The said day came, and she had been restless throughout the night. Sleep had eluded her as it was obvious in her eyes. She sat up, her hair was turbulent, she turned her head and her vague eyes fell on the reflection of the chirping bird that sat outside her window. She scratched her eyes with her right hand, realizing it was morning. She looked disturbed, it could even be felt in her exhale.
"Why wouldn't you let me be? Where are you?" She said,
Getting ready was hard. From the bathtub to the wash bowl, she couldn't help but take stops to just breathe while she looked in the mirror. It was as though she had a lot going through her head and it had become tormenting. She dashed back to the room wrapped in her towel and reached for her mobile phone that lay on the bedside stool.
"Hey, Ma, We need to talk." She said over the phone.
———
"Hey, what is the matter, you had me worried." Ma said, once Tara stepped into the apartment.
"I thought it was just a dream or my mind playing tricks on me but now I see it's all real. It's all f*cking real and it's driving me crazy!" Tara responded.
"Okay, calm down." Ma said, shutting the door behind her.
"I'm telling you, something is off," Tara said,
"It's okay, I believe you," Ma said as she got close to her. "Now I need you to tell me exactly what this is about. Is it the Petersons? Or the strange guy Stark?" She inquired.
"Alicia," Tara said,
"Alicia?" Ma reiterated.
"Yes. She's been everywhere in my dream. Like she was trying to tell me something. I keep yelling at her to back off from me but the dreams, they go on." Tara said,
"Oh my God." Ma voiced.
"What?" Tara inquired. "What is it?" She asked, bothered by the frightened look that had fallen upon her face. Ma turned around immediately.
"She is trying to communicate with you from the other side." Ma said,
"Other side–what, what does that mean?" Tara inquired nervously.
"It's no longer speculation." Ma said, turning back towards her.
"But a fact. Alicia is dead." Ma said,
"Wait what?" Tara couldn't believe it.
"Yes. It's easier for her to communicate with you through your dreams because of the bond you both shared." Ma explained.
"Bond? What f*ckn bond? I didn't kill her, we didn't even know we existed. Why would she be tormenting me? I don't want a part in any of this or whatever she is trying to communicate. I just want the dreams to stop. Make it stop, Ma." Tara said,
"It doesn't work that way, Tara.." Ma said,
"What do you mean by that? I'm not spending the rest of my life being tortured by the ghost of a twin sister I didn't even know." Tara said,
"But you chose to be a part of this the moment you chose to steal her life. You were the one who wanted to know more about her disappearance and now that it's becoming clear to you, you're getting scared?" Ma said,
"Well, it was an easier decision until now. " Tara said,
"What is she showing you?" Ma asked,
"I don't know, okay!" Tara yelled. "I just get too scared to keep on dreaming. It's creepy. " She added.
"That's new." Ma said,
"Don't give me that look. It's easier to be bold in real life, not when you're sleeping and seeing things you don't normally see when you're awake." Tara responded.
"I'm a witch. I don't see things you normally see when you're awake." Ma said with dim eyes.
"And because you're a witch, you will help put a stop to it. You witches are great with herbs and plants and potions, just do something." Tara said,
"Because I am a witch, I will help figure out what she is trying to communicate, sweet Tara." Ma said,
"I don't want to know that," Tara said in disgust.
"Then you don't wish for the dreams to stop." Ma said, "sit." She ordered.
"Why? What are you doing?" Tara questioned Ma who by now was close enough, curving her fingers and bringing them up to her head.
"Relax. Take deep breaths. I'm only going to access your memories." Ma said,
"Woah, Woah." Tara resisted. "Is that safe? It sounds unsafe." She added.
"I have mothered you for so many years. I wouldn't hurt you. Just sit still." Ma said, pulling her to sit on the bed. Tara obeyed, watching her nervously.
