Twinsequences Ivy Read online

  “Ready!”

  “Enjoy the movie. I’ll let you know when we arrive.”

  My sister’s eyes were on mine. I could almost feel her fears as we took off down the road. If she only knew what I had in store for her.

  Chapter 10

  I headed in the opposite direction of my parent’s town. It was important to make a good amount of time between me and the authorities. Once we were in a safe place, I’d have to work quickly to make sure my travel plans wouldn’t get deterred.

  I drove for about an hour before Marcus woke up and began to cry. We pulled over at a fast food restaurant. I bought Destiny a kid’s meal, and ordered a bottle of water so I was able to mix some formula later. I changed his diaper, playing peek-a-boo with him, while his parent’s watched my every move.

  “How come Mommy and Daddy can’t have food?”

  “It’s part of the game. Besides, they ate before we left.”

  “They did?”

  “Yep,” I said as I stole one of her fries. “Did anyone ever tell you how much you look like your mother?”

  She giggled. “Yes.”

  “It’s a good thing. You’ll get far with those looks.”

  “Get far where?” She was too young to understand what I meant by it.

  “Never mind, little one. How about we get moving? We don’t want to waste any time.”

  “Okay. Is the adventure far?”

  “Sort of. We’ll need to go on a plane. Have you ever been on one?” I asked while pulling out of the establishment.

  “No. I’m too little.”

  “Nonsense. You’re never too little for adventures. Wait until you see where we’re going. Have you ever been to the beach?”

  “Yes!” She excitedly replied. “I make sand castles.”

  “Where we’re going you can make sand castles every day. There’s beautiful music, and you’ll be a princess forever.”

  She started clapping. “Are we going now?”

  “First we have to take care of a few things. Be patient, Destiny. Our forever will happen soon enough.”

  Each time I spoke to Destiny, I watched my sister’s terrified reaction in the rearview mirror. It made me elated to be able to get under her skin. It was obvious the children meant everything to her, maybe more than Stoshua. It was too bad he’d rather die by her side than spend a long future with me and his children. He would have learned to forget about my sister, and the struggles they had because they couldn’t stay out of my way.

  I turned on the radio, hoping to keep from hearing the two adults in the back whining for attention.

  “How come they can’t have a drink. I think Daddy is thirsty.” Stoshua began shaking his head to agree, but I knew it was because he wanted the gag removed so he could tell his daughter to run. If he thought it was going to work he was the one who belonged in an institution.

  “I gave them something to drink before we left. This is part of the game, sweetie. A real princess has to learn to ignore those people who beg for her attention. They’re trying to keep you from going on the adventure, because adults aren’t allowed.”

  “So they’re not going with us?”

  “Not all the way. They’re going on an adult adventure. You see, we’re all going to have so much fun.” I think the enthusiasm in my voice was what convinced her.

  She turned around and pointed at them in a scorning kind of way. “Don’t be bad or you won’t have fun. I’m a princess.”

  My sister was steadily freaking out. I’d convinced her daughter to believe me. I knew it crushed her, and it excited me. Anything I could do to antagonize the situation, I was going to do. She deserved nothing but revenge from me, and she was getting it. When I watch her take her last breath on earth I won’t be sad, I’ll feel relieved. There would no longer be someone I had to compete with – someone who always seemed to come out smelling like roses. She wouldn’t win the guy, or take away my dreams. She’d be gone, a forgotten memory to the children I was about to raise as my own.

  After going south for close to an hour, I pulled over at the shadiest motel on the deserted road we’d been on. I took Destiny with me, since I wasn’t naïve enough to believe they’d keep from trying to communicate with her. I threw on a ball cap and some sunglasses, to prevent anyone from seeing me on the news and reporting our location.

  We entered the office hand in hand, directing our attention to an old man, who looked to be on his last leg. “Good morning. I was wondering if you have any rooms? My little girl and I are in need of a shower and some rest before getting back on the road.”

