Anita
At the mention of me having twins, my thoughts immediately went to Avery. I remember how we always stumped our parents because they could never tell us apart. We would apply to the same extra curricular activities and if one of us got rejected, we simply didn't join it. We literally did everything together. There wasn't anything we didn't agree on. We even consulted with each other before entering a relationship. She was the first I came out to and she was quick to accept me. I told her about my crush on the girl who lived next door, who at the time I didn't know was Raven. We would watch her from our backyard as she did yard work in her sports bra and baggy shorts. She was there for me when I came out to our parents and just as she was, they were quick to accept me. Then thoughts of that night flooded my head. The way she was huddled against me after our mother was killed. Her lifeless body pinning me down as I struggled to breathe passed the blood gushing from my mouth. Green eyes suddenly looking into mine abruptly broke me from my thoughts. I knew she knew what I was thinking. Her thumbs sweep away my tears and I close my eyes to her loving touch. Her lips delicately press against my forehead and when I open my eyes again, I realize we're sitting in the back seat of her parents car, parked in the driveway. I look at the house nextdoor. Caution tape still crossed over the front door, withered over the years. I haven't been inside since that night. I look back at Raven and she gives a knowing smile. "Please take Evan with you," she says in a gentle whisper, caressing my stomach. I give a relieved sigh and nod at her request. Her father helps her out and into the wheelchair. I grab Evan and we walk nextdoor in silence. Hesitating with my hand on the door, I take a deep breath and open it. Flashbacks from that night echoe in the distance as I enter the room it all happened. Blood still stained the door and tears roll rapidly down my cheeks. Turning away from it, I head upstairs to the room I shared with Avery. Memories hit me like a tidal wave as I stepped through the door. I walk over to her bed and the teddy bear id gotten her from our last birthday together, still laid against her pillow. I pick it up and the last photo of us together on her nightstand. Unable to stay in this house much longer without the constant reminder of that night, I bolted out of the room and back to where Evan was waiting at the front door. I rush passed him and nextdoor. Entering the house, I ignore everyone calling out to me as I lock myself in the guest room Raven and I have been sleeping in. I slide against the door until my knees are against my chest and break into uncontrolled sobs. I look down at the picture of the two of us and wished she was still here. "Anita," Raven calls through the door with worry in her tone. "Baby, please let me in." I get up after a moment and open the door. I don't wait for her to roll in and simply straddle her lap in the wheelchair. She holds me without a word as my breaths shutter from the calming sobs. With her arms still around me, I feel as the wheelchair is being moved, but don't bother protesting. We're brought to the living room where the others were sitter with concerned faces. "Sweetheart," Charlotte says in a soothing tone, kneeling in my view. "Would you like to move to the couch and be comfortable?" I climb off Raven and walk away to the kitchen. I fix myself a small snack and go back to the living room. I dip my apple slice into some peanut butter and sigh at how good it tasted. I ignore the conversation held the others and focus on the delicious snack. I notice Raven watching me and she smiles lightly. "Can I try some," she asks with a smile. I scoop some peanut butter on an apple slice and hold it up to her mouth. She takes a bites, humming with delight. "That's good," she says and I offer her more. Raven She shares her snack with me and I notice Evan checking something on his phone. His eyebrows raise and it catches my attention. He looks over at Anita and I could see he had something to tell her. I just hope it doesn't cause her stress on the twins. "Anita, I have something I need to tell you, something I've kept to only myself since that night and I only hope you don't hate me after what I have to say," he says with tears in her eyes. "Unless you're confessing to killing my family, I won't hate you," she says quietly, taking another bite of her apple with peanut butter. "Avery is alive, held in protective custody at the hospital. Only Doctor Mathews knows about this. She's been in a coma until just now. I don't know if she'll have memory or not, but I can take you to see her," he says as tears roll down his cheeks. "The bullet went through the inside of the frontal lobe before entering your chest." I look at Anita and could see the shock from the news we all just heard in her eyes. In a split second that shock turns to tears as they roll down her cheeks. She didn't need to speak as I knew what she was thinking. Tears fill my own eyes as I