You don’t think it twice.
You rush towards Katie’s room, her face (and Rachel’s) tapping yours. You feel their backs will tear and their skins fall from you, but you care little as the trip is short – just across Jessica’s room. You dig into the duffel bag until you feel the case, and as you open it, your eyes leap into the purple pen.
Tessa mentioned you could use it to make a single hypnotic suggestion. On the back of your mind, you find the idea reprehensible – what makes it right to break her mind? But what if you don’t use it that way? What if you simply suggest her to see beyond your faces, your actions, and realize that it’s the same boy she fell in love? (Figuratively speaking, as after today, you will bury it in your past.)
You keep the whole case with you – just in case – and seek Jessica around the house. She’s not inside the living room, not within the kitchen – and when you hear the distant door slam, you realize where she may have been.
You return to her room, fully locked. You knock, checking in case Mrs. Hunt awakens, but you hear no response. “Babe?” you weakly try to reach to her, to no avail. “Babe? Open up.”
As you realize she’ll refuse, you make one last, desperate attempt. “Jessica? I only wanted to talk. I know I should’ve reached you directly, but... I didn’t know how. This is exactly what I feared. I can’t return to be the boy I was. But I still love you, and I want to give this another try.”
That provoked a reaction, as you hear her steps getting closer. However... “If you care about me... Give up everything. I was honest. I’m willing to forgive you, David. But I don’t want this... woman you claim you want to be. I want you. And this? This isn’t you.”
“Jess...” You clench the pen case tightly. “I can’t. I’d... I’d rather be dead that stop being Rachel.”
“Then you’re dead to me.” You feel how she’ll slam the door, but you resist.
“No.” You push yourself inside, with as much strength you can muster from Katie’s feeble body. “You said that you wouldn’t leave me if I--”
“I would’ve tried,” she replies. “But you’re stealing someone’s life. You’re using my fucking sister like a costume! How can I forgive you for that!?”
“If you gave me a chance--!”
“What chance!? I know David. I know he wouldn’t steal someone’s life.”
“Then you don’t know me.” You sniff, fighting with the pain of rejection. “Because I did. Willingly. I was given a choice. I could’ve said no. But I couldn’t. Because we are now one. And now that I know that? I cannot go back.”
“I said I’d support your happiness. But I also said that I’d do it even if that happiness wasn’t with me.”
“No!” you hiss. “You said you wouldn’t leave me!”
“I said I wouldn’t, but if that I couldn’t, I’d support whoever you chose. And if you couldn’t, that I’d help you move on. This is both. Find someone who understands the monster you’ve become. And if there’s still something of the boy I loved deep within you? Find him and let him free.”
But I am free! Jessica doesn’t get it. That’s her fear talking. Your words aren’t reaching her. You’ll need something to destroy that fear.
And that thing is at the palm of your hand. “I am free, Jess. Freer than I have ever been. And I have found the one who’ll understand me already.”
“So you were lying to me. Who is it? Who’s that woman?”
“You.” You point the purple pen at her, but you don’t see much at first. The tip glows with an alluring lavender light, seeking to draw you in. You notice how Jessica tries to resist, but soon enough, her eyes are drawn to the light like a moth to flame. You swing the light around, and her face seeks it.
“Jess?” Your voice startles her – and fills her with greater despair.
“What are you doing to me? What’s that?”
Does this thing work? You try it again, pointing it at her eyes. You see her vacant stare once more, but as you glance upon the light, you start to hear a droning sound. It disconnects you from the world, allowing you to hear a heartbeat. And you’re pretty sure it’s not yours.
“Jessica?” You ask her, and she nods. “It’s me. David. I need you to understand. I cannot be David anymore. Rachel and I... we are one. If you truly love me, I beg of you, please understand this. I cannot change. Not anymore. And I--”
She blinks, shaking her head. You still see the fear in her eyes, but also confusion. “What was that?”
“Are you alright?”
“I...” She steps back, rubbing her eyes with the palm of her hand. “If you can’t change who you are, Rachel? I get it.”
So it works, you realize. But you really need to be careful with what you say.
“Will you give me a chance?” you say as you try to approach her.
She shirks you, rejecting your advances. “I can’t. I told you, Rachel. I’ll support you in any way I can. But I didn’t fell in love with you. I fell in love with David. And if he’s gone--”
“Jess! I’m still here!”
“Stop confusing me, then! Who are you? Rachel, or David?”
