Nuša Plankar

Prologue – The Beginning

31. 10. 1666

Dear Lara,

When you're reading this I’m already married to your fiancé Martin. If you haven’t noticed by now he never really loved you. When he first met you I was very ill and mother sent you to pick him and his sister at the railway station. Our parents lied to you about the arranged marriage between you and Martin. He was supposed to marry me but when I fell ill and was almost touched by death they changed their minds.

We are twins and we look so much alike, so what could be amiss? What you probably didn’t know is that I met Martin before you met him. He was just visiting his aunt when I stumbled across him. We quickly hit it off and he started courting me. My mother caught me once sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night and I told her what’s going on. Our parents had a long talk and finally agreed I should marry Martin. Martin and I were excited about it, so he left town to tell his family and invite them to the wedding. While he was away I fell ill and nearly died. Mother and farther didn’t want to take chances of losing Martin’s wealth so they told you about Martin and the arranged the marriage between you and him.

Martin came back and father told him about my health and the agreement. At first he wasn’t sure about it but once he met you he realized we look alike and think alike so he knew he would eventually fall in love with you. You were always the naïve and the innocent one so you fell for the trick and fell for Martin. Meanwhile I became better and didn’t want to lose Martin. For two weeks we were preparing the wedding you thought it was for you when really it was for me.

As you know the night before the wedding we gave you something that helped you fall deeply into the sleep. Father arranged a wagon that took you to the next town. Martin and I were nice enough to buy you a small house in that town and I of course packed you some clothes. I hope you will forgive me someday and we’ll be a family again.

With all my love,

Your twin sister Eva

Lara’s eyes filled with tears. She couldn’t believe her sister and Martin. Lara always looked up at her twin and now she felt betrayed. She knew she was always acting naïve and innocent as she was, but usually the people took it as a joke, laughed and forget about it. Now her behaviour was frowned upon and criticized. And her love for Martin was obvious even though now she felt like a complete fool for falling.

After some tears being shed she took a deep breath and stood from the table. She no longer will be a naïve young girl. No, now she is a strong independent woman, who doesn’t need a man in her life or a backstabbing twin sister. She is now Lara, the woman of Life. With that her sister Eva became the woman of Death.

10. 9. 2013

Tiptoeing, Azalea’s brother entered her room. Giggling quietly he walked to her bed, reached into his pocket and pulled the frog out. Putting it in front of Azalea’s face he shouted her name, “Azalea!” Azalea woke up with a start and screamed when she so the frog in front of her face.

“Lee!” Mrs. Monday – their mother – shouted.

“What did you do to your sister?” Mrs. Monday asked walking into Azalea’s room. When she saw the frog she just shook her head and walked to Lee. She grabbed his ear and pulled him out of Azalea’s room and sent him to his room.

“I’m sorry honey,” Mrs. Monday said walking back to Azalea’s room. Hugging her daughter she wished her a happy birthday.

“Thanks Mum,” Azalea mumbled quietly. Her dreams were filled with blood and other horrible images so her sleep wasn’t really good. Actually, her birthday started horribly and she could go without Lee’s pranks for at least one day.

“Come, I have fresh pancakes just for you,” Mrs. Monday said to her daughter releasing her form the hug. Azalea smiled thankfully and stood up.

“Okay Mum. I’ll dress and then come down,” Azalea said and her mother nodded leaving the room. Dressed Azalea left the room still in a bad mood. Her dreams still haunted her and she tried everything to get rid of them. Nothing worked.

“Here you are,” Mrs. Monday said when Azalea sat behind the table. Azalea just nodded and started eating. Mrs. Monday could see the distress on her daughter’s face and frowned.

“Azalea is everything okay?” she asked sitting behind the table next to Azalea. Her face was filled with worry and she knew something’s up.

“Everything’s fine Mum,” Azalea replied lying.

“Honey… I know you and you’re not fine. Usually you’re all hyper on your birthday but today you didn’t say more than a few words and you have this sad expression on your face,” Mrs. Monday said shaking her head. Azalea always told her when something was wrong so when she didn’t tell her the truth, Mrs. Monday knew something is very wrong.

Azalea sighed and turned to her Mum. “I had these dreams that seemed so real and I can’t forget about it. I also have this feeling that they might really happen,” Azalea explained with pained expression. The truth made Mrs. Monday very curious.

She remembered her father telling the same thing to her mother and sometimes she overheard what the dreams were about. It was like her father was psychic because she also remembered that those dreams and feelings turned to be right and the thing her father dreamt actually happened.

