08-23-2025, 11:53 PM
Emily wouldn't have asked him to do it. When she sought out Iāson, she knew the anonymity was a part of it. She wouldn't know whose face was behind that white mask. Emily knew and understood it. But Emily was relieved when he removed it - not because she wanted to know his secret, but because it would help Rachel to see that he was a person. Emily didn't just see his face when he took that mask off. He saw his heart. Iāson's services were very expensive, but she knew then that he would do all of this for free if he could. The man wanted to heal the world, and he was here to help her sister.
Emily recognized the face even though she hadn't met the man. Scrolling through channels on the TV back in Chicago had shown her this man: Jensen James - a former televangelist from Texas. Emily hadn't followed the story; she had been focused on dealing with the death of her parents, moving to Moscow, and getting married, but she knew he had disappeared - some sort of scandal. Except his wife (ex-wife?) was now the leader of the newest Dominance of the CCD. There was a story there, but Emily wouldn't push to hear it - especially if he didn't want to share it. Right now, her focus was on Rachel.
"I won't tell anyone. I promise, and thank you," her voice was a whisper, laced with abundant gratitude.
Jensen entered the room and got down to Rachel's level, being as non-threatening as possible. He had good instincts, and Emily was appreciative. She began to move to the other side of the bed, noting Rachel's behavior. Rachel's breath began to quicken as the fear and panic began to rise within her. Rachel moved slightly away from the man, but Emily could see more. Jensen didn't know her sister, so she had no idea if he would notice her hesitance in moving or how the hand closest to him, still clutching the blanket in a white-knuckled grip, hadn't moved with her body. Emily was filled with hope. Rachel was fighting the fear inside of her, trying desperately not to give in.
Emily was on the other side, and Rachel's breathing was quick, shallow, and erratic. Emily knelt down, and placed her hand in the center of Rachel's chest, applying gentle pressure. "Breathe," Emily said, demonstrating as she did it. It was routine in calming her down, and was effective.
Their father had always told them that the Shale girls' eyes sparkled, and as Rachel turned to look at Emily, that sparkle was all but gone. Her eyes always seemed to be unfocused. It was as if she saw all around her, but her gaze was inward.
"Em..." Rachel's voice was soft and tired. "I'm trying so hard."
Emily removed her hand from Rachel's chest and placed it over her hand. "I know...and you're doing very well." Emily turned her gaze to Jensen. "Rachel, this is...Iāson," she said, hesitating slightly before the name. She didn't know if Rachel had seen him on the TV or not, but in this state, she wouldn't recognize him anyways. They could deal with the anonymity part with Rachel when she was better. "He's here to help you. You're safe, he wont hurt you. I promise." Emily gave Rachel an encouraging smile.
Emily recognized the face even though she hadn't met the man. Scrolling through channels on the TV back in Chicago had shown her this man: Jensen James - a former televangelist from Texas. Emily hadn't followed the story; she had been focused on dealing with the death of her parents, moving to Moscow, and getting married, but she knew he had disappeared - some sort of scandal. Except his wife (ex-wife?) was now the leader of the newest Dominance of the CCD. There was a story there, but Emily wouldn't push to hear it - especially if he didn't want to share it. Right now, her focus was on Rachel.
"I won't tell anyone. I promise, and thank you," her voice was a whisper, laced with abundant gratitude.
Jensen entered the room and got down to Rachel's level, being as non-threatening as possible. He had good instincts, and Emily was appreciative. She began to move to the other side of the bed, noting Rachel's behavior. Rachel's breath began to quicken as the fear and panic began to rise within her. Rachel moved slightly away from the man, but Emily could see more. Jensen didn't know her sister, so she had no idea if he would notice her hesitance in moving or how the hand closest to him, still clutching the blanket in a white-knuckled grip, hadn't moved with her body. Emily was filled with hope. Rachel was fighting the fear inside of her, trying desperately not to give in.
Emily was on the other side, and Rachel's breathing was quick, shallow, and erratic. Emily knelt down, and placed her hand in the center of Rachel's chest, applying gentle pressure. "Breathe," Emily said, demonstrating as she did it. It was routine in calming her down, and was effective.
Their father had always told them that the Shale girls' eyes sparkled, and as Rachel turned to look at Emily, that sparkle was all but gone. Her eyes always seemed to be unfocused. It was as if she saw all around her, but her gaze was inward.
"Em..." Rachel's voice was soft and tired. "I'm trying so hard."
Emily removed her hand from Rachel's chest and placed it over her hand. "I know...and you're doing very well." Emily turned her gaze to Jensen. "Rachel, this is...Iāson," she said, hesitating slightly before the name. She didn't know if Rachel had seen him on the TV or not, but in this state, she wouldn't recognize him anyways. They could deal with the anonymity part with Rachel when she was better. "He's here to help you. You're safe, he wont hurt you. I promise." Emily gave Rachel an encouraging smile.