Rachel rubbed her eyes as she rolled out of bed. She stared out her window, listening to the perched birds chirping in her backyard. Gray clouds had given way to a pristine blue sky. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed thin strings reflecting off the birds as they flew into the air.
She gazed around her room. The strings were connected to every gadget, trophy, poster, and piece of furniture. Rachel walked over to her alarm clock and observed how the strings tightened and loosened as she knocked it onto the floor. The hum in her head continued to persist, yet it was almost inaudible.
"These strings are your doing?" She quietly muttered as she tipped her trophy over.
There was no reply.
"I know you heard me."
No response.
Rachel shook her head and sighed. "So, what are you just going to sit back and watch?"
Silence.
She turned her head towards her door as footsteps echoed in the hallway.
"Girls, breakfast is ready," Rachel's mom said as she knocked on the door. She smiled as she creaked the door open. "Where is Emily?" She asked as she glanced around the room.
Rachel sighed and rubbed her neck. "She left after the lights went out," she explained while her eyes lingered on the strings attached to her mother.
Rachel's mom's eyebrows narrowed as she tilted her head at Rachel. "Are you wearing contacts?"
"No, why do you ask?" Rachel replied as her mom yelled for her father to come upstairs. "What?" She asked as her dad's eyes widened as he entered the room.
"That's odd," Rachel's father mumbled as he scratched his head.
Rachel's mulberry eyes widened as she stared at her reflection in the window. She rubbed her face as she leaned closer. Her heart fluttered as she blinked and pushed hair out of her face. The translucent threads reflected in the light as she moved her body.
"They can't see them. Why?" She thought to herself. "Is it the eyes? No, Emily has green eyes and can see them."
"I gotta find Emily," Rachel said.
"No, we are taking you to a doctor," Rachel's mom replied with wide eyes.
"Do you feel sick?" Rachel's dad asked as he stared at her eyes.
Rachel shrugged. "I feel fine."
"Should I tell them? No, if they can't see the strings, then they wouldn't understand. Hello, Engine, I know you are watching. Are you not going to tell me your grand master plan of world domination or whatever it is?"
There was no response.
"You want me to figure it out myself?" Rachel mumbled under her breath.
Her eyes narrowed as she gazed at a magnetic organizer hanging in her closet. Magnetic numbers and letters fell to the floor. "Yes" was spelled out amongst the scattered widgets.
Her alarm clock radio turned on abruptly.
"Alright, folks, welcome back to Star FM. That was the number one hit single, Gloom Groove. Before we kick off with another hour of music, I want to talk about the new movie coming out in theaters next week," a radio host explained.
"So you are watching. That's fine; I will figure it out myself," Rachel muttered as she turned off the radio.
"Can we just skip the whole doctor thing? I feel fine, and I need to talk with Emily," Rachel said as she sighed.
"Can't do that, sweety. Maybe it's one of those rare genetic things they talk about on TV," Rachel's dad replied."I will call the school and your coach and let them know-"
"It's not a big deal, and I am positive my eye color has nothing to do with that."
"Even more reason to take you to the doctor," Rachel's mom said as she escorted her downstairs. "We wouldn't be good parents if we just ignored this."
"Fine, whatever, but if he can't find anything wrong with me, I am going to school."
Rachel fidgeted in the backseat of her parents' car as they drove. Her mind raced back to last night, retracing memories she had suppressed or had forgotten. She closed her eyes, focusing on the hum. As she opened her eyes, the hum briefly sounded like a typewriter as she outstretched her hand. Trees and buildings crawled by as time slowed down. Her eyes widened as the strings became more tangible.
"No, that's how I got in this mess," Rachel thought.
She sighed and lowered her arm as time returned to its normal speed. She frowned as she gazed at her reflection, then shook her head. "Whatever happens, happens. Don't repeat the same mistakes."
Rachel groaned as they pulled up to the doctor's office. "Maybe I should get contacts; otherwise, everybody will be staring at me, " she grumbled as she followed her parents.
"Don't think like that. It's not weird to be different," Rachel's mom replied as she opened the door.
"Yeah, except your daughter can manipulate time and see the fabric of reality."
Disinfectant lingered in the air as Rachel reluctantly entered the doctor's office alongside her parents. Celebrity gossip magazines cluttered the tables next to the seats. A lone television broadcasts news promoting the safety and eco-friendly energy that Ether reactors provide. Children and parents stared wide-eyed at Rachel as she took a seat while her parents filled out some forms.
