Emil sat on a hill by his home, a bag next to him filled with various essentials. He had packed this bag with the intention of abandoning the rest of his possessions in his house for good. He asked himself if he would ever return to Austria—this remained a possibility. However, he knew the outcome of the events in Berlin would be what truly decided his place in the world.

"Mother, I don't know what I would say to you now," Emil said, thinking out loud. "It has been so long. I spent many years pursuing my own goals . . . For what? I wanted to do so much more. I could have done so much more, but I didn't. I have never felt like such a failure."

Gustav Silber's hologram appeared abruptly in a peculiar light. Emil faced his mentor's likeness without fear. This time, he was self-assured.

"You have been doing well thus far, my apprentice," the hologram said. "You have effectively won the support and affection of my family. Udo Uhlstein is a valuable asset as well, despite his blatant decadence. I have watched you become more than just a competent pupil. You are now a competent leader."

Emil scowled, now feeling more bitter and resentful toward Gustav. "Is this a test? Now that you see yourself as God, we are your test subjects. You use your family as an experiment! I know your methods, Herr Silber. I respected you, once . . . But no longer. Your pragmatic ego has shattered your humanity!"

The hologram spoke without acknowledging Emil's words. "You have four days. If you can find me, you will have the chance to change the world as you see fit. I believe this is fair. Consider it a trial or consider it a test—I am giving you the opportunity to decide your purpose."

"Four days," Emil repeated to himself. "I accept this challenge, Herr Silber. You have told me before that war is inevitable, but I have not yet accepted this as fact. I want to change it! And I will, using the origin point! When we next meet, I will seize your powers and use them to protect the world!"

Gustav's hologram flickered. He did not respond; he approached Emil, and nodded. Then, he was gone.

.✪.

Udo showed up early in his black Mercedes Simplex automobile. He allowed Paula to sit in the passenger's seat, and put Emil and Camilla in the back. Camilla was excited to ride in it, and seeing her in a positive mood made Emil equally ecstatic. He was trying his best to enjoy the ride and not think much about the impending war Gustav foretold of.

"I didn't pay a thing for this wonderful piece of German engineering. Can you believe it?" Udo announced to his group of passengers. "It was willed to me by my mentor, God rest his soul. I was thinking of selling it, but it's good for us that I didn't, eh?"

Paula nodded in response. Camilla smiled with a radiant glow. Emil watched the passing scenery, now seemingly aloof. The hills and valleys were filled with mist, animals gracefully running through it like spirits of the forest.

Camilla put her hand on Emil's forearm. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Just a little motion sickness," Emil said. "I'm not used to this, I guess."

"Are you sure it's not something else bothering you?" she replied, moving her fingers up to Emil's wrist.

"No, it's nothing," Emil said, pulling his arm away. "Don't worry about it."

"You know, I used to get motion sickness," Udo said, taking a moment to glance back at Emil. "That's when I was drinking heavily. I've had to slow down with it."

Paula chuckled, rolling her eyes. "I'm amazed by your self-control, Rabbi," she said with glaring sarcasm.

"Frau Silber, darling! I assure you, my minor decadency does not interfere with my religious duties. Even rabbis must distance ourselves from Him sometimes, and it strengthens the bond between Him and us. You may think that's wrong for me to say, but I am telling you the truth."

This caught Emil's attention. "Really? What if you already knew God? And you . . . saw Him?"

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"Like Moses, in the Book of Exodus," Camilla said, her response instantaneous.

"Yes, that is correct Camilla!" the rabbi spoke in his preaching voice. "The Lord manifested through his angel at the burning bush. Moses was the man who saw this. You know the story, Emil?"

Emil nodded. "You believe He will appear again one day?"

The rabbi shrugged. "We have faith that He will."

.✪.

Approaching the outskirts of Berlin, Emil gave Udo directions to his family's home. They arrived at high noon, the clouds forming a silk-like arch around the sun.

"What a beautiful home," Paula said.

Camilla asked, "What would you like us to do now, Emil?"