Her mother and she always thought that he was crazy and at some moments they had suspicions of him being schizophrenic and that it was his fault for those things to happen. He claimed everything was okay with him and the medical test results came back negative. After a while they got used to it and started living with his strange sayings and dreams, even though the doctors said that he might be medically insane and there are records of his family having the same insanity.

Now, Mrs. Monday was afraid that her daughter started showing the same symptoms and she is also insane. Mentally shaking away those thoughts she returned to reality.

“What did you dream about?” Mrs. Monday asked trying to sound as normal as she could after thinking those things.

“I…” Azalea started but stopped. ‘Could she tell her mother about the dreams and not upset her too much?’ she thought to herself. Mrs. Monday noticed her hesitation and smiled reassuringly. “Go on, tell me.”

Taking a deep breath, Azalea continued. “I dreamt about Holland getting raped and then killed in cold blood.” Azalea said without sugar-coating it. Mrs. Monday’s breath hitched and she paled.

She couldn’t think of happening that to her twelve – year - old daughter. She wouldn’t think of it! Mrs. Monday said to herself and stood from the table.

“Azalea… Do not ever think of this, understood? We must forget about it,” Mrs. Monday commanded. Shocked, Azalea nodded and continues eating her breakfast. With that the debate is over and they don’t mention it until later.

The dreadful morning turned into a beautiful day. After Azalea ate breakfast her brother Lee, her sister Holland and she left for school. Although she didn’t have many friends some schoolmates said happy birthday to her and that calmed her nerves. Realizing it was her birthday she stopped thinking about those dreams and forgot about them.

After school she picked up Lee and went home. Walking into her house she was surprised by how many people showed up. Mrs. and Mr. Monday prepared a surprise party and all of her family were there. Wishing her happy birthday the guests chatted and laughed. Azalea was happy seeing her family but she noticed that the most important person was missing, her grandpa Franz.

“Mum, where’s grandpa?” Azalea asked scaring her mum. Mrs. Monday looked at Azalea and shook her head. She didn’t really hate her father but she did hate his behaviour and his influence on Azalea.

“I don’t know Azalea. I told him about the party and he knows about your birthday,” Mrs Monday said. Azalea frowned and nodded.

“Okay… I just wished he’d be here,” Azalea replied, turned away from her mother and left the kitchen. While everyone was having fun and chatted Azalea was miserable. She missed her grandpa and that dreadful feeling from the morning returned.

“Azalea darling!” a well-known voice called for Azalea. She rose from the couch and turned around. A person who called her was her grandfather and a smile slipped on her face.

“Grandfather!” she called and hugged him close. Azalea hasn’t seen him for a few months and missed him. “I missed you! When did you come?”

“A few moments ago,” Franz answered and smiled. “I know I’m late but I had a few other things I had to check on,” he continued. Azalea didn’t really care, she was just happy to see him.

“I’m happy you’re here,” she said and Franz nodded but his smile faded a bit remembering the accident that is going to happen.

The party continued and Azalea started having fun. But it was like the day wasn’t made for her. Everything just had to go wrong. The doorbell rang and surprised everything. Mrs. Monday went to open the door and was shocked when two police officers were standing there.

“Mrs. Monday?” the taller police officer asked. Mrs. Monday nodded still too surprised to speak. “I’m sorry to inform you but there was a terrible accident,” the policeman explained.

“What happened?” Mrs. Monday asked motioning to them to step inside. She remembered the talk she had with Azalea in the morning. Dread filled her and she paled. The policemen noticed that and really felt bad for bringing the news. Stepping into the living room they noticed the crowd. After an awkward silence the taller one cleared his throat.

“I’m afraid I’m bringing horrible news,” he said. “We were just on our way to the station when we heard a gunshot. We stopped the car and walked into the street. The man who shot the gun ran away before we could catch him but the person who was shot was still alive. Before she died she told us her name. We really sorry but your daughter Holland was raped and killed and we couldn’t do anything to prevent it,” he explained to the end.

Gasps filled the room and everyone was shocked. Mrs. Monday and Azalea couldn’t believe their ears. Mrs. Monday was afraid that her daughter was turning into the same thing that her father is. Beside that she couldn’t believe her other daughter is dead. On the other side Azalea couldn’t believe her dreams became true and her feelings were right.

Even though she often argued with Holland she loved her dearly. Tears filled her eyes and started falling. Franz hugged her trying to hold his own tears from falling. He knew too and couldn’t help her. He came to the street to late and the police was already there with Holland’s body.

“We need the body till we end the police investigation and then you can bury her,” the taller policeman said and they left. Mrs. Monday asked everyone to leave the house and only her family stayed.

“I want to talk to you,” she said to everyone and they sat behind the table. “I want to know what you are and what my daughter is becoming!” Mrs. Monday demanded from Franz.