  “There’s a Hilton about six miles up on the right hand side, if you’d prefer a nicer place. I haven’t been well enough to keep up with this motel. Diabetes took my foot six months ago. I’ve got cataracts in both eyes, and my walker won’t even fit through the doors of the rooms.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m really not worried about the condition of the rooms. We’re exhausted.”

  “My niece comes to clean once a week. Use room number two-two-four. We just replaced the bedding and carpets a few months back. Some derelict kid brought his dog in and it ripped everything to shit. It took me a good eight-hundred bucks to fix it. He was long gone before I could bill him for it.”

  I reached in my sister’s wallet and pulled out some money. “Do you accept cash?” I couldn’t stand there all day long listening to him ramble on. I was on a deadline. “I’ll make sure to tidy up once we’re finished.”

  “Well that would be kind. It’s thirty-six for the first twenty-four hours.”

  “That’s all we’ll need. Thank you, sir.” I started to leave before turning around to ask another question. “The sign outside says you have Wi-Fi. Is it working?”

  “I don’t know what it is, but we do have it. The phone company came out and said I needed it for my guests. If you ask me it’s just an extra way of them making money. My phone still works the same as it always did. According to the young guy who installed it, there’s a card with a password in the room. If you can’t find it, I’m sure I have it written down somewhere.” He started shuffling around the desk.

  I sat forty dollars on the counter. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure I can find it in the room.”

  After he handed me the key, I pulled Destiny outside before he could keep us any longer. I gave him a friendly wave as we exited.

  The room he’d given me was a few down from the office. I moved the van in a parking spot where I’d be able to get my sister and Stoshua out, without the old man seeing it. The parking lot was deserted, and I was sure no one was paying attention to what other people were up to. The place was shady as fuck.

  The first thing I did was get Destiny and the baby inside, after I inspected it for bugs or filth. To my surprise it smelled clean. The bedding looked like it had never been slept on, and even the television had been replaced with a flat-screen. On the dresser was a card with the password I’d need to log onto the internet from a phone. I’d be able to book my travel easily.

  One at a time, I brought the inseparable married couple in the room and sat them down on the bed. With their hands behind their backs, I could tell it was uncomfortable. I smiled when I got them situated, lying on the mattress, forced to stare at the ceiling.

  I pulled my sister’s phone out of the diaper bag, turned it on airplane mode, to keep from receiving calls and entered the Wi-Fi password. I needed to get my travel booked and do away with the phone, so we couldn’t be traced. I wouldn’t need to call anyone after this was finished.

  First, I needed to buy two train tickets. I’d get out of state and take a plane to an exotic location where we could settle down and start over. I’d imagined it in my mind, and planned on doing it with Rafe before Stoshua and Willow ruined it for me.

  I hoped Rafe was looking down from heaven, watching my dreams finally coming true. I wondered if he’d be happy for me. Would he send some divine intervention to help me out?

  Destiny looked bore
d. She’d been sitting with her brother for a few minutes, waiting for me to turn on a cartoon. Once I found something she adored, she got on her stomach and leaned her face on her hands to watch it. Little Marcus was next to me, propped up on a couple pillows. He was eating his own hands, drool soaking his bib. I kissed him a few times before getting back to the train schedule.

  For a second I got side-tracked, imagining my sister tied to the rails, watching as a train approached to take her life. Then I decided it would be too quick. She wouldn’t suffer, because she’d die instantly. I didn’t want that for her. She needed to feel her body giving up. I wanted it to be painful, excruciating even.

  I found a train leaving town in only two hours. It would be before noon, and probably before police would start scouring my sister’s property, discovering I’d taken them. I wondered if I should have cleaned up the blood in the bathroom, and left a note for someone to feed the cat, as if they’d taken a trip. It would have bought me more time, in case something were to go wrong. At any rate, they’d be checking the airports, not train stations hours away from the crime. I had to stay off the main roads anyway, because they’d issue an Amber alert for the children if they suspected foul play. They’d start looking for the van, which told me I needed new transportation.

