Twin Twist

Chapter2-The weight of shadows

Lena's POV

Dinner could have very passed as the worst session of agonizing and unbearable torture for me . Before me was my r****t, but I dare not say a word, was it fear? Was it big sister sacrifice? Was it the pills? I had no idea.

Desperate for a distraction, I turned my focus to Jenna who talked about the first time she and Ethan met.

"...and then, out of nowhere, he offered to walk me to my car," Jenna said, her voice bubbling with excitement. "I swear, it was like something straight out of a movie. And the way he looked at me-respectful, caring. That's when I knew he was different."

Respectful. Caring.

For a second, I almost choked on what I hadn't swallowed. My fingers clenched the fork tighter and tighter.

Forcing a smile, I said, "That...sounds nice."

But inside, I screamed. Caring? Respectful? That man? If only you knew, Jenna.

All the time, my head was bowed, for I feared that a single glance at Ethan would reveal the storm brewing deep inside me.

Jenna never stopped babbling about Ethan, unaware of the war I was fighting within me. "He's so driven, you know? The way he talks about his future, about us-it's like a security blanket for me. Finally, I have someone who wants to protect me."

Protect you? No! He broke me. He left scars that will never go away. He is no protector, Jenna. He is the demon that haunts my sleep every night. Yet he is here pretending like he does not know me.

“Yeah…” I managed to force the words out of my throat.

Just then, Ethan's phone buzzed, and, with one look at the screen, he frowned and politely inclined his head to Jenna.

"Sorry, love. Business," his voice was smooth and low,a sharp contrast to the harsh and rough voice that haunts my nightmares, but I will not be deceived. "Won't be long."

Jenna paused her chewing, pouting. "Fine, but don't take too long. You promised me dessert." Then she jumped out of her chair to follow him down the hall, her laughter echoing until they disappeared toward the garage.

The moment that door clicked shut, silence engulfed me, choking me. My heart was pounding, and breathing felt strangled.

"No...no, not now," I breathed out as I pressed one hand against my stomach . My breathing became ragged and shallow, all of a sudden. Everything was blurry and it felt like the little I had for dinner was on its way out through the wrong end.

Breathe, Lena. In and out. You practiced this. Five counts in. Stay grounded. Stay here.

But in came the memories: Hand gripping my wrist, my sobs, the blackness of that alley.The pain, the blood.

I rushed from the dining room and stumbled onto a wall on my way up. My hands were shaking terribly as I tried to unlock the safe. Twice, I almost fumbled for the key. The pill bottle rattled in my hold.

"One. Two," I whispered, pouring them into my palm. I lost count. Recklessness swallowed rational thought. I dumped them in my mouth and washed them down with water until my throat burned.

Everything went in circles, floors tilted, and darkness swallowed it all as I tried to lay down on my bed.

⸻

I opened my eyes and found myself staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling, and the first thing that filled my nostrils was the scent of antiseptic. Somewhere nearby was the steady beeping of monitors. My body felt like lead, and my mouth was as dry as sand.

"Lena!"

Jenna was beside me, eyes red and swollen, holding my hand in a grip that seemed like it would save her own life. Her cheeks stained with dry tears marks.

"Oh, thank God. You scared me half to death. When I came upstairs... you were half on the bed, half on the floor. I thought..." her voice quavered. "I thought I was going to lose you."

Guilt gnawed at me,I opened my mouth to apologize. But whatever words came out were not an apology; they were accusations.

"What...how do you know him?" My voice shook with nerves. "Ethan? H-how did you meet him?"

Jenna blinked, obvious surprise on her face. "What? I told you already—at a networking event. Why are you asking me like that?"

"Because..." I could not say it. The truth got stuck in my throat. Tell her. Tell her he was the one who destroyed you. Tell her before it was too late.

Jenna squeezed my hand harder. "Lena, has something happened? Do you know him? Did he—"

"No!" The word shot out before I was able to suppress it. It was too loud. Too desperate. I shook my head violently. "It doesn't matter. I just...I just wanted to know."

"That doesn't sound like nothing." Jenna wasn’t so pleased as she said that.

The moment I parted my lips, hoping my mouth comes up with a good lie, the door swung open. The doctor walked in with a clipboard tucked under his arm.

"Good news," he said briskly, checking out the monitors. "Vitals stable. Probably stress and too much sedative. Nothing permanent, only, good rest is needed, Ms. Harris. And stop stressing."

I just nodded back in a daze. Jenna didn't say anything, but I could feel her piercing stare the whole time.

⸻

Home was turned into a hospital ward with loud, caring Jenna and me being forced to lay down on my bed . I just faked an unconvincing smile, assuring her I'd really take it easy, and that I'd be fine. After a while, she disappeared into her room, and I knew she didn't believe anything I had said.

I sat looking into the dark, phone in hand, which shook in my grasp. My thumb hovered over an old name I never thought I would need to call again.

Detective Morris. The man who'd promised to find him. The man who failed.

Thumbing the keypad with trembling fingers.

“We need to meet. I found him. I found my rapist.”

My thumb hovered over the send key. It felt as though my heart was suddenly placed next to my ear drums due to how loud it was beating.

I inhaled deeply and pressed send.

It's done.