"You have weird eyes, but they're pretty," a child comments.
"Are those contacts?" Another child asked.
Rachel smiled and looked at her parents as they returned the paperwork to the reception desk. "No, and I like them too," Rachel replied as she glanced at the television.
"I hate them."
Her eyes drifted around the room, looking at the strings connected to everyone. She watched as they tightened and loosened as they moved. A rush of guilt swelled within her, reminding her that she had been affecting their lives even if they were unaware of it.
"The doctor will see you now," The receptionist called out as Rachel's parents stood up and gestured for Rachel to follow.
Goosebumps formed on Rachel's skin as she followed her parents into the designated room. The air was frigid and smelled of air sanitizer. Human anatomy posters hung on the wall alongside cheap landscape paintings. Neurological percussion devices and a stethoscope were mounted on the eggshell-white wall. Ophthalmology equipment sat next to a single examination table.
"How are you all today?" A middle-aged man wearing a white coat asked. He scratched his salt-and-pepper beard as his fair-skinned hands grabbed a clipboard. "What brings the Harpers in? Can't have the high school captain under the weather when a big game is coming up."
"I am not sick," Rachel insisted as she looked at him, scribbling down something on the clipboard.
"Dr. Fergerson, thanks for taking the time to see us. She says she feels fine, but I am pretty sure your changing the color of your eyes isn't normal," Rachel's mom interjected.
"That is unusual," Dr. Fergerson replied as he shined a light into Rachel's eyes. "People's eye color shifts constantly, but usually as a child or later in life. Pigments and Melanin are prime reasons for this to occur," he explained as he scribbled down on the clipboard. "In some rare instances, people have red and pink eyes, but this mulberry color is odd."
"See, Mom, there's nothing to worry about," Rachel said, blinking heavily as Dr. Fergerson shined a light into her eyes.
"So she's just special?" Rachel's dad asked.
"Lucky me, meanwhile, Emily keeps her green eyes and has no strings. Who is the lucky one here?" Rachel thought to herself as she rolled her eyes.
"Most likely, but I'll run a few tests just to make sure nothing's going on besides a rare eye color," Dr. Fergerson replied as he pulled up a phoropter. "Alright, can you look into this and tell me what you see?"
"A bird," Rachel flatly replied.
"And the next?"
"A cage."
"And last one?"
Rachel paused and sighed. "It's an Engine."
"What's your game here?" Rachel thought to herself as she pulled away from the phoropter.
"I say her eyesight is fine," Dr. Fergurson replied as he scribbled down on his clipboard and stood up.
"So, can I go to school now?" Rachel asked.
Dr.Fergurson shrugged and then glanced at her parents. "I don't see why not. We can order some contacts if you're not a fan of the new color?"
"Please do."
"Rachel, don't hide your uniqueness. I kinda like the color now that I know it's not harmful," Rachel's mom insisted.
Rachel rubbed her nose, then sighed. "Fine, you win, but if I start getting weird nicknames, it's all on you."
"It's all hidden in plain sight, and nobody has a clue. Is this how the world looks to Emily?" Rachel thought to herself as she followed her parents back to the car.
"Did Emily say anything to you all before she left?" Rachel asked as her dad pulled out of the parking lot.
"No, I had no idea she left. We were busy fiddling around with the breaker box," Rachel's dad said as he turned on the main road.
"What are you up to, Emily."
Rachel gazed at the window, fixating on the billboards and business signs. Her heart started racing as they approached Corwood High. Her eyebrows narrowed as she noticed the black Mustang parked in the high school parking lot. Memories of Emily pulling a fire alarm crept into her mind as she hugged her parents as she exited the vehicle. She stood in the parking lot, staring at her high school as the crisp Autumn air caused her hair to flutter in the wind. She checked the time and sighed before walking up the steps.
The hallway lights did not flicker as she entered the school. No students bickered and gossiped at their purple lockers while banners for the festival hung overhead. No faculty member patrolled the corridors as she approached her first-period class. She noticed the strings and knots on everyone in the class as she turned the doorknob and stepped in. The room fell silent as her classmates stared at her mulberry eyes. Rachel, however, was not paying attention to that. Her eyes were fixated on Emily in a P.I.A. jacket, standing next to Elijah.
"Right on time," Emily said as she stared at Rachel.