Eric and Rachel

*Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light...**This article is about The Dark Pictures Anthology's third installment,* ***House of Ashes***
***.***

## Eric and Rachel

### Relationship Type

Spouses
Split up (Determinant)

**Eric and Rachel** is a complicated romantic relationship in *The Dark Pictures Anthology*'s third installment, *House of Ashes*.

## Overview

Eric and Rachel share a complicated past. At the beginning of their marriage, they used to have a joyful, caring, reliable and trustworthy relationship. However, everything changed when in 2000 on their honeymoon, the newlyweds got into a car accident that cost Eric his right leg. The spouses continued to live together for several years, but their relationship began to worsen until they finally decided to separate one year before the events of the game. An ambiguous situation is that both partners blame each other for their broken relationship, with Rachel believing Eric pushed her away when she tried to help and Eric believing Rachel left him when he needed her most.

In 2003, fate brought the spouses back together, but their relationship remained strained. The main reason for this is that while Eric still loves Rachel and wants her back, Rachel believes that their relationship is long over and even started new relationship with Nick unbeknownst to Eric. The events underground are a test of the King's relationship, at the end of which Rachel either gives Eric a second chance or leaves him, wanting to start over with Nick or alone.

## *House of Ashes*

#### Prior to the events of the game

In 2000, shortly after their marriage, Eric and Rachel were on their way to their honeymoon and stopped on a road-side dinner close to Little Hope to order take-away food. Rachel brought back the food and after teasing one another, Rachel confided about the man who served her had told her she would never be as happy ever again as she was now. Eric comforted Rachel and told her his only objective was to make her smile, to which Rachel answered by teasingly calling him puppy dog. As Rachel started the car and the couple pulled into the road, they get into an accident.

Three weeks before the main game, Rachel argued to Eric over the phone over unknown matters, saying that she will live on her terms despite Eric's objections. Angry at her, Eric hungs up on her to her disbelief.

#### The Briefing

Rachel and Nick are kissing each other when they are interrupted by a call of operator saying that Eric has landed on Camp Slayer. Nick tries to convince Rachel to put her relationship with Eric to an end, to which she can make a promise or stop with Nick because her husband is here. Before leaving the office, Rachel can explore it and find a photo of her marriage and her wedding ring in the drawer. She can either put ring on (Rachel will also briefly remember the crash) or leave it.

In the meantime, Eric arrives in the base with his assistant Clarice. Shortly before entering the briefing room, Jason tells Eric that the 'Queen Bitch', referring to Rachel, will not take well learning that someone else has taken control of the base. Eric can snaps at Jason for calling her wife "Queen Bitch" or hold back and Clarice will reveal Rachel is Eric's wife instead of him. Jason immediately apologizes to Eric, to which he says they have worked apart this last year and acts surprised she is being called the "Queen Bitch". Jason answers that it's a term of endearment.

In the briefing room, Eric and Rachel greets each other and briefly confronts about Eric becoming the new leader of the squad. After the briefing, the couple continues the conversation, in which Rachel can later either talk about ending their relationship or talking when the time is right. While Clarice is downloading the data, Rachel can talk to Jason and Nick, where she can excuse Eric for his behaviour and tell that he is a good man despite his "by-the-books" manner, and talk to Joey about how she and Eric got into marriage and how their lives are separated after the crash until now.

* Actions Consequences
* Relationship Status

* No wedding ring
* Wedding ring weared

* Eric remarks after holding Rachel's hands that she doesn't wear her ring.

* Eric remarks after holding Rachel's hands that she still wears her wedding ring.

* Relationship Increases
* Relationship Decreases

* Eric apologetically reveals to Rachel that he is in charge of her team.
* Eric shows affection to Rachel.

* Eric arrogantly reveals to Rachel that he is in charge of her team.

