łⱠⱠ, ĐɆ₴₱ł₮Ɇ ⱧɆⱤ ₱Ø₩ɆⱤ, ₴ⱧØ₩₴ ⱤɆ₴₮Ɽ₳ł₦₮ ₳₦Đ ₵Ø₥₱₳₴₴łØ₦."
Rachel's eyebrows narrowed, but she didn't reply; her eyes darted from side to side as she thought about Emily Prime's behavior. Her eyes widened as she looked up at her Static Doppelganger.
"Your....her....her Rachel?"
Rachel Static Doppelganger smiled. "₦Ø₮ ɆӾ₳₵₮ⱠɎ; ₵Ø₦₴łĐɆⱤ ₥Ɇ ₳₦ Ɇ₵ⱧØ Ø₣ ₳ⱠⱠ ₮ⱧɆ Ɽ₳₵ⱧɆⱠ₴ ₩ⱧØ Ⱨ₳VɆ ฿ɆɆ₦ ₴₮Ʉ₵₭ ĐɆ₳Ⱡł₦₲ ₩ł₮Ⱨ ₮ⱧɆ ₣₳ⱠⱠØɄ₮ Ø₣ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ Ⱨ₳₱₱Ɇ₦ɆĐ ł₦ Ɇ₥łⱠɎ ₱Ɽł₥Ɇ'₴ Ʉ₦łVɆⱤ₴Ɇ," it explained as it looked at the music box. "₴ⱧɆ ₴₮₳Ɽ₮ɆĐ ₳₴ ₳₦ ØⱤ₱Ⱨ₳₦, ɎØɄ ₭₦Ø₩. ₦Ø₮ ₳ ₱Ɇ₦₦Ɏ ₮Ø ⱧɆⱤ ₦₳₥Ɇ, ₦Ø ₱Ø₩ɆⱤ₴, ₦Ø ₣₳₥Ɇ. JɄ₴₮ ₳ ₵ɆⱠⱠØ ₳₦Đ ₳ ⱧɆ₳Ɽ₮ Ø₣ ₲ØⱠĐ."
Rachel blinked slowly but didn't respond.
"₮ⱧØ₴Ɇ ₩ⱧØ ₩₳₦₮ ₱Ø₩ɆⱤ ₳ⱤɆ Ø₣₮Ɇ₦ ₮ⱧɆ Ø₦Ɇ₴ ₩ⱧØ ĐØ ₦Ø₮ ĐɆ₴ɆⱤVɆ ØⱤ Ɇ₳Ɽ₦ ₴₳łĐ ₱Ø₩ɆⱤ. ₩ⱧɆ₦ ₮ⱧɆ Ɇ₦₲ł₦Ɇ ₴ɆⱠɆ₵₮ɆĐ ₵₳₦ĐłĐ₳₮Ɇ₴ ₮Ø Ʉ₦ĐɆⱤ₮₳₭Ɇ ₮ⱧɆ ₱łⱠ₲Ɽł₥₳₲Ɇ, ₱ɆØ₱ⱠɆ ₥Ø₵₭ɆĐ ł₮₴ ĐɆ₵ł₴łØ₦ ₩ⱧɆ₦ Ɇ₥łⱠɎ ₱Ɽł₥Ɇ ₩₳₴ ฿Ɽ₳₦ĐɆĐ ₩ł₮Ⱨ ł₮₴ ₥₳Ɽ₭. ₮ⱧɆɎ ₳ⱠⱠ ₮ⱧØɄ₲Ⱨ₮ ₴ⱧɆ ₩ØɄⱠĐ ĐłɆ ₣łⱤ₴₮," it explained as it smiled.
Rachel glanced over at the wall, then looked back at her doppelganger. "So why does my Emily have to bite the bullet? She doesn't deserve any of this."
"₳₦Đ ₦Ɇł₮ⱧɆⱤ ĐØɆ₴ ₮Ⱨł₴ Ʉ₦łVɆⱤ₴Ɇ. ₵ⱧØł₵Ɇ₴ ⱠɆ₳Đ ₮Ø ₵Ø₦₴ɆQɄɆ₦₵Ɇ₴. ⱧɆⱤ Ɽ₳₵ⱧɆⱠ ₥₳ĐɆ ₳ ₵ⱧØł₵Ɇ; ₦Ø₩ ɎØɄ ₥Ʉ₴₮ ₥₳₭Ɇ ₳ ₵ⱧØł₵Ɇ."
