I am a killer.
I’d moved to Minnesota almost a year ago after escaping from a mental asylum in Chicago. Why was I there? I’d threatened to kill my twin sister. She was the one who’d told our parents to put me in that asylum—and I loathed her for it. So, I escaped, and I killed her
.
The thing is—everyone thinks that I, Raven Creft, am still locked up in that asylum while my sister, Rueben, is alive.
They don’t know that I’m pretending to be Rueben.
I don’t regret it. But it haunts me.
Every corner I turn, I feel her spirit watching me. Every mirror I look into, I see her staring back. Every time I talk, it’s her voice I hear. Every single piece of clothing I own once belonged to her.
It’s like I wasn't even pretending anymore.
As I was taking a leisurely stroll through the park, I was expecting things to happen. A dog pooping on my—on her—shoe, a pigeon attacking me, someone having a heart attack, but what I certainly didn’t expect was to see my face on a tree.
I halted in my tracks and took a few steps backwards, where I saw her staring back at me. ‘RAVEN CREFT HAS GONE MISSING FROM THE THRIVERS’ MENTAL ASYLUM, CHICAGO. TRACKED TO BE IN MINNESOTA. 5”6, 139LBS, LAST SEEN WEARING ASYLUM ROBE. $5000 REWARD. IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL +1 509-312-6995’
I looked around and saw people giving me weird looks on a scale of scared to disgusted. And that’s when I had to put up an act. “Oh, my god, Raven?! She’s gone missing?! Now everyone’s going to think I’m her! I hate having a twin so much!” I exclaimed, eyes wide. I’d gotten pretty good at acting like that douchebag Rueben over the months.
I smirked to myself as everyone looked away, a faint shade of red tinging most of their faces, “Ah, the thrill of it.”
It actually wasn’t a good thing at all, I hated it, but I couldn’t have anyone knowing that I’d killed her. Or escaped. Oh, my god, was I living a double life? No. Definitely not.
Just then, a dog came up to me, his leash dragging behind him. He looked at the picture on the tree, and then at me, and then started barking. I was about to run away when a man I suppose was his owner came running, “I’m so sorry, ma’am, Dollar’s not the best at identifying people. I heard you talking about her being your twin sister. It must be hard, always being mistaken for—” he glanced at the image, “—Raven.”
“Oh, yes, it’s very difficult. That’s why I always carry my ID with me,” I chuckled nervously, “It’s fine, though. About your dog. I love dogs. Can I pet him?”
“Of course you can. But, I must say, you really look like the lady in the—”
“No, I don’t,” I cut him off, “I mean we’re identical twins, of course we look similar, but that doesn’t mean I’m her. I’m Rueben. That’s my sister, Raven. It’s complicated.”
I saw a brief look of fear flash in the man’s eyes. Had he figured it out? Hopefully not. “Well, I should get going, now. Goodbye!” he exclaimed, wrapping his dog’s leash around his palm and speed-walking away. He was very stiff, might I add.
***
Rainwater clung to my hair and sweat trickled down my forehead as I ran. I was being followed. I’d noticed a black sedan following me wherever I went. The grocery store, the gas station, and now, it was following me on the way back home.
I was in my car. Till it broke down in the middle of the street—that’s when I had to run.
Tires screeched as I turned the corner, the car still following me. The person driving was a lady, I think. I’d caught a glimpse of her when I was in my car right before it had broken down. It had looked like she had multiple scars across her throat, one on her face and a few on her forearms.
It looked as if she’d been in a fight. Stabbed. Multiple times.
But now wasn’t the time to dwell over that. Right now, I had to run.
As the sound of a car engine rumbling faded away, I turned around to see that the whole block was empty. I let out a sigh of relief and looked up at the sky, leaning back against the wall of a building. Thunder. Lightning. Rain.
I slowly made my way home. I’d discarded my bags of groceries in the car. I’d run almost 5 blocks, and that was exhausting.
I walked up to my apartment, only to see my door slightly agape. I’d locked it when I’d left to go get groceries. I distinctly remembered. I looked under the doormat for my spare key. Nothing. I looked behind the fire extinguisher for me other spare key. It was there.
Someone had broken into my house.
I grabbed a crowbar that was lying on the ground next to the electrical box. I didn’t know who it belonged to, but I would have had to defend myself.
I noticed that everything was in its place. Nothing was missing. I walked in. no signs of a break-in other than the front door and the missing key. I went into my room and looked at myself in the mirror.
It was her
It was actually her
She put a hand on my shoulder, all the stab marks visible, “Surprise, Raven.”
“You’re alive?” I stuttered, a shiver running down my spine at her touch.
“Of course I’m alive,” she laughed, “I’ve been watching you for the past year.”
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