My Sister's Wedding
Chapter 1
"You've got something..." I picked a shard of confetti stuck in my sister's hair as her hand sank into a crevice in the car's back seat.
"Ugh!" Her back slammed into the cushioned seat and she turned to face me. The look of remorse in her eyes was dimmed by the beauty of her make-up.
If we switched clothes, no one would be the wiser. Yet our lives were so different.
Unfair.
I forced a smile and pulled my eyes off her wedding gown and to hers.
"You can just have it sent to me whenever you find it." I nearly choked on the words.
That necklace was our grandmother's only and final gift to me. The only thing I hadn't wanted to leave Bellhaven without. Astra had asked to borrow it for the rehearsal dinner, and now it was just...gone.
She stepped out of the car, her dress lifted with one hand. "I'll make..."
Before she could finish the statement, a buzzing sound filled the still parking lot air.
Her phone, which I hadn't noticed before, surfaced and the moment she took a look at the screen, a frown formed on her lips.
"I'm going to make a call, go in and tell mum I'll be inside in a minute." She said and turned away.
Normally I would have waited by her side to walk in with her. The last thing I needed today was my mother nagging me about dragging the bride outside on her wedding day and then leaving her there. But today wasn't normal, the necklace had been the final straw and I knew if I spent one more minute looking at my perfect twin, I would actually cry.
Rather than the door leading back to the venue, I headed for the exit.
I hesitated for a moment. The image of my plane ticket placed beside my neatly packed suitcases flashed in my mind. Did I need to say goodbye?
I turned around, Astra had her back to me, her hand pressed a phone against her ear, I couldn't make out what she was saying anymore.
She wouldn't care.
Sadly that was the truth. The only reason she made me attend the wedding was because she didn't want the gossip that would come with my absence.
I took one more step and a sickening taste filled my mouth. I froze. I wasn't exactly superstitious, but the one thing I did believe in was how every time I had that taste on my tongue, Astra was involved in something that could get her in trouble.
I spun around, she was still standing there, unbothered. My eyes scanned the empty lot around us.
Was I overreacting?
She paced back in my direction and I caught the look on her face, it was her usual confident smile. The one she had when she knew things were going her way.
I rolled my eyes, and went back to walking.
That was when I heard it,
Boom.
My palms flew to my ears from the ringing that followed the blast. It didn't help. I looked behind me and my heart sank to my feet. My body moved before my mind realized what I was doing.
By the time I reached the car, or what was left of it, I was already screaming.
She was there, flung against a pillar, her arm bent at an angle that made my breakfast rise up my throat.
I dropped to my knees beside her and tried to help her sit. Something wet touched my palm and my eyes followed the feeling. Her right sleeve was gone and a large patch of burnt, oozing flesh was left.
"Help!" I could feel my body quaking.
"Help!"
I don't know how many times I shouted the words before a car pulled up beside us. My head snapped up to see a circle of suited bodyguards already circling us.
My father's.
One broke through the human shield, scooped my sister into his arms and rushed into the black Jeep. I staggered trying to get on my feet and a bodyguard rushed to my side.
"Miss, are you hurt?"
I ignored his question and pointed to the Jeep door about to close. "Take me with her"
As the car sped past the hotel entrance, there was already a crowd of guests pouring out. Confusion on their faces. I caught a glimpse of myself in the rear-view mirror, a mix of tears and mucus flowing down my face. I was instantly grateful for the tinted windows.
I looked down at my sister who was lying on my lap, her eyes fluttered slightly and I gulped.
"Go faster," I screamed at the driver.
"Astra," I tapped the side of her face, "Astra, I need you to stay awake, okay?"
Her eyes finally fluttered open, and locked on mine.
"Yes," my voice cracked, "That's it. Eyes on me, okay."
Her lips parted, and I lowered my ear to her face. "Please."
Huh?
I looked back at her, tears had pooled in the corner of her eyes.
"Please what?" I asked. "What do you need?"
She let out a groan. And a sentence I didn't catch.
I forced my sobs down, "Say that again."
"Please, I...I don't want to die." For the second time in my life I saw fear in my sister's eyes.
I shook my head, and miraculously the car came to a halt. We were at the hospital.
"You're going to be fine," I said as a couple of nurses carried her onto a stretcher. "I promise."
It was a promise I couldn't keep. It didn't take long for the rest of my family to rush to the hospital and it took even less time for them to realize the truth.
I'd killed her.
