“Come on, Ivy. Let me help you. I’ve been out all night worried. Please. I love you. I don’t care what you said before. I know you were desperate. You and I have something special. I won’t let you ruin your life.”
I closed my eyes and thought about our time we spent together. He’d done nothing but fall head over heels in love with me. I, at least, owed him the decency of an explanation as to why I was never going to let him drag me back to that awful place. I cracked the door, leaving the chain locked. “I’m not going back there. Nothing you can say will change how I feel. This was my plan all along. I’m not crazy. I know exactly what I want, and what I need. Don’t stand in my way, Mikael. It would be bad for you if you did.”
He gritted his teeth as he attempted to hold it together while losing his temper terribly. “You can’t do this to me.”
I started to close the door again. “I can and I will.”
Mikael pulled his broken cell phone out of his pocket. He’d picked up the pieces and somehow put it back together. “Don’t make me call this in.” He looked down like he was dialing numbers. “The police are on to you. It’s only a matter of time before they arrive.”
I burst open the door, jerked the phone from his hands and threw it into the street, shattering it from the case, and making sure he couldn’t use it again. “No!”
Mikael used my sudden outburst as his way into the house. He pulled me along, pinning me against a wall as he kicked the door shut again. His hot breath was on my face, his eyes red with fury. “You will not take me down with you, do you hear me, Ivy? You’re coming back to the hospital with me. This plan of yours is over.”
I kicked him between the legs, squirming out of his hold. I darted for the kitchen, hoping to come up with something to keep him from getting anywhere close to me again.
I rounded the counter, pulling a large knife out of the drawer as I did it. Mikael threw his hands up only feet away from me. “Don’t do anything stupid, Ivy. This doesn’t have to get violent.”
I swung it around toward his face. “You have no idea what I’m capable of. I tried to give you a way out. I told you what we had meant nothing.”
“You’re ruining my life. You’re sick if you think that’s going to fly.”
He hit my last nerve. He called me sick. Before he could react, I stuck the knife up against his neck and put all my weight against his body to pin him still. “If you make a move I’ll end you. Do you get me?” I saw him trying to lift his hands. “Put them behind your back. Move over to the chair slowly.”
He wasn’t taking me seriously. Mikael swung his hand around to latch onto me. I applied pressure and took a slice out of the skin on his neck. The immediate pain made him cringe. In all honesty, I think he was shocked I was capable of harming him. “You thought you knew me. I get it.” I laughed at his assumption. “I’ve been in control this whole time.”
Blood steadily dripped from his wound as he rushed to the sink to obtain a dishtowel to press over his injury. “Don’t do this. Please. I have a family.”
I pointed the knife in his direction again. “You’re going to do exactly what I tell you, and if you do, I’ll let you live.”
“Think about what you’re doing. This is a mistake.”
I pressed the tip of the knife against his chest. It was obvious he feared what my next move would be. “Sit down in the chair to the left. Put your hands behind your back.”
“The police are on the way.”
“Your phone is in pieces. They didn’t have time to track your call. Stop wasting my energy. I’ve got plenty of more important things to worry about.” I took the dishtowel out of his hand and tied his wrists together. Blood was still coming out of his neck, but I was sure I hadn’t hit an artery. The cut was too shallow. With his hands temporary unable to go anywhere, I went in the junk drawer and pulled out the Duct tape. I covered his wrists again, making sure this time he’d be unable to break free. When I got to his legs to attach them to the chair he tried to kick at me. I grabbed the knife and drove it into his thigh. He screamed, so loud I wondered if the neighbors could hear. “Shut up or I’ll do it again. I’m trying to spare your life, but you keep making it harder. Don’t you understand, this isn’t part of my plan? I have to find my sister, and nothing is going to stop me this time, not even you.”
He pleaded. “I know the real you; the one who has feelings. You cried to me about how sorry you were. You wanted forgiveness.”
“All I want,” I corrected, “Is my sister’s life. The person you’ve known for three years doesn’t exist. It was an act. I don’t care about you, or the fact that you’ll be fired for helping me. I don’t even care if they find out we’ve been fucking for years in that little dump of a break room. You were a tool, and now I don’t need you. If you want to see that little wife of yours again, you’ll keep your mouth shut and wait for my parents to return home tonight.”
“Ivy, please. You’ll get caught. You’ll go to a real jail this time. Doesn’t that mean something to you?”
I shoved a rag in his mouth and taped over it. “No. It really doesn’t. By the time they start looking for me, I’ll be long gone. I don’t plan on sticking around.”
I left him there, while I ventured upstairs to my parent’s bedroom, where, behind a picture, they kept their safe. I would have never expected to find a loaded gun inside, and in the moment I did my heart shattered into tiny pieces. They purchased this after what went down. They’d bought this as protection against me. I took the gun and placed it in my bag, making sure to grab the extra bullets, even though I hoped I wouldn’t need them.
