Interviewer: Can you tell us a little about your life?
Rachel: Until recently, I don’t think I would have
understood why anyone would be interested in my life. I was born and raised in
Florida, and I lived there my entire life with my mom. My dad died when I was
about twelve, but otherwise I just lived a happy normal life. After I graduated
from high school, I just couldn’t stand the thought of leaving my mother alone,
so I attended a local college for two years.
This year was supposed to be my junior year, but the
local college didn’t have the classes I needed to finish my degree, so I moved
to Golden, Colorado to attend Grayson College. Mom was doing much better, and I
knew I couldn’t stay in Florida forever, so I figured it would be okay to
leave.
I was really not prepared for how much my life could
change in just a few short weeks.
Interviewer: Have you made many friends at Grayson?
Rachel: My first day I met Stu. I didn’t know it at the
time, but he ended up being one of my very best friends. I also had a massive
headache that day and figured it was another typical migraine for me. It wasn’t
until that evening when I heard a voice speaking in my head that I knew I was
in trouble.
I actually figured that I might be going crazy.
I was having terrible nightmares, horrible headaches,
and life was simply miserable. This continued for about two weeks, until I had
a massive breakdown in front of Stu. That was the night that I first learned
that I was different. I was special. That was the night that I not only learned
about the Order—my new family—and that I was Gifted, but that was also the
night that I met Donavon…”
Interviewer: (chuckling) Donavon. I’ve heard a little
about him.
Rachel: (blushes)
Interviewer: Can you tell us about Donavon? Is he your
boyfriend?
Rachel: Oh, I wish! (laughing) Although, it seems like
he might already be involved with someone.
Donavon is the most powerfully Gifted in our Order. He
can manipulate the energy in your body that controls your sense of touch. One
time, Nancy burned her hand and Donavon took the pain away for her.
(Pauses) He is also very cautious and deliberate. I
have never known anyone so serious and careful.
Interviewer: Can you tell us a little bit about the Order?
Rachel: Well, the Order is a group of college students
who are all Gifted and all live together. It is very common for Gifted to find
each other and live in groups called Orders. In our Order, there is Donavon,
Peter, Robert, Blake, Nancy, Amy, Beth and myself.
Interviewer: And what does it mean, exactly, to be
Gifted?
Rachel: I am still pretty new at this myself, but my
understanding is that people who are Gifted can take the energy that surrounds
them and manipulate it. Usually, it is just one kind of energy. Like Robert. He
can work with electricity and make it do just about anything that he wants. Or
Nancy. She can manipulate sound waves.
Interviewer: And what about yourself? What's your Gift?
Rachel: (smiling) I am still figuring that one out.
Interviewer: You mentioned hearing voices. Why does
being Gifted mean that you hear voices?
Rachel: I have been told that is only temporary.
Being Gifted means you are sensitive to both good and
evil forces, and in our case, the evil gets so strong that it becomes a
presence that can talk to you. You basically have two choices. Either you get
help from an Order and are Cleansed… or you die.
Interviewer: Oh dear!
Rachel: (looking nervous) I know. Let’s hope it isn’t
the latter for me.
The Giveaway
Comment for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card and a copy of The Order! Winner will be drawn at the end of the tour.