"An impossible decision for an impossible decision."
The static doppelganger nodded. "₩Ɇ ĐłĐ₦'₮ ₲łVɆ ⱧɆⱤ ₳₦ Ø₱₮łØ₦; ₩Ɇ ₵ⱧØ₴Ɇ ₣ØⱤ ⱧɆⱤ. ₦Ø₩, Ɇ₥łⱠɎ ₱Ɽł₥Ɇ ł₴ ⱤɆ₮ɄⱤ₦ł₦₲ ₮ⱧɆ ₣₳VØⱤ."
"Emily must make the choice," Rachel replied as her eyes lit up. "I keep trying to save my Emily, forcing my will upon her rather than letting her make the choice."
"฿ł₦₲Ø."
"There's no way she would do it."
"ⱧØ₩ ĐØ ɎØɄ ₭₦Ø₩?"
"I-"
Rachel's static doppelganger smiled and stood up. "Ɇ₥łⱠɎ ₱Ɽł₥Ɇ ₮ⱧØɄ₲Ⱨ₮ ₮ⱧɆ ₴₳₥Ɇ ₮Ⱨł₦₲ ₩ⱧɆ₦ ⱧɆⱤ Ɽ₳₵ⱧɆⱠ гР₩Ⱨ₳₮ ₴ⱧɆ ĐłĐ," it explained as it looked at the music box. "ł ₵₳₦ ⱧɆⱠ₱ ɎØɄ, ฿Ʉ₮ ɎØɄ ₦ɆɆĐ ₮Ø ₴ØⱤ₮ ₮Ⱨł₴ Ʉ₦łVɆⱤ₴Ɇ'₴ ₵Ø₴₥ł₵ ₥Ɇ₴₴ ØɄ₮ ₣łⱤ₴₮ ฿Ɇ₣ØⱤɆ ɎØɄ ₮ⱤɎ ₮Ø ₮₳₵₭ⱠɆ Ɇ₥łⱠɎ ₱Ɽł₥Ɇ."
Rachel looked up at her static doppelganger, then looked at the music box.
"ɎØɄ ₴₮Ø₱₱ɆĐ ⱤɄ₦₦ł₦₲; ₦Ø₩ ł₮'₴ ₮ł₥Ɇ ₣ØⱤ ɎØɄ ₮Ø Ɇ₥฿Ɽ₳₵Ɇ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ ɎØɄ ₳ⱤɆ,"it said as it stretched out its claws towards Rachel, as the music box started to play.
"Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥....₥₥₥.. Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥...₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥₥...Ⱨ₥₥₥..₥₥₥₥."
"Threads pull tight."
"₮ⱧɆɎ ₩Ɇ₳VɆ ₥Ɏ ₣₳₮Ɇ."
"A shadow stitched to a hollow state."
"₴₮₳₮ł₵ ฿ⱤłĐɆ, ₦Ø VɆłⱠ ₵₳₦ ⱧłĐɆ"
Their eyes lit up with mulberry as Rachel stood up and took its hand.
"ØⱧ-ØⱧ, ł'₥ ₮ⱧɆ ₴₮₳₮ł₵ ฿ⱤłĐɆ,"
"Dancing in the hum that never dies."
"₥ɄⱠ฿ɆⱤⱤɎ Ⱡł₲Ⱨ₮ Ʉ₱ ₥Ɏ ɆɎɆ₴,"
"Bound to the Engine beneath the skies."
Rachel's static doppelganger merged with Rachel in a burst of static energy. Her eyes glowed with vibrant mulberry as the music box continued to play while the room disintegrated around her. She then walked towards the door and closed her eyes. She thought of Sarah's location, then grabbed the door and opened it.
Sarah stood outside the entrance of the Reactor. She patted the snow off her pants with wide eyes, then looked up at the sky. She glanced around with raised eyebrows, rubbing her neck as she breathed out of her mouth.
She lit a small flame in her hand, warming herself up as she patted the snow off her designer winter jacket. Sarah's eyebrows furrowed as she struggled to find out how she got teleported back outside.