#### The Raid

After successfully invading the shepherds' farm, Rachel accompanies Eric as they go to inspect the huts. When the squad learns that there is no silo and the shepherds are just crooks, Rachel gets angry at Eric's mistake. When the Americans are assaulted by soldiers of the Iraqi Republican Guard, Eric acts worried and searches for Rachel, but falls with her to the caves during the earthquake.

#### Pazuzu

After being knocked-out due to the fall, Eric has a flashback of putting a ring on Rachel's finger during the wedding as she calls out to him. He wakes up and Rachel helps him up and warns that the area is unstable. Eric can ask her where the marines are or be concerned for her safety, after which he realizes that they are alone in the cave and cannot communicate with the others. Eric points to a direction they could go, but in front of Rachel's reluctance, he can be clinical or reassuring towards her. In any case, Rachel won't appreciate that he fusses over her or his bossy manners.

The couple enters the tunnel and are faced with a dark ledge leading downward. Rachel takes out a lighter and discovers an airflow through the tunnel. As they pull the gear to rappel down, Eric asks Rachel when she started smoking, and she clarifies that she picked up the lighter at base; in reality, it belongs to Nick.

The two reach the bottom and walk through the tunnel, joking that they spend this time as "quality" even though they have a different perspective on it. In the room, the couple can inspect ancient language scrawled on the wall, which Rachel will reveal is Sumerian cuneiform writing. Eric remarks he didn't realize she's an expert in history, to which Rachel replies that maybe he don't know her as well as he thought. If Eric finds a small statue of Pazuzu, Rachel will remark who it is. She will be bewildered after learning that Eric doesn't know about Pazuzu and asks if he watches horror movies, to which Eric says she should know the answer.

Shortly afterward the two are startled by the sound of gunfire from the hole. Eric throws a flare down and comments that hole looks deep as they can't make out what's beneath. Rachel replies that it's their only option and the two prepare to rappel down.

* Relationship Status

* Relationship Increases
* Relationship Decreases

* Eric shows concern for Rachel after her fall.

* Rachel snaps at Eric after he fussed over her.
* Eric is annoyed at Rachel in the tunnels.

#### The Temple

Rachel and Eric rappel down into the temple's main hall, wondering what they have found. Eric notices that they aren't the first here, as there is a camp and laments that this must be what Caelus detected. The couple will talk about Caelus's mistake, where Rachel can either point out Eric's fault or say that they both made mistake

The couple hears clicking sounds in the distance, and Rachel suggests it is subsidence due to aftershocks. Eric offers to start the generator to turn on the lamps and guide the marines to them, but they need to find some gasoline. The couple begins to explore the temple. When they finally finds the gas cans and they carry them to the generator, Rachel asks Eric about his leg, to which he reminds her that he lost his leg on the highway and the two will either criticize or apologize to each other. When fixing the generator with the gasoline and the ducktape, Eric will mention the topic of conversation they started in the briefing room, to which Rachel can be distant or warm. The couple then opens the panel and discovers that the spark plugs are shot. As they examines the panel, they continue to discuss their relationship.

Finally, they start the generator and the lights around the temple power on, as well as a tape recorder at the end of the room. Eric says that if there was a way in for those people, then there is a way out for them and Rachel suggests starting to look around. Approaching the tape recorder, Eric points out that the tape is tangled, but Rachel begins to fix it. Eric touches the topic of their wedding rings and in the end may recognize that their relationship might be over or tell her he wants her back.

In all of the possibilities, Eric will then discover Rachel is seeing someone else, but then their dialogue is interrupted by an unexpectedly started tape recorder of Randolph. After that, the couple hears movements from above and sees a dark figure at the hole from where they came down. This figure turns out to be Dar, who rappels down on a rope and starts shooting at the couple, forcing them to escape from the temple.