  I leaned down and looked at Destiny. “Hey, you. I need to run outside for a second. Remember, if they try to talk to you don’t do it. Our adventure will have to get cancelled. No matter what they do, don’t talk or touch them, okay?”

  She was busy watching her cartoon, but nodded.

  I pointed at the two adults. “Don’t make a move. If you screw up our adventure there will be hell to pay.”

  Stoshua’s contusion was starting to bleed again. I walked into the bathroom and grabbed some toilet paper, hoping I could wrap it temporarily. He pulled away when I tried to help him. I took his ear and tugged hard on it, until he understood I was in control. Then I leaned down and whispered in his ear. “I can’t stop thinking about being in the shower with you this morning.”

  My sister’s eyes flashed in my direction. “That’s right, Will. I had his cock in my mouth and he wasn’t complaining. It was like old times again.”

  She struggled, but was unable to move. With that little bit of information simmering in, I walked out to talk to the owner in hopes of scoring a ride.

  He was still in the same position, watching a game show on television with his hands crossed over his chest. When he saw me he started to get up. “No don’t get up on my account. I was wondering if you have a first aid kit I can borrow.”

  He began to stand again. I ran to his side of the counter and helped him back down when he struggled. “I can get it. Just tell me where to look.”

  He pointed in the back room. “It’s in there, in the first cabinet on the left. I used to keep it in the bathroom, but my niece said state law needs it to be in a closer location. I don’t know why the laws are always changing…”

  I ignored the rest and walked into the private room. It was set up like a small one room apartment. There was a couch on one side of the room, and a kitchen area on the other. I checked in the cabinet and found the first aid kit, then scanned the area to look for a set of car keys. While he continued talking about laws and the government, I walked into a small bedroom area and found a wallet and a set of keys. I left the wallet and stuck the keys in my pocket before going out with the first aid kit. “I found it.”

  “Oh good, good. I was worried she moved it again.”

  “Nope. I opened it to check and make sure it had plenty of band aids. You know how kids are. Every little scratch needs attention.”

  “Oh don’t I know. My kids were famous for that. Their mother had to kiss every spot they injured.”

  I wasn’t about to stand there and hear about his children, how old they were, and what they did for a living. There weren’t enough hours in the day.

  “I’ll bring this back when I’m done. I better get back to my kids.”

  When I got back into the room, I found Willow on the floor, Destiny standing on the bed overtop of her. “Fairy godmother, you’re back. Mommy isn’t being good. She tried to get me to talk to her.”

  “You did good, Destiny. Go on back to your show. I’ll take care of her.”

  Willow looked disgusted, not that I gave a shit. I forced her back on the bed and stuck my lips up to her ear. “Try something like that again, and I’ll take you in the bathroom and butcher you in the shower, like that old horror movie you used to be scared of. Don’t push me, sister. I won’t let you screw this up.”

  She turned her head away and looked to Stosh. He was focused on me, and not in a loving kind of way.

  “How sweet are you? Trying to be the hero, but you know you can’t.” I opened the first aid kit and pulled out items I needed to patch up his head, temporarily. He jerked his head way, but I moved it back again. I rubbed an alcohol pad roughly against his contusion, getting off on the fact that it caused him pain. “You think this hurts, imagine what it was like to rot away in a padded room. I loved you and you tossed me aside for another version. You deserve this ending, Stosh, the both of you do. Don’t worry about the kids. I’ll take good care of them. I’ll find a man to be their daddy. I’ll make sure he resembles you, so people believe they are our children together. Until then, I’ll tell everyone their father committed suicide. They’ll feel sorry for me, and go out of their way to make sure I’m nurtured and cared for. You see,” I rubbed his cheek, “I have it all figured out. You’re the only thing standing in my way now.”

