"So, where are these associates of yours, Arthur? I want to leave as soon as possible," Emily asked as she followed.
"Oh, don't be like that, Emily. Make merry, drink a little... have some fun. We only have about a week before things get messy," Arthur said as he grabbed a glass of champagne.
"And we are going to a party instead of preparing?"
"I have to agree with Arthur on this. Live life like it's your last," Rachel insisted, grabbing a glass herself. A smile stretched across her face when she noticed a table with cheesecake. "Oh, my PRIME... they have my favorite food!"
"Bleh."
"How could you not like cheesecake? Cheesecake and wine are Leonore's specialties," Arthur asked while he cut himself a slice.
"Are you really going to eat that whole cheesecake?"
"You judging me?" Rachel replied.
"Absolutely not. In fact, I wish Emily had the same enthusiasm you do for Leonore cuisine."
Emily raised an eyebrow. Goosebumps crawled down her arms and legs. She opened her mouth but paused, then rubbed her neck. She blinked, then looked around, stopping on Rachel.
"˙ǝɔı̣ʇou ʇ'upı̣p ǝʍ puɐ 'pı̣p ןןɐ ǝM ˙ʇı̣ ʇןǝɟ ǝɥS"
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Rachel asked. She took a bite of cheesecake."This is exquisite...you should try some."
Emily ran a hand through her hair. "Sorry... didn't mean to stare. Just what's that word when you feel you've done something before?" She asked.
"You mean déjà vu?" Arthur replied as he took a sip of champagne.
"Yeah... though I don't know why. I have never been here before."
"A Sage once told me that déjà vu is just another version of ourselves doing the same thing in another universe," Rachel explained. "Maybe there is another Emily out there who loves cheesecake."
"Doubt it … now waffles I could get behind," she replied, then took a bite of Rachel's cheesecake. "Okay... that's actually pretty freaking good!"
"Good to know your taste buds work, or the other Emily's taste buds work at least."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Rachel smirked, then took another bite.
"Well, when you two finish arguing over food preferences, come find me in the villa. My associates and I will chat up the fellow chosen before tonight's performance," Arthur explained.
"Where specifically?" Rachel asked.
"The ballroom, that's where everyone is congregating for Sarah's performance."
"Ugh, can't you just tell us now?" Emily groaned.
"Emily of Leonore, chosen by the ENGINE for her all-encompassing anti-socialness," Rachel laughed.
Emily rolled her eyes and stuck up her middle finger at Rachel.
Arthur finished his champagne. "Some things are better shown than explained," he said, then started walking towards the manor.
"Waffles?" Rachel asked as she grabbed two glasses of champagne from a butler tray.
"Yeah, what about it?" Emily replied.
"Why?"
"Because I fucking love waffles?"
"Why?"
"Stop asking me why."
Emily sipped her champagne.
"Bleh."
"That's some of the finest champagne money can buy, and you just said bleh."
"It's basically fizzy water."
"And waffles are just pancakes."
"What, no!? They are nowhere near the same!"
"Same ingredients, too."
Rachel and Emily headed towards the manor.
"Anyway, we should probably see what this 'olive branch' entails."
Emily glanced up at the golden chandelier hanging overhead as Rachel pulled her along. The lights flickered like a faulty lightbulb. Acrylic paintings shifted in color scheme when Emily walked by. Classical music echoed in her ears. Nobles danced on the marble ballroom floor. Butlers handed drinks to the chosen and the elite.
"Surprised to see you here, kid," Elijah said, leaning on a wall.
"I could say the same thing to you," Emily replied.
"I am here to check out the competition," Elijah explained, then lit a cigarette.
Rachel gestured towards Shiyu, who was speaking with Sarah.
"Oh, if it isn't the musical prodigy herself," Sarah said. "Are you performing later tonight?"
"Absolutely not," Emily replied.
"Why not... we could do a duet? We would be the talk of the party."
Emily opened her mouth, then paused. She glanced towards Rachel, then looked at Sarah.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
Emily shook her head, then scratched her hand.
"Don't be coy; we both know you're not afraid of the stage. Or are you afraid I am better than you, hmmm?"