“Both!” You grimace, hissing in anger. “Maybe my body and mind are that of Rachel, but my heart--”
“Rachel, you’re a beautiful woman. More beautiful than I can ever be. You’ll find a man who cares for you for who you are. Or a woman, I guess. Thank you for telling me the truth, but I...” She breaks into tears. “I can’t. I’ll move on. For both our sakes. I suggest... you do as well.”
You failed. No matter what you do, Jessica won’t budge.
Is that what you are? You hear yourself, taunting you. A quitter? Is that what you want to show to the mistress? That even you have weaknesses?
You’re right. Even when you failed, you learned. This isn’t a failure. This is a lesson. And it’s one you’re willing to try again.
You touch Jessica’s hand. She glares at you but hides her face. With a deep breath, you grab her hair, lifting her head. “Jessica? Look at me.”
“Rachel! You’re hurting me!”
“Jessica?” you demand. “I won’t ask you twice. Look at me.”
“Rachel... Stop. This isn’t right. Move on. You’re hurting me.”
“Not as much as you’re destroying me.” You click the purple pen, shoving the light straight to her eyes. “Look at me, Jess. Don’t resist it.”
“Rachel...” She tries to, but something within her falters. “Ra...”
“Jessica? Listen to me.”
“Da...” She turns her head towards you, and with tears flowing from her eyelids, she slowly opens them. “...vid...”
You look through the light, waiting until you can feel the heartbeat. Your first suggestion was never going to work. This time? It will.
“Jessica? It’s me, David. Ignore the faces I wear. I know you love me. Because you love me, right? If you do, then... Love me. Do as I say. Honor that love you have for me. Love me, Jessica. Love me. Make me happy.”
Soon, you see her nod, and the pain in her eyes fades away. It’s replaced by a tender smile. “David?”
“I told you. It’s Rachel now.”
“But why?” Once again, she tears up. “Why are you doing this to her?”
“Because I must. I thought you understood, no? Being Rachel makes me happy. Being Rachel makes me complete.”
“If it makes you happy...” She lunges towards you, hugging you tight. “Then I’ll accept you for who you are, Rachel.”
“You love me, do you?”
She looks at you. Her tears aren’t out of fear, but out of joy. “Of course I do! I told you already!”
“Will you come with me? Will you make me the happiest woman in the world?”
She still hesitates. “But... what about Mom? What about Katie? What will happen if I’m gone?”
“I’ll leave a replacement, just as I left that David you shared with these past few weeks. I won’t leave him alone. He’ll have the perfect companion. And I... I will have you with me.”
“Rachel... I’m still not sure.”
“I thought you loved me.” You’re still hurt. Despite everything you’ve tried, she still rejects you.
But then... “I do. And... I want to make you happy.” She closes her eyes, deep in thought. And when she gives her answer, your pain fades away. “Yes. Let’s do it.”
“Thank you.” You touch her forehead with yours, rubbing it. “I’m sorry if it had to be this way. I didn’t mean to use Katie.”
“You’ll bring her back, won’t you?”
“Of course! I also want to make you happy!”
“Good.”
“Can...” You take a deep breath, holding her hands. “Can I kiss you?”
“Of course, babe.” She reaches to peck your lips, but you stop. “What’s wrong?”
“No. Not with this face.” You grab her hands, and you make her adjust Rachel’s face – your face – back where it belongs. Finally feeling your smile, you unleash it. “Now we can kiss.”
Your lips touch each other, and soon, you mount atop her. Jessica has never kissed you with this much passion; it’s as if she held up her emotions pent-up until now. It’s only as she rubs your loins that she stops, shocked. “Hold on. You’re...”
“Oh, right. Yeah...” You lean back, recalling you’re still wearing her sister. “Maybe once we’re on our own."
“Right," she says, timidly. "Now what?"
You rub your chin, deep in thought. You didn’t go too far on your plans. “I’ll need to make your replacement. That means I’ll have to stay inside Katie for a little while.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.”
“Again, it’s only until tomorrow.” You draw the rest of the pens, starting with the green one, then to the black. “You’ll also need to trust me on this.”
“I can’t trust you if I don’t know what I need to trust you on.”
“I’ll need to smuggle you out of here while leaving your replacement. We could do this tomorrow, or we could do it now, while your mom’s sleeping.”
“And what’s the catch?”
You show her the black pen, then flap Katie’s head. “You’ll have to go sleep for a while."
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