* Relationship Consequences
* Actions Consequences
* Relationship Status

* Low Relationship
* High Relationship

* When realising that Caelus only detected the archeological site, Eric says that he will perfect Caelus and make it stronger.
* Rachel is annoyed when Eric brings back the topic on how he lost his leg and tells him to move on from the past, to which Eric reminds her he did move on but at the same time reminds her she was the one behind the wheels.
* Eric says to Rachel to focus on the task at hand and not make personal feelings get in the way.
* When Rachel is repairing the engine and spots the broken part, she rudely shoves it to Eric who complains about her attitude.
* Eric is melancholic to Rachel when talking about their past relationship and recognises that it might be over.

* When realising that Caelus only detected the archeological site, Eric apologises to Rachel about that.
* Rachel feels guilty when Eric brings back the topic on how he lost his leg and Eric is regretful on how he acted towards her about that in the past.
* Eric asks Rachel if they can talk about what she wanted to say when the time was right.
* Eric says to Rachel that her telling that their relationship was over was a mistake.
* When Rachel is repairing the engine and spots the broken part, Eric grabs it from her hand and slightly brushes it in the process. Rachel then reminiscent about how long ago they last worked on something together.
* Eric says to Rachel that he wants her back.

* No wedding ring
* Wedding ring worn

* Eric asks Rachel about the reasons she stopped wearing her wedding ring.

* Eric is happy that Rachel's wedding ring still means something to her.

* Relationship Increases
* Relationship Decreases

* Rachel is sympathetic to the failure of Eric's satellite system. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel tells Eric they had both made mistakes. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel jokes with Eric about their surroundings. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel says she missed Eric. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel reassures Eric that his work was important. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel suggests there might be hope for her and Eric's relationship. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel tells Eric they need to look into the future. (Theatrical Cut)
* Eric says he missed Rachel. (Curator's Cut)

* Rachel is accusatory to the failure of Eric's satellite system. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel tells Eric he'd done enough damage with the satellite Caelus. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel is sarcastic towards Eric after being told to not let personal feelings get in the way. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel tells Eric it is not a good time for them to talk. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel tells Eric she meant what she said on the base. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel tells Eric his work sounds like an excuse. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel accuses Eric for pushing her away. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel tells Eric that there is someone else now. (Theatrical Cut)
* Eric accuses Rachel for leaving him. (Curator's Cut)
* Eric figures out that Rachel is seeing someone else.

#### Breaking Up

Eric and Rachel arrive at the edge of the chasm while retreating from Dar. After traversing the side of the chasm (with whether they alerted Dar or not), an earthquake will start, causing Rachel to roll down the slope. Eric attempts to help Rachel, but is dragged down into the slope as well. After a while, Eric can decide to cut the rope.

* If Eric cut the rope, Rachel will fall into the chasm.
* If Eric doesn't cut the rope, he will plunge his knife on the ground.

If he doesn't cut the rope, he will continue to hold onto it. Meanwhile, Rachel can cut the rope to not risk Eric's life.

* If both of them haven't cut the rope and Dar is alerted, he will start firing at Eric, to which Eric can die or dodge and have another chance to cut the rope, to which he dies if he doesn't do it. His body will then fall and be impaled on a stalagmite.
* If both of them haven't cut the rope and Merwin is alive, but Dar isn't alerted, Eric will fall into the chasm since Nick won't arrive earlier to save him, after which the former's body will be impaled on a stalagmite.
* If both of them haven't cut the rope, Merwin is dead, and Dar isn't alerted, Nick will arrive to save Eric. The rope however will snap.

#### After the Fall

If Eric is alive, the chapter will begin in the chasm. He can be heard calling out for Rachel.

* If Eric cut the rope, he will cry apologizing to Rachel for messing up. Nick arrives and asks what happened and where Rachel is, to which Eric replies that Dar attacked them and he had to cut the rope, as Rachel pulled him with her.
* If Nick saved Eric or Rachel cut the rope, he will call Rachel and ask Eric what happened to her, to which Eric will answer that Dar attacked them and Rachel fell into the chasm, despite all Eric's efforts to keep the rope.

