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," I say with a wavering tone as nausea hits me. "I'm on my way," she says softly and moments later I hear knocking on her end of the phone. "Captain, I have new information for that case I started five years ago. I have Anita on the phone now... Thank you Sir." "Lexi, make sure Joe is at the restaurant before you come here, I'll explain when you get here," I choke quietly, trying to breathe past the nausea. "Sure and are you okay? You sound out of breath... Are you calling me while Raven is...," she asks in fake disgust. Before I could respond I had to bolt for the bathroom and get sick. When I finish, I realize Lexi is still on the line, calling for me. I pick up my phone with shaky hands and hear her let out a relieved sigh. "Jesus Anita, if I had to take a guess I'd say you're pregnant or have a hangover at two in the afternoon." Panic rises and I freak out on the phone, "Lexi, please don't tell anyone. Please?" "I promise," she coos over the phone. I shutter a relieved breath and thank her before ending the call. I look up to the doorway and Raven was there with concern in her eyes. She offered me her hand and I take it. She helps me get to my feet and gives me a distracting kiss. "My mother made you some tea," she says softly, wiping my eyes. I nod lightly and let her lead me back upstairs. She grabs the files I took from the safe, but doesn't question anything. That's what I love about her. She waits for me to talk when I'm ready. I sit quietly at the table and wrap my hands around the mug of tea. I guess I spaced out or something because I jump when someone touches my shoulder, making me nearly spill my tea. "It's me," Lexi says in a soothing tone and I notice that Raven and her parents were sitting with worried looks on their faces. "Where's Amelia," I ask in a panic, moving to get up. Lexi gently pushes me back in my seat and says, "She's watching a movie in the basement." I rub my hands nervously on my thighs and ouch she stack of files in front of Lexi. "Proof that Joe is behind everything five years ago," I choke in a scared whisper. Her eyes widen and starts reading everything. "Shit," she says quietly. "He knows as long as me or Amelia are alive, he gets nothing. If he finds out I'm pregnant he's going to repeat history. This time he'll target Raven and her parents. I altered Dad's will and added them to it in case something happens to us," I choke quietly and Raven moves next to me. She takes me in her arms, rubbing my back in comfort. "Is there anything you can do about this," she asks in a soothing whisper. "We'll have to tread quietly and be patient. I promise you Anita, I'll get him. I'll make sure keep your family safe and that he spends the rest of his life in prison," she says with confidence. "Raven, I need you to act natural while working at the restaurant. Report anything suspicious to me and I'll go inform my Captain. He was a good friend of your parents and also skeptical about Joe. "It actually makes sense why he kept visiting the hospital all those years ago and that he was surprised the baby survived the attack," she says through gritted teeth. "I should have known he was behind this from the start. He was so convincing about his concern." Raven's phone rings and she shows us it's Joe calling. Lexi said to answer on speaker. "Hey Joe, how's the restaurant," she asks as if nothing was wrong. "We're swamped, can you make it in?" "Of course," she says and Lexi nods with approval. "How's Anita before I let you come in? We have a storm coming," he says and I clench my hands tight in fear of the storm. "She's visiting my parents as a distraction," she says rubbing her thumb over my knuckles. "Oh," he says with a hint of disappointment. "Well see you soon then." The call ends abruptly and Raven caresses my face in both hands. "I'm one call away okay, " she asks in a soothing whisper and I nod vigorously. She gives me a kiss and I hug her tight. "Please be careful Ray," I choke in a scared whisper. "I promise," she says giving me one more kiss before leaving. Unknowingly, I start playing with my engagement ring. I turn my attention to Raven's mother who placed her hand over mine. "Sweetie, everything is going to be okay," she says with reassurance. "How can you be so sure? Can you guarantee that nothing will happen to Ray, Amelia and my baby," I ask as tears roll down my cheeks. "Can you guarantee that Joe gets caught before someone else dies because of my father's work?" "No, but I can promise to do everything to my ability to keep you safe," she says in a soothing whisper wiping my eyes and I go in her arms. Raven When I get to the restaurant it's not as busy as Joe made it sound, but it's busy enough to