turn to look at Evan. "I'm coming with you," I choke quietly and he nods lightly. Anita Walking back into the hospital was a daze. I just learned my sister has been alive after all these years, in a coma. Doctor Mathews was waiting for us as the nurses station with a sympathetic look in his eyes. He guides the three of us to a secured floor and I could feel my heart rate with each step closer. We stop outside a room and tears fill my eyes. I reach for the door and open it. Inside laid a woman who looked just like me, like Avery. Her eyes were closed and I step next to the bed, taking her hand. Her eyes slowly open, looking around before meeting mine. The same cobalt blue eyes stare back at mine. Moments later I watch as tears fill hers and we both break into sobs. I don't hesitate when climbing in her bed and her arms immediately wrap around me. I lay my head over the beat of her chest and hoped this wasn't a dream. "Nita, is it really you," she asks in broken sobs and I look down at her. Her hand caresses my face, having a hard time believing I'm real. "I've been stuck in a nightmare. They told me it's been five years, but it feels like that night." "I thought you were dead all these years," I sob uncontrollably and she takes me back in her arms. "I have PTSD from that night and storms trigger attacks." "I'm here Nita," she says in a soothing tone and I shutter a calming breath. A knock on the door brings our attention to Doctor Mathews and Raven. He holds up a portable ultrasound machine and Avery asks, "What are you doing?" "I'm pregnant," I choke with a light smile, looking up at her. Her eyes widen before becoming confused and asked, "What about the girl who lived nextdoor?" Feeling my face burn and look at Raven. She smirks and rolls next to the bed. "I'm the girl nextdoor, but I'm intersex. We'll catch you up on things, but first I would like to check on our babies. We've had a rough, stressful week," she says quietly and meets my eyes. Tears fill hers and says in a wavering whisper, "I need to know they're okay Anita, especially after this morning after everything that's happened." I nod with understanding about her concerns. Avery scooches over and I lay on my back next to her, exposing my stomach. Avery takes my hand in hers and Doctor Mathews applies the gel for the ultrasound. Moments later the twins show up on the screen and a switch is flipped. Two strong heartbeats echo in the room and relieved sobs escape my lips. "The last time I heard this was when we went with mom a week before everything happened," Avery chokes in a whisper. "I was so ready to meet our sister and I'll never get the chance." I look at Raven on the other side of Avery and she takes my sister's other hand. Avery looks at her and Raven says with a light smile, "Actually, she's alive. Until recently she thought Anita and I were her parents. We sat her down the other day and told her the truth." Avery looks at me with tears rapidly rolling down her cheeks and I nod to confirm what Raven said. She breaks into uncontrolled sobs and I take her in my arms. Her hand caresses my stomach as I stroke her hair. "Call your parents to bring her here, please," I ask in a choked whisper and Raven nods lightly. "What happened after I was shot," Avery asks in a distant whisper, sweeping her thumb over my abdomen. "The bullet that you were shot with went all the way through and ended in my sternum. They were never able to remove it," I choke quietly and she looks up at me. "One of them was going to shoot me, but the leader said to leave me to choke on my blood. "Raven watched them leave before coming over, calling the police. Paramedics were able to deliver nd revive Amelia, but it was touch and go for both of us for weeks..." "You named her after Mom," Avery asks in a choked whisper with a light smile. "Amelia Avery Ramirez," I choke quietly and she lays back on my chest. "Who was behind it," she asks curious, stroking the scar on my chest. "Joe, Jefferson and now we're thinking Lexi," I say in a scared whisper and her head whips up at me. "Lexi," she asks in anger and I nod, confused about what was going on. "Stay away from her Nita, she's obsessed with you. That's why she was taken off the will. I caught her in the bathroom while you were in the shower. I told Mom and Dad and they threatened to have her arrested." "She took the case about us. Joe tried to kill Ray and she was acting weird while she was recovering from the hospital. I haven't seen her since the other day," I say in a disgusted whisper. "Does she know you're pregnant," she asks in a protective tone and I nod vigorously. "No one knows I'm alive right?" "No, just Evan, Doctor Mathews and us," Raven says quietly, holding my hand over Avery's stomach. "I won't let her near you again." "There aren't any cameras in the office," I say quietly and Raven looks at me confused. "Think about it Ray. She wanted you to act natural around Joe, sneak in his office. She was the only one who knew you were in there and probably tipped him off after you sent dirt