#### Slayer

If Eric accompanies Nick, they will find finds Joey's helmet, glasses and earpiece. Eric asks what's happened to Nick, to which their dialogue can end positively or negatively.

* If the dialogue ends positively, Eric will say that they've already lost many people. Nick will apologize about Rachel. Eric tells Nick that Jason told him everyone call Rachel the "Queen Bitch", but Nick will reply that he knew her better than that.
* If the dialogue ends negatively, Nick will tell Eric that he is acting like a major league asshole for someone who lost his wife. Eric will get angry and point the gun at Nick. Nick then says that he's out of line before Eric puts his gun down. Eric then tells Nick that he knows nothing about him and Rachel.

#### The Truce

Salim and Nick allies to kill or sneak past the creature. In any case, if Eric accompanied Nick, he will come to Nick.

* If Salim shoots at Eric, he will kill him and will later have an impact on Rachel who will hateful and seek vengeance for him in later chapters.
* If Salim surrenders to Eric and the creature wasn't killed, they will share a conversation about Rachel in Bloodbath.

#### Bloodbath

If Salim was taken prisoner and the creature wasn't killed, Eric will interrogate Salim. Eric asks if he was alone when Salim attacked him and Rachel. Salim tells him he didn't attack anyone, to which Eric shouts at him that he's lying. He then precises how Salim attacked him and his wife. Salim is surprised and Eric confirms he has been attacked on the cliff, and she fell as a result. Salim apologises and Eric promises him that he'll be sorry.

Later on, Salim asks the name of his wife, but Eric answers that he doesn't have the right to talk about her. Salim reply that he wanted to make conversation since they're both stuck and Eric snaps and asks Salim why he fights a war that Iraq has already lost. Salim answers that he is a reluctant soldier and that it's for his son's future, which Eric admires. Salim then reveals his son's name to be Zain, to which Eric finally tells him that his wife's name is Rachel.

In the meantime, Rachel, who has survived the fall into the chasm, wakes up in a pit with a huge pool of blood. She calls for Eric and finds the cut rope. While exploring a cave, Rachel is attacked by a vampire but is rescued by Clarice. They continue their way and Rachel convinces Clarice to climb up, saying that she met Eric during climbing classes and that she can get them both out. If Rachel asks Clarice the reason she became a physicist, Rachel can reveal she has been seeing someone else. Clarice immediately guesses that it's Nick and asks her if Eric knows, to which she replies positively. Rachel says her motivation was to just let go and be someone new.

* Actions Consequences

* Rope cut
* Held onto rope

* While checking her rope, Rachel observes that the rope was cut and mocks Eric's loyalty to her.

- While checking her rope, Rachel observes that the rope snapped.

#### The Signal

After the Americans manage to find and turn on the radio, Nick grabs a cigarette to smoke, to which Jason can playfully say that smoking kills or that now is not the time. In the first case, Nick will try to smoke but find out he doesn't have a lighter, letting Eric know that he is the one Rachel had love with while Eric was separated. Otherwise, Nick will throw away the cigarette and Eric won't know that he is Rachel's lover.

Eric can be killed by Dar, which will later make Rachel seek revenge towards him. Otherwise, Eric, accompanied with Jason and Nick will flee back into the temple.

* Relationship Consequences

* Jason/Nick High Relationship
* Jason/Nick Low Relationship

* When Nick takes out his cigarette, Jason playfully tells him it will kill him. Nick disregards his remark and makes Eric aware that Rachel has an affair with Nick. (Theatrical Cut)

* When Nick takes out his cigarette, Jason acts impatient and tells him it's not the right time to smoke because of the vampires. Nick complies and avoid giving the hint Eric needed to deduce Rachel was having an affair with Nick.

#### The Assault

* Eric alive
* Eric died

The Americans run into the temple and are about to close the gate when they hear Rachel's voice and let her and possibly Clarice inside. Nick is relieved about Rachel being alive and hugs her in front of Eric, much to his displeasure.