need the extra help. I quickly get to my station and start helping make the orders. I noticed Joe isn't around and I feel uneasy about his absence. "Grace, I thought Joe was here? He called me in for help," I say curious. "Oh, he just left. Said he had something important to take care of," she says with a shrug and continues cooking. I discreetly send a quick message to Lexi and get an immediate answer. She's still at my parents house and calling her Captain. I get back to cooking like nothing is wrong. My thoughts drift to Anita and pray she's safe while I'm not there. The night comes to an end as the restaurant closes at 10:30. It's just me and Grace cleaning up the kitchen. Lexi texted me to sneak into his office and see if I could find anything useful. I look at Grace and she looks exhausted. "Hey, why don't you go home? I can finish up here," I say with a light smile. "Are you sure," she asks looking at me with tired eyes. "Yeah, you look ready to pass out," I say and she nods lightly before leaving. I quickly finish the kitchen before checking in with Lexi on Joe's whereabouts. She said his car was still poorly hidden next door. At this point I'm thankful he doesn't know where my parents live. I told him when I started working at the restaurant that they moved out to the other side of town. I had my own suspicion about his constant questions about Anita and turns out I was right to be suspicious. Entering his office and his desk was covered in papers and pictures of Anita. More pictures of the three of us pinned to the walls. I take pictures of everything and send them to Lexi. I carefully look through the paperwork on his desk and find something that made fear strike me motionless. It was a list of ways he planned to kill us. I take a picture of it and also send it to Lexi. Thinking that was enough for her I scramble out of the restaurant and to my car. I get a call from Lexi and immediately answer it. "Get out of there, he just left nextdoor," she says with a panic in her tone. "I'm already on my way," I say in a wavering whisper. "Please don't tell Anita about what I sent you." "Of course not, she's stressed out enough with the baby," she says quietly. "She's sleeping downstairs with Amelia. The storm earlier freaked her out. I didn't realize that she was this bad with her PTSD." "Why didn't she call me," I ask with concern about her being pregnant. "Your mother was able to calm her down downstairs," she reassured me. I let out a relieved sigh as I come to a stop at a traffic light. "Thank you for staying there with her today." "Of course, she's been like a little sister to me since her family took me in," she says with a protective tone. "I'll be there in ten minutes," I say heaving a tired sigh and she ends the call. My light turns green and as I push forward, I notice a car coming right at me and Joe's smiling face behind the wheel. Before I could press on the gas, his car rams in the driver side, causing me to flip upside down. His tires squeal as he speeds away from the scene. My vision starts to blur and I call Lexi. "The son of a bitch just hit me, flipping my car. I-I can't feel anything," I say in a disoriented whisper. "Shit, stay on the line Raven," she says with concern for me. "Can you give me your location?" "The intersection of Smith and Palm avenue," I say groggily. "Keep her safe Lexi." "Don't you talk like that damnit," she says in an authoritative tone. "Think of your baby, your baby needs you Raven. What about Anita? Amelia?" Tears fill my eyes at the mention of my family and I struggle to move. "I can't move, I need to get to them," I choke quietly. "You just stay awake and I'll bring them to the hospital with protection," she says in a soothing whisper. Anita I've been sitting in the waiting room with Amelia, Raven's parents and Lexi. There was a small group of police officers guarding the waiting room and several guarding Raven's operating room. Amelia was clung to Raven's dad and her mother was doing her best to keep me calm for the sake of the baby. The entire police department is out searching for Joe. Raven managed to call Lexi after the accident and he was thankfully caught on CCTV. Amelia was calling for Raven's mother and I turn to Lexi for comfort. She's always felt like a big sister and made me feel safe while she was around after what happened five years ago. Her arms hold me close as I lay my head on her chest. She strokes my hair while we wait for someone to bring news on Raven. When we got here Lexi discreetly took me to do an ultrasound with one of her friends here at the hospital who was sworn into secrecy. I was able to get a printout of the baby and was hoping to show Raven. Our baby is eight weeks along, conceived during the first bad