on him about us. She probably wanted you out of the way to get to me." Evan steps out of the room with a hardened look in his eyes and speaks with a trusted detective outside the door. Moments later he walks back in with Raven's parents and Amelia. I look at Avery as her hand covers her mouth at the sight of Amelia. Tears start rolling rapidly down her cheeks and I look at Amelia. She was looking between the to of us before she realized who I was in the hospital bed with. "Avery," she asks hesitantly with tears in her eyes. Avery holds her arms out and Charlotte helps her up on the bed. Avery takes her in her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. I take them both in my arms and watch as Raven asks that the three of us get a moment alone. I took them both in my arms and together we let our emotions go as we reunited with Avery. The three of us laughed at memories of me and Avery pulling pranks on teachers at school, taking each other's classes. No one could tell us apart and they never found out. Avery and I took turns telling Amelia about our parents and our brother. "I can't believe how much you look like Mom," Avery says quietly, tucking hair behind Amelia's ear as tears fill her eyes. "What do I call you," Amelia asks in a choked whisper. "You can call me Avery, Nita already filled me in that you call her Mommy," Avery says in a soothing whisper and Amelia looks at me. "I'm okay with whatever you want to call me, it'll just take time getting used to you not calling me Mommy if you choose to call me Anita," I choke quietly. She nods lightly before rubbing her eyes, tired. We've been bonding for hours. She snuggles between me and Avery, her head on my chest while Avery played with her hair. It didn't take long before she was asleep and the others quietly walking back in. Raven was the first to notice Amelia asleep and smiles with adoration in her eyes. She looks at me and I ask quietly, "Can we stay? I don't want to leave and wake up tomorrow thinking it was all a dream." "Evan already asked that spare beds be brought in here. He doesn't feel safe with us going home not knowing where Lexi is," she says in a protective whisper.Anita I woke up the next morning in the hospital. Thinking last night was a dream, I look in the bed next to me and Avery was still asleep next to me. Tears fill my eyes as I realize she's really here. I move to lay on her chest and feel her slightly stir in her sleep. Her heart beat rhythmically in my ear and I silently sob as I hold onto her. A low rumble of thunder makes me jump. A loud rumble follows shortly after, bringing a scream from not just me but Amelia. I feel arms around me, but it's not Ray. I look up at Avery, but all I can see is her scared face from that night. "Anita, look at me," Raven says in a soothing whisper, holding Amelia in the spare bed. I meet her green eyes as tears fall from mine. "Keep your eyes on me." I lay my head back on Avery's chest, keeping eye contact with Raven. A rumble of thunder echoes, but I don't break eye contact with her. I feel as Avery strokes my hair and close my eyes. I let out a calming breath as more thunder rumbles. "Don'
Anita It starts with the rain. It paralyzes me. Then the rumble of thunder cracks, sending me back to that dreadful night. The night that changed my life forever. The night I watched my family killed. The night I was left for dead, but survived. The night I wished I’d died with my family. I see it all happen as if I’m living it all over again, the scariest night of my life. Four men in black had us tied up, searching for something my father had been working on. A program worth millions, but if it fell into the wrong hands it would be chaos. They wanted the combination to the safe but my father refused. One of the men put a gun to my little brother’s head. Thunder rumbles as the storm outside picks up. Even over the loud rumble of thunder I could hear the loud BANG of the gun. My brother’s tiny form crumbled to the floor in front of me as blood poured from the small hole in his forehead. His lifeless eyes stuck open. The screams of my mother and my twin sister drowning out the plea
RavenSurprisingly Anita and I slept through the night without a nightmare. I was cuddled at her back while Amelia was cuddled against Anita's chest. Anita's arms wrapped securely around the small child. The peaceful look on her face told me she was content.I look out the window facing us, seeing gray skies. The first signs of rain falling loudly on our roof. Anita stirs in my arms, a light whimper coming from her. I whisper soothingly in her ear and feel her relax in my arms. Her facial expressions relax from her brief frowning in fear.A low rumble of thunder causes her eyes to fly open, breaths quickening. Amelia starts crying and it seems to distract the woman in my arms. "I'm here sweetheart," Anita says in a trembling whisper."Mommy, where's Daddy," the fragile voice asks in a choked whisper."I'm still here baby," I say in a soothing whisper, startling both of them. "It's okay, I'm here."Amelia carefully climbs over Anita and lays on top of me while Anita rolls to face me. I