"Wait here," he replied.

Udo waved his hand. "Don't keep us long. We'd like to come in and meet your lovely family, young man."

Emil stepped out of the automobile and walked toward to the two-story brick house which was surrounded by a small picket fence. There was a man kneeling in the garden, tending to flowers with his back turned to Emil. Emil approached the man with caution, knowing by his physique that it could not have been Uncle Walter.

"Excuse me, sir. My name is Emil Weiss. This was once my home. Do you—"

Before Emil could finish his question, the man stood up and faced Emil. His appearance caused Emil to take a step back in shock; it was like looking in a mirror, for the man was alike Emil in every way except his hairstyle, which was cut short on the sides and parted in the front.

"So you've come back, Emil," the man said. "Hm. You seem unwell."

"W-What is this?" Emil said, his legs shaking beneath him.

"Don't tell me you wandered back here in some kind of state of feverish delirium."

Emil wondered if he was delirious. Udo and Camilla spoke of manifestations of the Lord, but what kind of manifestation was this? Was it a demon? A hallucination? A trick being played on him by Gustav Silber?

The man stepped closer to Emil, looking directly into his eyes. "I guess you don't have much to say to me? Hm. I remember you being so very outgoing and courteous. Now, here you are, staring as if you are looking into the face of death itself."

Emil cleared his throat and choaked out a single question. "Who are you?"

"What?" The man said, turning his head and scratching his chin curiously. "It is I, Nathaniel. Nathaniel Weiss, your brother, we've known each other our—"

"I do not have a brother!" Emil yelled, suddenly filled with violent rage. "Whoever you are, get away from here or I will beat you unconscious and drag you away from here!"

Nathaniel scoffed at him. "You think you have the strength to do such a thing, hm? Why don't you try it?"

Emil knew he was in no condition to fight, and his bluff had no effect on his supposed brother. He sat down on the lawn with his legs crossed and his hand on his forehead, taking deep breaths to calm his anxiety.

"You came to see Mother, I assume," Nathaniel said. "But I must ask you first, who brought you here?"

"I don't recall having a brother. Why don't I recall having a brother? Why are you here?"

"Hm. You continue saying these strange things to me, and I will have no choice but to bring you to a doctor."

Nathaniel took Emil's hand and pulled him to his feet. Emil looked over to the street at the parked automobile where Udo and the Silbers were waiting. Nathaniel, noticing this, looked to the automobile as well.

"Someone drove you here, I see," Nathaniel said. "Will you allow me to speak with them for a moment?"

Emil said nothing, but Nathaniel wrapped his arm around Emil's shoulders and guided him to the road. As they approached the automobile, Udo opened the driver's side door and stepped out.

As soon as Udo saw Emil next to Nathaniel he said, "Oy vey! A doppelgänger! The legends are true!"

Paula and Camilla exited the automobile. They both looked at Nathaniel, then at a dazed Emil. Nathaniel shook his head, removing his arm from Emil's shoulders and extending his hand to the rabbi.

"You must be the one Emil gets his manners from these days," Nathaniel said. "I am Nathaniel Weiss, Emil's twin brother."

Udo reluctantly shook Nathaniel's hand and nodded.

"Camilla," Emil said, noticeably short of breath. "I feel . . ."

Camilla called to him as he crumpled onto the ground. "Emil!"

Nathaniel dashed toward Emil and caught him just before the back of his head made contact with the hard surface below him.

"I got you, brother. Hm, here you are causing trouble as usual. Let's take him inside, shall we?"

Udo smacked the palm of his hand against his forehead. "Yes, yes, of course."

Udo and Nathaniel hoisted Emil between them and carried him to the front door.

"Darling, I know how you feel. I'm worried too," Paula said to Camilla. "Let's go inside and help Emil."

"Do you think perhaps . . ." Camilla said, watching two men enter the house with a motionless third. ". . . Emil's mind is—"

Paula objected. "Now, now. Don't talk like that. Let's go in, dear."