Ma brought her fingers to the sides of Tara's skull. She had her eyes shut in profound concentration. Tara watched her but not too long afterwards, she couldn't quite keep up with being careful. Ma's head tilted up towards the ceiling and so did Tara's. Both their eyes had turned to white and it was clear that they weren't themselves anymore. Tara began to jerk slowly till it became more forceful. Her mouth opened up as her jaw bones showed signs that she was trying to say words that weren't successful in being audible. Her face paled while her fists tried to compile.
She pushed her off, breaking the spell and began a choking cough as she dragged her body down from the bed.
"You–you–almost killed me.." Tara struggled to speak while holding onto her forehead. Ma, whom she had thrown off, was also struggling to recuperate.
"I'd–I'd never.." Ma said while crawling on her belly towards her.
Tara had successfully aided herself to sit up on the floor while she began to catch her breath.
"You weren't perfect with that," Tara said weakly.
"I thought I would be," Ma confessed as she sat beside her.
"You thought? You used me as a test subject?" Tara got upset.
"Quit being dramatic, I'm the one bleeding from the nostrils." Ma said,
Tara's sight cleared up. She could see the blood dripping out. It had a very dark tint.
"Are you okay?" She tried to get closer to Ma. She was worried.
"I'm fine. I will be fine. For every spell, there is a sacrifice." Ma weakly spoke. "Now more than ever I know you are in grave danger." She added.
"What did you see?" Tara questioned rather impatiently.
"What you are afraid to see but still not much. You broke the connection." Ma replied.
"Well?" Tara inquired.
"Five letters." Ma said as she coughed.
"What letters?" Tara was curious.
"S-t-a-r-k " Ma stressed.
Tara's eyes glowed.
"It's not too late to back out now." Ma said,
"I knew it. He had to be connected. Her diary– it all pointed to him. " Tara speculated.
"I don't want to lose you," Ma whispered with her eyes locked in hers.
"What if we are looking at this the wrong way? What if we are only misinterpreting the dreams? If he did kill her, how is he still clueless about me? I mean we are identical. " Tara told her.
"Or maybe he isn't clueless. Maybe he does know you are an imposter. Maybe he is waiting for the perfect moment to strike back at you for playing on his intelligence. Why aren't you thinking straight?" Ma said,
"You could be right, I could be right but I know what I say. There is something about that man. I can feel it. I must find out what it is and his involvement in my sister's death." Tara responded.
"You always loved to play detective but I understood you were only enjoying your childhood. Now you are all grown up and I can see, this time emotions are involved." Ma said to her
"What? Pss–what are you talking about?" Tara found her words amusing.
"You grew up to only see men as a means of survival. You don't believe in love but I fear now that your first time might be the wrong time." Ma said,
"You know when you speak in riddles, you sound older plus crazy. Ma, I do not have feelings for this guy and these words I say are all in caps. I'm obsessed with his issue not with him and I will get to the bottom of this, you'll see." Tara assured her.
"Hmm. I hope he doesn't get to your bottom first." Ma said,
"You are so disgusting," Tara said,
———
"I wonder if I have to put a tracker on you." Mrs Peterson said once she heard Tara come in.
She was sitting in the living room in a wine-coloured dress and was savouring the glass of juice before her.
"Oh, mom, good morning." Tara cheered.
"I wonder if it still is." Mrs Peterson said,
"Just because you wake up and don't see me around the house doesn't mean you should get worked up," Tara told her while walking closer to where she sat.
"You were the child who always ran away from home and then we'd have to find you." Mrs Peterson said,
"Hence the insecurity," Tara said,
"No. Hence the scepticism towards your maturity." Mrs Peterson responded while turning her face towards Tara. There was a brief cessation. "Have you made up your mind about tonight?" She asked.
"Like I had a choice," Tara said,
"Oh, but you do." Mrs Peterson said, "save your clan." She put in.
"Yeah and even if I refused, you could just blow some powder to my face and have me do as you wish. Not to worry, you won't need to go through that stress, I've made peace with Stark and tonight will be just as you want it. " Tara responded with a faint smile and then proceeded up the steps.