storm of the season. I feel someone gently shaking my shoulder and pop my head up from Lexi's chest. "She's out of surgery and asking for you," Lexi says in a soothing whisper. I stand, wavering on my feet. Lexi holds me up with concern in her eyes. "Anita," she asks with worry in her tone. "I'm a little dizzy," I say in a breathy whisper. "Come on, I'll walk you," she says softly. I nod lightly and let her hold me by my waist to support my weight. The doctor leads us to Raven's room and she has a cast on her entire left leg. She had bandages wrapped around her forehead and a light cast on her left wrist. "Ray," I choke quietly and she opens her eyes slightly. "We've been waiting for hours before they said anything." "I'm sorry," she says groggily from the drugs they put her on. She lifts her right arm, inviting me to lay with her and I hesitate not wanting to hurt her. "Please? I thought he would find out I lied about my parents not moving from next door," she chokes in a scared whisper. I climb in the space next to her and I'm careful not to put any pressure on her body. I let the sobs spill from my lips as her arm wraps around my back. When Lexi told me she was in an accident, I never thought I'd get this again. I thought I'd either lose our baby or they'd grow up without Ray. She pulls me closer which brought my head to her chest and I could hear her heartbeat aside from the monitor. My hand clutches her gown over her stomach, not wanting to let her go. Her bandaged hand lays over mine on her stomach and her thumb sweeps over my knuckles. Her right hand reaches up my shirt, caressing my back and I shutter a calming breath between my sobs. With her hand on my bare back, it was comforting and soothing. Exhaustion kicks in having maybe drifted of a half hour after waiting almost five for an update on her condition. Lexi had told me around eleven last night about Ray's accident. I have a feeling Joe was behind it with just her facial expressions giving me the news. "She's going to sleep, finally," Lexi whispers quietly. "I'll stay in here in case he decides to show up. Apparently he had a hidden camera in his office and has a mysterious partner." "Look into Grace, one of the cooks at the restaurant," Raven says quietly, sounding tired herself. "She seemed off tonight." "I'll also look into anyone who associated with Joe and her father in college and had it out for him too. Or even rival security companies that Joe has relations with," Lexi says in a protective tone. "Anita is like my little sister and I'll be damned if something happens to her or anyone she cares about."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
AnitaAfter spending the last hour in the tub thinking, I had to tell Amelia the truth. She's smart for her age and understands more than you'd think. This lie has been eating at me and I can't live with it anymore.After collecting the courage to talk to her, I walked out to the living room where they were all watching a movie. Amelia was the first to notice me and came to give me a hug. "I didn't mean to upset you," she says feeling bad and it made me feel more guilty. "You didn't upset me, but I need to tell you something, something you probably won't fully understand. I was going to wait until you were older, but this has been eating at me and I can't keep lying to you," I choke quietly and the three adults watch in sympathy. I sat with her straddling my lap and looked into a pair of eyes that matched my mother's and mine. "I'm your sister, not your mother...""I know," she says quietly, unfazed by what I just said. That's until I saw tears fill her eyes. "I heard you talking wit
AnitaI woke the next morning and Raven was still beside me, her left arm and leg elevated. Thinking back to last night, I broke into relieved sobs, hiding my face between her neck and shoulder. She's still here, I'm not dreaming.I feel her hand slip up the back of my shirt and shutter a calming breath at the contact. I lay a kiss on her neck and move my head over her chest. Her heart beat was soothing to me and I'll never get tired of hearing it. I trace my finger over drawing Amelia did on the cast on her arm, a heart with a bandaid."Anita," Raven asks with concern and I look up at her. "I know I normally wait for you to express your thoughts, but this morning you woke up sobbing.""I thought I was in a dream yesterday and didn't want to go to sleep or wake up and you'd be gone," I say in a wavering whisper."I'm sorry," she says feeling bad, but she has nothing to apologize for."Don't apologize for being alive Ray," I choke quietly as her mother walks in. "Can you help her to th
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
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'