Avenge Lucia

Good morning, Lucy,

Hanna replied, getting up upon hearing her sister that morning.

I see you've already looked for your dress.

Yes, luckily I haven't gained more than a kilo; it fits me like a glove.” Hanna rubbed her eyes and looked at the lavender bridesmaid dress that shone brightly, hanging on a hook on the hanger.

Today is the day, my wedding day, finally. Today!—Ashlee announced full of joy.

But while the sound of her laughter echoed in the air for a moment, I felt as if a shadow was looming over her happiness. The excitement of the wedding preparations, with their sparkle and splendor, was also tinged with a pressure I couldn't ignore.

Deep down in my mind, I heard the echo of a warning, a sense that the day would offer much more than just love and happiness.

Ashlee seemed so happy, so radiant, but I couldn't stop wondering what else her sister was feeling, what else she was hiding in the corners of her heart. Sometimes, the connection we share is so intense that I could almost read her mind, a skill perfected through gestures and silences, a silent communication that went beyond words.

I wondered if Ashlee knew that there was also something dark lurking in the corners of our lives, something that could change everything.

“I don't know, Lu, but I feel something strange…”

“Strange? Like what?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I feel like a bad feeling.”

“You're jealous, that's normal. From now on, I won't just be your twin sister; you'll also share me with Edgar. But don't worry, little sister, I promise everything will be fine.”

“Hanna, let's go! I need this day to be perfect,” exclaimed Lucía, breaking my thoughts. “I don't want anything to ruin this moment.” Her eyes shone with determination, and at that moment, I decided I wouldn't let doubts cloud my sister's happiness.

“Okay, Lucy. We're going to the aviary. The stylist and the makeup artist are waiting for you.” Knowing that the flight of the day was about to begin, I looked at Lucía and smiled, taking her hand. We were shadows of the same light, and together we launched into the day, into life and its mysteries, letting ourselves be carried by a destiny yet to be revealed. But only time would tell if that choice would be the most enlightened or if darkness was always lurking just around the corner.

That night

The air in the grand hall was charged with an unsettling energy, a stark contrast to the joyful occasion that was meant to unfold. Glittering chandeliers hung from the ceiling like tears of crystal, casting shimmering reflections on the polished floor, where guests danced in their costumes, unaware of the dark currents beneath them. It was Halloween night; excitement should have filled the room, but a heavy shroud settled over the festivities, whispering secrets that prickled at the edges of my mind. I was dressed in my maid of honor gown, waiting with Lucía's friends for the bride to come out.

I had left my sister upstairs twenty minutes earlier, dressed and a bundle of nerves, ready to go.

Lucía, as beautiful as a fairy tale princess, her stunning silhouette seemed to make pearls and lace cascade over her skin as if they were part of her beauty.

At that moment, while the guests eagerly awaited the bride’s entrance, my phone rang. I looked at the screen—the message was from my twin sister. “Could she have forgotten something, what could she need?” I wondered, checking my phone. But when I read my sister’s message on the screen, I didn’t understand what she was telling me.

I read a simple phrase: "He is not human." I sighed and left the grand hall with a smile on my lips, pretending to be normal in front of family and friends. Once alone, I went upstairs and opened the dressing room door where I had just finished fixing my sister's hair a few minutes earlier, but a pool of blood blocked the entrance to the room.

I let out a gasp, covering my mouth, and with wide eyes, I looked at my sister’s body—lifeless, with a fierce and beastly mark on her neck. Her wedding dress was intact on the table. Meanwhile, she was wearing a pink blouse and bloodstained jeans, and her eyes were closed as if she were in the sweetest dream. I could barely think or process any movement; I didn't understand. I had left my sister dressed just minutes before. Had she changed her mind at the last moment about getting married and decided to run away? Who had attacked her in that way? That wound didn’t seem human; it looked… like that of an animal.

With trembling hands and tears filling my eyes, I took my sister’s pulse, but it was in vain.

"Lu… Where are you?" was all I managed to say in a trembling voice, tears flooding my eyes.

I was standing in front of the mirror, nervously adjusting the intricate lace of my twin sister's wedding dress: the same dress that Lucía was supposed to wear moments earlier. The bridal ensemble was nothing short of a fairy tale: white satin with hips full of lace, flowing softly to the ground, shimmering with delicate pearls that looked like rain droplets frozen in time. But when I looked at myself in the mirror, my reflection served as a haunting reminder of the sister I had become—shockingly and terrifyingly so.

“Lucía,” I whispered, my heart clenched. Tonight was supposed to be joyful for both of us, a union of love and new beginnings. Yet here I was, assuming my sister’s identity. The moment felt heavy in my heart, the storm in my soul a tempest. I felt Lucía’s presence, a ghostly thread connecting me to her twin, but something insistent tormented her. Something was very wrong.

Meanwhile, Edgar waited at the altar, hands intertwined, pretending to be anxious, though a sneer of malice lurked behind his charming facade. I sensed he was involved in this. I looked him over—well-dressed and elegant in his tailored suit—he seemed like a caring groom. But his eyes… I walked toward the altar, and as I looked at him, I shook off my unease. I had to be strong for my sister. However, questions spun like autumn leaves in my mind: Where was Lucía? Why hadn’t anyone helped her? How could a beast have attacked her, and no one heard her scream? Every second stretched into eternity as I recalled our last moments together—full of laughter and love. The image of her radiant smile felt like a lifeline.

Moments later, the bridesmaids—who all mistook me for Lucía—led me to the front of the hall, guests silent in anticipation of my arrival as I took my place beside Edgar, with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons playing in my mind on my way to the altar. Luckily, my mind was blank, allowing me to move in a state of shock toward the altar without much thought about what was happening. I greeted my relatives and looked into my beloved mother’s face, feeling a sharp pain in my chest. My mother knew—they never could fool her by swapping us as twins. Still, I gave her a silent gesture with my lips, and she remained calm, watching the ceremony.

The ceremony began, echoing love and commitment, but my heart beat uncontrollably in disharmony. I could feel the weight of nauseating neglect heavy on my shoulders; I still felt the blood I had to wash from my hands. My instincts screamed at me to run, but I remained rooted, trembling hands clutching the folds of my dress, holding the bridal bouquet.

Edgar spoke his vows softly, his voice steady as he declared eternal love—a statement that sent chills down my spine. I barely remember Edgar’s words of love, but I think they were tender and romantic. Yet, a growing horror clawed at my throat, as if something sinister lurked behind his polished words. The crowd erupted in applause, but I remained stunned; the world around me blurred. Visions of my sister screaming for liberation from an invisible shackle painted my mind. If her sister had been murdered, I would find out who was responsible and go to the ends of the earth to avenge Lucía.