Q: It’s so sad to see Rachael dying in this book. Why cancer? Why that way?

A: Not every character can have a perfect life. If they do, it’s boring. Like normal people, characters have different strengths and weaknesses, and battle different personal demons. Michael struggles with his personal torments, Rachael’s troubles are more physical. However, Rachael has to be near the end of her life to go looking for the eighth scroll in the first place. Previous attempts have shown that anyone who tries to find this scroll is assassinated, so Rachael only risks her life when she no longer has anything to lose.