"Is that a challenge?" Rachel asked.
Arthur approached, then stood next to Sarah.
"I am glad you asked that."
"Where is our other friend, by chance?" Sarah asked.
"Other friend?" Emily asked.
"My other associate? Ah, there he is," Arthur explained, then turned to his right as Amos approached.
"Greetings, think we all met before," Amos introduced. His eyes stopped on Rachel. "I knew this day would come. How's your brother?"
"An asshole as usual, but yes, we both knew we would be chosen. Doesn't help you wrote the curriculum on how to win."
"And now we get to compete against one another to be PRIME... or maybe not?"
"Maybe?" Elijah asked
"I will let Arthur explain," Amos replied.
"What's this about?" Emily asked.
"Alliances are forming amongst the other chosen. I am forming my own and would like all of you to be a part of it," Arthur said. "Sarah and Amos have already partnered up with me, but some of the other alliances are reaching double digits... strength in numbers, so to speak."
"I will go wherever Emily goes," Shiyu replied. "However, nobody knows what awaits us during the pilgrimage."
"You are right; however, there's nothing wrong with being prepared for any scenario."
"Going into the pilgrimage solo is a surefire way to get yourself killed early," Amos replied. "History is full of brave individuals who tried to survive alone. The one who ends up winning was always linked to a coalition."
"But only one can be PRIME, though," Elijah said. "We would eventually be backstabbing one another."
"The alliance is indeed temporary, but the idea is not to die right at the starting line in some group competition scenario."
"Hopefully it does not have to come down to that... but yes, even I see the reasoning for teaming up," Sarah replied.
"And historically, everybody forms alliances during the week before the pilgrimage. Nobody knows what trials the ENGINE will throw at the chosen, so the logical conclusion is to form alliances," Amos said as he grabbed two glasses of champagne and then handed one to Emily.
Emily glanced at the glass, swirling the fizzy water as Amos's statement lingered in her mind. "I don't see the point when you know your teammates would stab you while you sleep, eventually."
"We are all thinking survival. The very last thing I would want to do is that. Ally with us, and we can work the kinks out along the way."
Sarah sighed as she looked at Emily. "Arthur, your way isn't working, and I be damned to keep this political when our lives are on the line," she said, then grabbed her violin nearby.
"They haven't said no... and what are you doing?"
"I challenge you, Emily of Leonore," Sarah declared.
"Compete for what?"
"Are you not familiar with your own cultural traditions? I am challenging you to a musical improvisation duel since you don't want to perform a duet with me."
"Umm, why?"
"Because I will not die because of a number situation. Duel me in musical combat, Emily of Leonore. If I win, you all join our alliance."
"She accepts!" Rachel interjected.
"Now hold on just a moment there," Elijah said.
"There's nothing to talk about. Challenging her is like challenging us, and I have faith Emily will win."
Emily's eyes widened. "But...I..."
"Well... are you going to throw Rachel under the bus, or are you going to accept my challenge?"
Emily groaned and rolled her eyes as she noticed people beginning to look over in her direction.
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to do," Shiyu said.
"Fine, but somewhere else."
"Oh no, performing on stage is the only way to do it. The people are the judges; now stop being a coward," Sarah yelled as the crowd cheered as she strummed a tune.
Emily glanced down at the ground, avoiding eye contact as she heard the cheers as nobles congregated towards the stage at the back end of the ballroom. Her hands got clammy as her heart thumped in her chest. She then felt Rachel grab her shoulder.
"We will get waffles when you kick her ass," Rachel said with a smirk on her face.
Emily blinked, and then her eyes narrowed like a hawk's. She scanned the ballroom and then the instruments on the stage.
"Any instrument?" Emily asked Sarah.
Sarah nodded and smiled.
"Rules?"
"Four rounds of one-minute performances. The orchestra plays us a rhythm, and the people decide who played the best solo over the melody. How does that sound?" Sarah asked as she slowly started making her way towards the stage. "I will even go first if that helps?"
"Alright, but you asked for this," Emily accepted. She walked towards the stage, eyes fixated on the cello sitting near a harpsichord.