  He was breathing heavily, desperate for freedom, though he knew it wouldn’t happen.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll be out of here in no time. I scored us a new ride. As soon as I get rid of you two, it will be smooth sailing.”

  I reached in the diaper bag and got a couple snacks out for Destiny. “Hey, Des, I’m going to help your parents for a minute outside. Can you keep an eye on your brother for a little bit? I promise I’ll be right back.”

  “I’m not supposed to be alone with Marcus. He’s too little.”

  “You’re a princess. You can do whatever you want.”

  This seemed to change her mind. “Okay.”

  I kissed her on the forehead. “Remind me to get you changed into a pretty dress for when we leave. You’ll need to look your best.”

  With her giggling and excited, I pulled both adults to a standing position. “Come say bye to your parents. They’re getting ready to take their special trip. Tell them you’ll miss them, but you’ll be a big girl and take care of your brother.”

  I watched the child hug her parents, and tell them goodbye like they were going to have fun. I kept my smiles to myself, silently knowing what was about to happen to the couple.

  Then I helped them hobble out the door one at a time, putting them in the van, and getting in the driver’s seat. I looked in the rearview and met eyes with my sister. “Any last requests?”

  Chapter 11

  I’d spotted the pond about a mile down the road. It looked deep and secluded. When I parked, and climbed out I think they assumed I was leaving them there to be found. I wasn’t about to give them the opportunity to find me. This ended here. They were going to die, and I was about to start my future.

  I finally located a log that would work to keep the gas peddle down until they drove right into the open water. The van would sink, filling with water until both drowned. They’d be gone by the time help would arrive, and I’d be back at the motel, packing up the kids and driving to the train station, incognito.

  After placing the piece of wood in position, I turned to look back at my sister, and her beloved husband. Deciding to be nice, I reached back and removed each gag.

  Immediately they began to scream, not that anyone could hear them.

  “Shut up and listen. No one is here to save you. This is goodbye. It’s been real, but not fun at all. I’ll enjoy watching you sink to your death. I’ll take pride in raising your k
ids as my own, making them believe I am their mother. People like you shouldn’t exist. You stand in the way of other’s happiness. You make us feel like we aren’t good enough. I’ll never understand why you had it all, Will. What made you the special one, while I was left with crumbs? Why did he love you more than me? Why?”

  “Because I’m not crazy, Ivy. Stoshua loves me for being myself. I don’t have to lie to get his attention. And that goes for everyone in your life. Go ahead and kill us, but know I’ll come back from the grave and haunt you until you die. I’ll make sure my kids get away from you. Mom and Dad won’t stand for it. They’ll find you and lock you up and throw out the key. You’re an evil person. You should be the one sinking to her death, not us. We don’t deserve this and you know it. If you ever loved us you’ll let us go.”

  “It’s because I loved you that I’m letting you die. No hard feelings, guys. The better sister won. There’s only room for one of us on this earth. Stoshua is just the sap who got caught in the crossfires.”

  “Ivy,” his deep voice caught my attention. “I’ll do it. I’ll be with you. I’ll make love to you right here and right now if you let Willow go. She won’t get in our way. We’ve talked about this before, she and I. She knows it’s best for everyone.”

  “Do you think I’m stupid?”

  “He’s telling the truth,” Willow interrupted. “I’ll go away. You can take the kids and be together. Isn’t that what you want? Don’t you want Stoshua for yourself?”

  I looked from my sister to Stoshua. It was tempting.

  “So I’m supposed to let you walk away? Just like that? You’d give up your children for life?”

  “You’re right. You deserve to be happy. Maybe it’s your turn, but you don’t have to kill me. I’ve given you two children. I’ll meet someone and start a new family. Let me go, Ivy. Don’t go down for murder.”

  “Ivy, please. Let Willow go. It’s me you want. I’m giving myself to you. I’ll be the dad my kids need. We’ll be a family. You know it’s your dream.”