"Unbelievable, literally the worst day of my life," Sarah groaned to herself. "Get powers then get bitch slapped by Emily of all people then thrown into a horror movie all in one day."
Her head turned towards the Reactor as she heard footsteps. "Rache?" Sarah said as the Reactor entrance door opened.
"You alright?" Rachel asked as she looked up at the snow falling from the sky, then walked towards Sarah.
"Define alright?" Sarah replied. "I got trapped in that door, and the next thing I know, I am outside. What the hell happened?"
Rachel blinked as she looked around. "Long story, but we need to get going."
"To where?"
"We're going to Em's place."
"For what?"
"You can stay here if you want."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "No, I am not letting you leave me here. Also, I am not walking another step in this fucking snowstorm."
"No need," Rachel replied as she approached the Reactor entrance. "Grab hold of me."
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Uhhh, why?"
"Do you want to get out of this snowstorm or not?"
Sarah rolled her eyes and sighed. "Fine," she replied as she grabbed onto Rachel's hoodie.
Rachel's eyes glowed as she grabbed the door handle and then stepped through the door.
"What the fuck...how," Sarah bluttered out as Rachel closed Emily's bathroom door.
"Okay...how did you do that?"
"Magic," Rachel replied as she gestured for Sarah to follow her.
The air reeked of alcohol, gunpowder, and burnt leather. The carpet was splotched with mud, blood, and snow, melting into the dingy brown fabric of the rug. Shrapnel, bullets, and broken furniture littered the living room. The television screen was shattered, and the sofa was torn to shreds, wobbling hazardously against the entertainment system.
Emily's front door was open, swinging back and forth in the cool breeze as the snowstorm continued. Rachel and Sarah navigated the carnage as they glanced around for any sign of Emily's presence. They then focused their attention on the front door as they heard Elijah's voice coming from outside.
"Where's Em?" Rachel asked as glass shattered underneath her shoes as she stepped outside.
Elijah glanced back with wide eyes as he chucked his cigarette into the snow. "How the hell!" He said as he flinched with a raised eyebrow. "Where did y'all come from?"
"Rachel can go through portals or some shit. Don't ask me," Sarah replied as she glanced around Emily's front yard.
"Portals?" Elijah replied, looking at Rachel.
"Hey, I think we need to relocate," Emily said as her boots sank into the snow as she turned the corner. Her eyes widened as she saw Rachel and Sarah standing next to Eli.
"Rache...Sarah...how?"
"Em, we need to talk," Rachel said as she gestured for Sarah to stay with Elijah.
Emily raised an eyebrow as she looked at Sarah and then back at Rachel. She crossed her arms and frowned. "We got nothing to talk about."
Rachel shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Just listen, please."
Emily laughed as she looked up at Elijah, then back at Rachel. "You want to talk? That's rich coming from you."
"Em...I am being serious. Whatever petty grudge you're holding against me, now is not the time."
Emily frowned as she leaned on a tree, then crossed her arms. "Okay, talk."
"Not here,"
Emily rolled her eyes, then sighed as Elijah nodded at her. "Fine, but Eli is coming, and that bitch stays where she is."
Sarah's eyes narrowed as sparks of fire radiated from her eyes. Rachel put a hand on her shoulder and shook her head. Sarah then crossed her arms and rolled her eyes as she stepped back into Emily's house.
"Deal," Rachel replied as she looked up at Elijah.
"What is this about?" Elijah asked.
Rachel sighed as she watched Emily approach Elijah's Mustang. "You will find out; just be ready, okay."
Elijah nodded, then grabbed a cigarette and put it to his lips. He sighed as he lit it and opened the driver's seat door, then gestured for Rachel to get in. "This better be good; getting really sick and tired of you teenagers bossing me around."
The Mustang roared to life as Elijah turned the ignition and started to pull out of Emily's front yard. The tires rumbled and crunched underneath the snow and mud, struggling to gain traction on the inches of snow that had piled up since morning. The drive was eerily silent; neither Rachel nor Emily spoke as Elijah turned down an intersection.
Rachel sat in the back seat, her mulberry eyes cast shadows in the interior as she glanced up and met Emily's green eyes. She frowned, then glanced out the window, pondering where Emily was taking them.