Finally, I spotted what I’d been looking for. I took a couple rings, and an envelope of five-hundred bucks they kept for emergencies. After zipping my bag up, I made my way downstairs. Right before stepping out the front door, I headed into the kitchen and took the keys out of Mikael’s pocket. I looked into his fearful eyes and leaned down to place a kiss on his forehead, while gripping the crotch to his pants firmly. He grunted, a single tear trailing down his scared face.
Just then I heard someone coming in the front door. “It was the silent alarm. We probably have mice.”
I recognized the voice of my mother. She rounded the corner with a phone up to her ear and two things simultaneously happened.
Mikael started to make noises, and I pulled out the loaded gun.
“Hi, Mommy. It’s so good of you to show up. Tell Daddy not to worry. Everything is going to be fine this time.”
Chapter 7
My mother put up her hands immediately. “Ivy, what are you doing? How did you get out? Is that your doctor? Why is he bleeding? What have you done?”
“What have I done? Are you serious? Have you looked in the mirror lately? This is what you’ve done to me. You’ve forced me to take matters into my own hands again.”
“I’m sure the police are on the way. You tripped the silent alarm. We had the house wired with a security system.”
“Because of me, I’m sure. I won’t be staying around to meet their acquaintances. I’m only here for my bag and some information. Since you’re here¸ how about you give me what I want?”
“What do you want? Is it money?”
“No, mother. You already know what I want. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I’m not going to tell you where they are. You won’t hurt them anymore. I’d rather die than see you go near them.” My mother began to sob, sadly collapsing to the floor where she bawled up and begged me to reconsider. “Please, don’t do this again.”
“Tell me where they are. Give me an address.”
“I won’t. You’ll have to kill me first.”
This angered me. “You don’t have to be so blatantly obvious which daughter you love more. It’s leaving a bad taste in my mouth.”
“Ivy, listen to me. They are a family. Don’t hurt them. Please leave them alone.”
I ignored her. “Tell me what I want to know or I’m going to put a bullet in the good
doctor over there.”
Mikael’s eyes got huge as he watched me aiming the barrel in his direction.
“No. You wouldn’t. You’re a good girl, Ivy. We can get you help.”
Since she refused to listen, I had to make a statement. As much as it pained me to do, I pulled the trigger, hitting Mikael in the right arm. He flinched and screamed under the thick layered Duct tape gag.
“Now, tell me what I want to know, or I aim closer to his chest.” I wasn’t bluffing. Time was running out for me. Each and every moment that passed was another opportunity for the morning nurses to discover I wasn’t in my room. By nine they’d be serving breakfast. By ten police would be searching the institution and running through security tapes. By eleven they’d start a manhunt and have my face plastered all over the news.
My mother kept shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Ivy. I wanted you to get better. I thought you’d learned your lesson. You can do whatever you need to do to me, but I refuse to let you hurt this family any more than you already have.”
I pointed the gun at my mother, watching as she stared me down, prepared to take a bullet to protect my sister. I wanted to throw all my hate into my finger so I could end her. She deserved to pay for all the times I was cast aside for the favorite twin. As much as I hated her, I couldn’t do it. I picked her up by the collar and shoved her into the seat next to Mikael. He was trying his hardest to break free, but getting nowhere with it. I took the remaining roll of tape and secured her to the chair. After placing the tape over her mouth, I stood with my hands on my hips, taking in the scene. “You’re such a disappointment, Mother. Things could have been different for you. I’m going to find the address they’re staying at, whether you help me or not.”
I left them sitting in the kitchen while going back into the office to look for clues as to where Willow and Stoshua had moved.
The first thing I checked was the phone. I searched for the most common numbers called and received. There was only one that repeated several times a week. I knew right away it was my sister.
After logging on the computer, I did a reverse search for an address. At first I thought I’d mistaken the number, until I stared at the name some more. Stoshua had a cousin with the same name. My mother had no reason to talk to her on the phone several times a week.
I dialed the number from the cell phone I’d stolen. Stoshua’s voice answered on the second ring. He was out of breath, but I could recognize him even after the time we’d spent apart. I hung up quickly, refusing to even mention it was the wrong number. If he tried to call it back he’d find the voicemail to someone he didn’t know.
I’d found them. I’d located their safe house – where they’d moved to hide from me in case something like this would happen.
I had to move fast. With no regard for my mother, or Mikael, I walked out of the kitchen, leaving them to sit and wait until police discovered them.
After fetching my bag, I headed out to Mikael’s vehicle. I made sure no neighbors were peeking out their windows being nosey, so I’d have ample time to get a head start.
I threw the cell phone out the window a couple miles after I left my parent’s neighborhood, but only after mapping out where I needed to go.
I’d spent my whole life living in the same state. I knew where I was headed, and approximately how long it would take for me to get there. By the time police would find them, I’d already be at my sister’s house. She wasn’t getting away from me this time. I waited far too long to let it happen.
While driving I thought about my family. We were once happy, I suppose, back before there were report cards and good deeds, before there was a reason to pick favorites, maybe before I understood what it all meant. I wished I could turn back time and be the child they were proud of; to feel what it was like just once in my life.