* If Eric doesn't know that Nick is Rachel's lover, he will hug her and apologize for the incident in chasm, to which Rachel will thank him (if rope snapped) or justify or punch him (if Eric cut the rope).
* If Eric knows that Nick is Rachel's lover, he will be able to hit Nick and a fight will start between the guys, but Rachel will stop them. Eric will say that he found out about their romance and is disappointed in Rachel, to which she can say that she tried to hold on or was tired of waiting.

In any case, if Clarice was brought back, they get interrupted by her screams of pain. Jason immediately proposes to put an end to her misery while Rachel argues to let her live. Eric can either side with Jason and hold off Rachel long enough for Jason to shoot Clarice, or side with Rachel and convince Jason to spare Clarice.

The Americans escape to the main temple and while the guys hold off the vampires, Rachel looks for a way out. If Eric fails to block the door, or if Jason and Nick blew up Dar's tripwire, Rachel will be grabbed by a vampire and Eric (if Clarice is not present) can save her or accidentally kill her (if he is unaware of the vampires' weakness).

Jason and Nick run into the temple and are about to close the gate when they hear Rachel's voice and let her and possibly Clarice inside. Nick is relieved about Rachel being alive and hugging her. Rachel asks where Eric is and is shocked when Nick tells her that he is dead.

* If Eric died while holding the rope, Nick reply that he died trying to save Rachel. Rachel comments that he held on until the end and that the rope broke, but not Eric.
* If Eric was killed by the Iraqis, Nick will refuse, but Rachel will insist on an answer.
	+ If it was Dar, Nick will automatically say that one of the Iraqis shot him.
	+ If it was Salim, Nick can say that one of the Iraqis shot him or say it's better that Rachel doesn't know.

Rachel knowing that Salim killed Eric will influence her to seek his killer and potentially try to avenge him.
* Relationship Consequences
* Actions Consequences
* Relationship Status

* Eric/Nick High Relationship
* Eric/Nick Low Relationship

* If Eric knows about the affair, he will first hug Rachel and then fight Nick, allowing him and Rachel's relationship to both increase and decrease.

* If Eric knows about the affair, he will fight Nick, allowing his and Rachel's relationship only to decrease.

* Rope cut
* Held onto rope

* Rachel will be able to justify or punch Eric for cutting the rope.
* Rachel mentions this when Eric sarcastically calls her loyal after learning about her and Nick.

* Rachel will be able to thank Eric.
* Rachel mentions this when Eric sarcastically calls her loyal after learning about her and Nick.

* Relationship Increases
* Relationship Decreases

* Rachel thanks Eric discreetly. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel thanks Eric warmly. (Theatrical Cut)
* Eric sides with Rachel when Jason wants to kill Clarice. (Curator's Cut)

* Rachel blames Eric for leaving her to die. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel tells Eric she's tired of waiting. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel tells Eric she tried to hold on. (Theatrical Cut)
* Rachel is aggressive towards Eric when he sides with Jason. (Theatrical Cut)
* Eric sides with Jason when he wants to kill Clarice. (Curator's Cut)

#### The Horror

Eric and Rachel (if she died, Eric and Nick will lament her death) along with the rest of the Americans descend deeper into the catacombs where they encounter the Iraqis.

* If Eric was killed by the Iraqis, Rachel will be aggressive towards the killer.
	+ If it's Dar, Rachel will say that he will pay for killing her husband and throwing her into hell.
	+ If it's Salim, Rachel will ask Nick if Salim did it, then point the gun with Dar at Salim.

In the sacrificial chamber, the group is attacked by the vampires and begin firing back at them. One of them, the Ancient One, attacks Nick. Eric saves him, but he himself is captured by the vampire.

* If Rachel hasn't been infected yet (thanks to Salim), she can either save Eric or escape.
	+ If Rachel decides to run away, she won't be infected and Eric will have to escape on his own.
	+ If Rachel decides to save Eric, she will be infected anyway (either alive or dead) and Eric will escape (on his own or with Rachel's help).

