Prologue
The night was a frosted hell.
I could feel the cold seeping in through my coat as I ran through the deserted streets with dying street lamps illuminating an eerie path to what would be best described as the end. As I ran for my life I couldn't help but laugh at what was happening. The laughing that escaped my throat was more of a crazed wheeze as it was forced out of my lungs that were already crying out for oxygen. It's amazing how missing out on phys.ed didn't seem like such a great idea now as I sprinted around another dim corner into an alleyway littered with god knows what, slipping here and there as the slick alleyway gave way to a park.
I skidded to a halt to try catch my breath and take a peek behind me to see if I was still being chased. "How the hell did I get myself stuck in the middle of all this crap?" Was all I could mumble in between gasps of air before hearing some noises up ahead behind the fountain that sparkled in the moonlight like glass trickling up and down over and over again in a mystical kind of way. I was so captivated by its beauty that I almost forgot that I'd just heard voices that were talking in hushed violent tones. I crept slowly towards the voices as the fear from before pumped through my veins causing my breath to come in small gasps again.
The voices were arguing about something I couldn't make out, but it sounded like two men were having quite a serious disagreement about someone named Peligro or something like that.
Peligro? Why does that name sound familiar? Spanish class! Yes, I remember learning that word three days ago in Spanish class. It meant something like danger I think. Wow, what a corny name for a supposed bad guy... What a stupid way of ruining the mood.
I had almost got so caught up in my own thoughts that I almost didn't hear what the two over-sized muscle heads were saying. "She's going to be the cause of us losing our own heads! Why couldn't you just shoot her when you had the chance?" Said the short burly man with sandy hair, dark eyes and a heavy Mexican accent. "Oh so this is now all my fault? And who was it that was supposed to have grabbed the brat when she ran away from the supposed athlete in the group?" Said the Mexican's compadr'e who was tall and slender, had blonde hair and deep blue eyes.
As they continued to argue I felt the hairs on my arm raise and a wave of fear washed over me as the feeling of someone watching me became prominent. I turned around only to face nothing but darkness, but still the feeling wouldn't go away. "I'm going to die." was the only thing I could think of. "This is it. It's all over." I was on auto-pilot by the time I pulled my phone out and messaged the one person I knew would believe my ridiculous story, my sister Lucy.
"Couldn't get away.
Peligro (seems to be the main man)
Tell mom I love her.
I'm so sorry I couldn't be a better sister to you...
Love Mattie."
I pressed the send button with fumbling fingers as I shoved the phone back in my pocket. I quietly started to back away from the fountain on legs that suddenly felt stiff and unresponsive. I stumbled backwards making sure to keep my eyes on the two muscle heads that were still shouting insults to each other, only with more shoving now than before. I was almost out of earshot when I backed into something with a loud thud. I instantly froze. Slowly turning around with a scream building up in my throat that washed away with a sigh of relief as I realised it was only a tree. I started to giggle like a maniac but quickly caught myself short of the giggle and got my nerves more or less under control. I moved as swiftly as my legs could manage back down the alleyway I had come from earlier expecting that the freak in the red mask would be long gone by now. I felt stupid for overreacting earlier. My imagination was just messing with me again, making a mental note to really cut down on all the horror movies I loved to watch.
I was just about to pull my phone out again and send an apology to Lucy for the ridiculous message earlier when the feeling came back of someone watching me. I couldn't move my legs as complete fear overtook my body, so I just turned my head behind me to see a shadowy figure stalking up towards me.
Oh. My. God.
My mind was screaming to me to run but all I could do was stand there as the blood drained from my face and a squeak escaped my throat when I tried screaming. The figure just stood there a couple of feet away from me and just stared at me from behind a red mask.
"What do you want from me?" I managed to whisper loud enough for him to hear me.
"You know too much." He replied with a voice that sounded strained with pain.
"About what!" I yelled, "Who are you?"
"That isn't important." His voice had changed to something alluring, almost flirty. "But I'd love to stay and chat with you but I'm afraid your time is up."
He pulled a shiny .44 magnum and raised it to arm level pointing it right at me. I couldn't move, all I could do was gawk at my death as it glinted in the moonlight as if it was winking at me and assuring me that it will be over soon.
"I'm so sorry Lucy. I wish things could've been different." He said in barely a whisper.
There was a flash and I stumbled. Falling over my own feet, finding myself staring at the full moon as the seering white hot pain burns from where the bullet hit me.
I just lay there as I heard his footsteps coming closer to me, feeling the life drain from me. I closed my eyes against the unbearable pain, feeling tears welling up and sliding down the sides of my face and disappearing into my hair. I forced my eyes open when the footsteps stopped and saw him looking down at me.
I couldn't help myself smiling at him.
I was dying.
"I'm not Lucy. I'm her twin Mattie." I said with a hint of a smile on my face.
And I let the darkness take over me.