Anita Little did Joe know, I moved the contents of my father's safe. The combination to the safe had been my parents wedding anniversary. I head back down to the basement where I had asked Raven's parents to put in a hidden safe in the wall. I frantically open the safe and take out the entire contents my father kept. Knowing what I was looking for and gathered the information needed, putting the rest back along with the USB that held millions of dollars of my father's work. I call the detective handling my family's murders. She was a friend of my mother and also skeptical about Joe. Though she's only five years older than me, her mother was friends with mine. When her mother passed away, my mother was the person she turned to for motherly advice. "Lexi, it's Anita," I choke quietly. "Everything okay, you sound like you've been crying," she says with concern. "I discovered something that you need to see. Can you meet me at the neighbors house from my parents house? It's urgent,"
Raven I woke with pain on my left side. Anita was still peacefully sleeping on my chest and thankfully a nurse was walking in. She looks in my pain filled eyes and presses a button on the machine to give me a dose of morphine. She smiles sympathetically at Anita before checking my vitals. She walks out and my parents, Amelia and Lexi walk in. My mother covers her mouth at the sight before her. Tears roll down her cheeks as she sees Anita is sound asleep in my arms. Relief fills her eyes as they meet mine and I give a light smile. Amelia was cuddled in my father's arms, asleep on his chest and I was relieved to see she was okay, that they were all okay. Finally, my eyes meet with Lexi asking a question without words. She gives a subtle nod and tears silently roll down my cheeks. She comes closer, showing me a printout of an ultrasound Anita must have done yesterday. I smile through the tears and kiss Anita's head. "She's eight weeks and they have a strong heartbeat," Lexi says with
AnitaI jolt awake from a nightmare, breathing rapidly. As I look around my surroundings, I remember I'm in the hospital. Raven lay next to me, asleep with her head wrapped and casts on her left arm and leg. Tears well in my eyes from relief that my nightmare was wrong. She's alive, not dead.My nightmares usually consist of the truth, they usually consist of the tragic night five years ago. I find myself lightly tracing over her lips until those green eyes meet mine. One look in mine and I know she can see something is bothering me."I'm still here," she whispers soothingly as if she could read exactly what I was thinking.I nod vigorously as the tears fall rapidly down my cheeks. I give her a kiss and feel someone tap my leg. I look behind me at Amelia and she had fresh tears in her eyes. "Can I lay with Daddy," she asks in a choked whisper.I nod, stealing one more kiss before climbing out of the bed. Amelia carefully climbs in and takes my place, sobbing in Raven's neck. Raven hol
Anita There was a huge storm coming in tonight. I didn't want to stay out in it and I didn't want to go home without Raven. I was torn between my decisions to make and it was making me emotional. Raven has been there for me with every storm since that dreadful night.The terrified look in Amelia's eyes when the storm was mentioned helped me make my decision. I put her before myself and I didn't want to see the scared look in her eyes. I meet eyes with Raven and knew she knew I was going home. Worry filled her eyes and looks to Lexi. Lexi gives an understanding nod and I watch Raven relax against her hospital bed.I walk over, caressing her cheek before leaning down to give her a kiss. As I turned to leave with her parents and Amelia, I felt her grab my hand. I look back at her, standing next to her bed. She kisses her fingers and places her hand on my stomach. Tears fill my eyes at the gesture and she takes my hand to kiss my engagement ring.Lexi places her hand on my shoulder and I
RavenIt was two agonizing days before I could go home. We'd have to stay with my parents until I was capable of getting around for myself. With my fractured left wrist and multiple fractures in my left leg, it's at least three months before I can use crutches. By then we should be okay to go home.My mom had set up the guest room on the first floor for me so I wouldn't have to climb the stairs. The only problem is there's another storm tonight and it's not soundproof for Anita. Having to sleep two nights without me and I knew she'd deal with the sound of thunder than sleep another night away from me.She was currently helping me get comfortable in my parents living room, elevating my leg. Though we didn't have eye contact at the moment I could still see the battle of emotions in her eyes. I take her hand from fluffing the pillow under my leg and her eyes flick up to meet mine. Pooled tears threaten to roll down her cheeks as I watch her lower lip tremble, fighting against her crippli