I wanted to feel the love and appreciation radiating through them when they looked into my eyes.
Now all I felt was sadness. They were never happy to see me. They didn’t miss me. In fact, they’d all but written me off as a lost cause. What kind of parent would do that?
Not me.
I was going to be a devoted mother. My child would want for nothing, and I’d make sure she knew without a doubt how much I loved her each and every day.
I thought about Stoshua, and how I’d gone from using him as a way to escape my parents, to loving him with everything I had in me. His inability to get over my sister destroyed me, leaving me no other choice than to give him a piece of what he longed for. I let them be together, because I knew the end result would give me what I was unable to have – a child.
Now I wondered what he would do if I took his beloved away. Would he want to be with me again? Was there a chance I could convince him we’d be happy?
I didn’t have time to keep running it through my head. His decision wouldn’t break me, I couldn’t let it. They’d ruined my life for the last time. If he chose death over being with me, it was his loss. I’d be a good mother to his daughter. I’d raise her as my own, and make sure nothing hurt her. I wouldn’t let a man she loved toss her away for a better version. She’d appreciate me for my devotion, and we’d grow old without the need for anyone else in our lives.
I’d imagined it in my head so many times. When I slept I dreamt of her. Now I was about to meet the real beauty. It was overwhelming, and in the midst of running from the law, and out of time, I’d be patient with her, because that’s what all good mothers were.
Chapter 8
Their driveway was off the beaten path. I pulled over to the shoulder of the road and parked the vehicle. I couldn’t take the chance of them becoming alarmed if I drove up to the house. I checked my face to make sure I didn’t look awful. I had to make a good impression for my new little girl. It wasn’t like I could have her as a newborn, where she’d immediately have a relationship with the person who cared for her. This child was fragile. It was going to take time to convince her we’d be happy. I had to learn to put her before myself, and to treat her like she was the most precious thing in the world. Then she’d love me. She’d love me forever.
The sun was fully out, causing every bug known to man to come flying at me as I hiked up the long dirt driveway. I swatted them away, while trying to keep from being detected. With this type of entrance to the home, there was no telling how visible I’d be.
When I first noticed the wooden trim in the distance, I ducked down into a thicket to prevent from being caught. I made it the rest of the distance by staying in the woods, camouflaged from the naked eye. The house was cute. I could see why they’d picked it. It was like a little gingerbread cabin, nestled in between patches of woods. Children’s toys were randomly placed around the yard, and a swing set was nestled in the back. The large front porch had two rocking chairs side by side. I imagined my sister and Stoshua sitting together while they watched their daughter playing happily in the grass.
It took me a few seconds to consider how to get closer to the residence. I picked a side window, focusing on staying out of view as I reached the siding and put my back against it. My heart was racing as I realized how close I was to having what I wanted. The mere thought made me giddy. My future was inside of this very house, and I was about to seize it and never let go.
I peered through the window, shaking from head to toe, not because I was afraid, but more so for the reason that I'd located them so easily.
There she was, my mirror image, her hair cut shorter on her shoulders in a lighter hue than she used to wear it. She was washing dishes, standing at a center kitchen island, while a little girl colored across from her. She held up the picture, showing her mother. It was a drawing of a family, and as cute as it seemed, something caught me off guard. There weren’t three people in the picture, there were four.
I covered my mouth and considered the possibility of my sister being pregnant. If she was, there was no way I could take her out the way I'd planned. I couldn't harm an innocent child.
Everything was go
ing to have to change.
Suddenly, as I watched Willow turn around to put something in the cabinet, I saw a little head pocking out of an infant seat. A baby boy, dressed in blue, was sitting there, looking out at his mother. He was probably only a few months old.
I could feel a warm rush of tears pouring from my eyes. This was the ultimate betrayal. This hurt worse than Stoshua loving Willow. This was worse than them having their first child and raising her together.
This little boy had been kept a secret from me. Not only had Willow and Stoshua been living as other people, but my parents had helped them.
They didn't care about me at all. None of them did.
As hurt as I felt, I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He looked like his father - same hair and eyes. When he smiled his cheeks had sugar bowl sized dimples. He brought his small hand up and gently grazed his mother's face. She leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. It was obvious she loved him.
Her perfect picturesque family was much to be desired. She was living every woman's dream; a life that should have been mine.
The bile rose to my throat when I considered all I had missed. A pregnancy – a baby. The secret of it all.
No longer did I want to be with Stoshua. He’d done this to me, too. He’d kept this life from me, and not been able to see the love I’d have for them. He was blind, because of Willow.
She needed to go.
She had to die.
With anger resonating, I waited for the right moment to make my move. I heard the slam of a screen door and ducked down, making sure I was hidden. A little girl came outside and whipped around the corner. She spotted me before I could get away.
I smiled and waved for her to come closer. I could tell she was confused. I looked too much like her mother to assume I was dangerous. “Hi,” I whispered. “Can you keep a secret?”
She nodded her head. “I’m your fairy godmother. I’m here to make all your dreams come true.”
Twinsequences Ivy Page 5