* Relationship Status

* Relationship Increases
* Relationship Decreases

* Rachel chooses to save Eric.

* Rachel chooses to escape.

#### The Ancient One

* Rachel alive
* Rachel turned into a vampire

Rachel, Nick, and Eric are reunited in the sacrificial chamber. Without noticing Eric, Rachel and Nick hug and kiss each other, much to the former's displeasure. Their meeting is interrupted by The Ancient One crawling out of the hole, causing the trio to flee.

* If the group engaged in combat with the vampire and Eric died, Rachel would be horrified by his death.

After escaping the Ancient One, the group follows Jason's trail, but before doing so, Eric and Nick stop Rachel and force her to choose one of them. Depending on Rachel's relationship with the guys, she will choose either Eric, Nick or reject both.

Nick and Eric are reunited in the sacrificial chamber. As they look around the room, they are shocked to see Rachel turned into a vampire. The Ancient One crawls out of the hole, causing the duo to run.

* If the group is engaged in combat with the vampires, Rachel will lash out at Eric as he restrains her and desperately tries to bring her back to her senses. Rachel will kill Eric if he either failed to stop her or decided to help Nick. Otherwise, after dropping the vampires into the hole, Eric and Nick will follow the others.

* Relationship Consequences
* Actions Consequences

* Eric/Rachel High Relationship
* Eric/Rachel Low Relationship

* Rachel decides to give Eric another chance.

* Rachel rejects Eric.

* Rope cut
* Held onto rope

* Rachel reminds Eric of the incident in the chasm and asks if this is his idea of being her rock.

* Rachel reminds Eric of the incident in the chasm and says she knew Eric would always be there for her.

#### Strange Aeons

As the group explores the Star Chamber, Rachel can talk to Eric and offer to help him to fix his prosthetic leg. If Rachel was infected, Eric will console her and take part in her rescue, in particular by using a UV lamp to take out the parasite (if Eric knows about the vampires weakness).

* If Jason shot Rachel, before leaving Eric will say goodbye and that he loves her.
* If Rachel is about to be cocooned, Eric can be one of the people Rachel says goodbye to, either saying that he loves him or that they should kill all the vampires.

* Relationship Consequences
* Relationship Status

* Eric/Rachel High Relationship
* Eric/Rachel Low Relationship

* Rachel spends her final moments with Eric before being cocooned.

* Rachel spends her final moments with Nick or Jason before being cocooned.

* Relationship Increases

* Rachel apologizes to Eric.
* Rachel says that she has always loved Eric.

#### Semper Fi

There are different occasions in the elevator ride that involve Eric and Rachel.

* Eric and Rachel will talk to each other along with Nick if both Jason and Salim died.
* If only Eric and Nick are alive and they have a high relationship, both will talk about Rachel.
* If Salim killed Eric, Rachel will react coldly to his story told by Jason (if Salim died) or will be able to avenge Eric and shoot Salim (if Jason died).

* Actions Consequences

* Salim shot Eric

* If Salim died, Rachel coldly responds to Jason's story about him that she won't fall to her knees because of this, since Salim killed her husband.
* If Eric is shot by Salim and Jason died, then Salim tries to justify himself, Rachel will shoot him (if Nick is alive).
* If Jason died and Salim says that Rachel can kill him later, she will punch Salim (this will always happen regardless of the option if only Rachel and Salim are alive).

#### The End

If Eric is alive, but Rachel is dead, when the former is interrogated, he will lament about her while holding onto his wedding ring.

## Trivia

* Eric and Rachel, along with Alex and Julia, Daniel and Taylor, and Kate and Mark are the romantic relationships with the most focus in their respective games.
* Both Eric and Rachel:
	+ Are the least playable protagonists.
	+ Are the most killable protagonists.
	+ Can find the fewest collectibles.
	+ Have the most achievements related to their relationship.

## Quotes

* Spoken by the relationship
* Spoken about the relationship