CASTLE LORE.Ixora Crystabella Moores woke to the sounds of chirping birds, people talking, and laughter. Slowly, she opened her eyes, struggling to focus after a deep sleep. When her vision cleared, she shot up from her bed."Oh no!" Ixora exclaimed, glancing outside. It was already nighttime."Cherry!" She called out desperately, holding onto hope. "Cherry?" She repeated as she searched for her slippers. When met with silence, she made one last attempt. "Silverbella?"But deep down, she knew. Her twin wasn't at home; she had gone out again.Ixora sighed. She wasn't supposed to oversleep. If she had been awake, she might have been able to stop Cherry from going out. She quickly found her slippers and headed outside. She thought about how her late Grandma Nora would have been driven mad by Cherry's wild antics.Outside, Ixora paused to enjoy the fresh evening air of Castle Lore, their small town. Her dyed blond hair swayed in the wind, brushing against her face. There was no place lik
NEW YORK CITY."Mother, I'm back," came the deep, familiar voice.Camila Brown willed herself not to startle, not wanting to alert her son that she had been lost in thought once again. With her back still turned to him, she carefully wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes as she set down the picture she had been gently caressing, lost in mourning.She whirled around and managed a watery smile as she approached her son's imposing frame, enveloping him in a tight hug. At least, Jake was here, she thought painfully."How was your day at work today?" Camila asked, as she released herself from her son's embrace.Jake smiled wanly, "It went great. Do you remember Sarah? We performed surgery on her today, and it was a success," he said joyfully.Sarah was a familiar patient at Jake's hospital, a seven-year-old girl with a fragile heart. The little girl had spent several weeks in the large medical facility and had made many friends, including Camila. Sarah's kind-heartedness, des
Cherry Silverbella Moores stood in the living room of a local drug dealer, waiting for him to fetch her package from his bedroom. She had woken up early that morning, careful not to disturb her twin sister before leaving the house."Are you sure you don't want to come into the room with me?" Jobb called from his room.Cherry rolled her eyes. "No, I'm fine here," she shouted back. Just because she fucked around didn't mean she wanted to have sex with Jobb. There was nothing appealing about him, not even his name. He might even have a similar future to his biblical namesake. She had zero interest in fucking him.Jobb emerged from the room with a wrapped bag and handed it to her. "Here you go, all set," he said, passing the bag to her.Cherry took the package and paid him in cash. "Thanks. Until next time."On her way home, she passed by old Bobby's shop and noticed that his son was inside while the old man was absent. Excitement coursed through her as she entered the shop. It was time f
"Whoohooo! We've missed the bar-time, girls. Let's head straight to the club; it's club-time!" Vera, Ixora's best friend since high school, exclaimed in excitement as they entered the gate of A-Good-Night and heard the distinctive roars of bands and music.All eyes turned to the three of them. They looked absolutely stunning, but gasps escaped people's mouths at the sight of the twins. They wore black gowns that barely covered their hips, hugging them tight, accompanied by big diamond earrings, necklaces, and silver heels. Everything matched perfectly, and they appeared stunningly identical.Ixora glared at her best friend, adjusting her gown slightly. "We said we were going to the bar, Vera, not the club. This gown is so uncomfortable.""Your friend's right, bar-time is over. Look, the club is already heating up," Cherry chimed in, scanning the crowd for attractive men."But Cher, you said the bar—" Ixora began to protest.Cherry grinned mischievously. "You can go to the bar, Ix. We'
The screech of the door caught Jerald's attention as he sat in the dark corner of the room. Pushing his hair away from his face, he watched as the young girl entered, her long dark hair trailing down to her waist, concealing her face as she brough in his 'food and water.'As she dropped the provisions beside him, he uncurled from his seated position and approached her cautiously. "I'm escaping from here tonight, Berezira," he said, keeping his voice low and non-threatening. Berezira was already too frightened of him, a fear he couldn't blame her for.Her eyes darted up at him, then quickly averted. "That is good. I wish you the best of luck, good master. I..." She paused, a faint shudder running through her small frame. "I am to serve Master Amardad tonight. It's his turn to keep watch. I will try to steal the key to the secret vault from his waist belt."He knew exactly which key she was talking about. The secret vault was the only way out of this underground prison, a hidden passage
"Have you ever thought about getting married, Cherry?" Ixora slurred as she took another swig of her beer.Ixora was a bit tipsy, but then again, it was a girls' night out. They were at the bar while her best friend, Vera, was still at the club.Cherry squinted at her twin with narrowed eyes and shook her head slowly, taking a drag from the cigarette in her left hand. "Nope. That's for losers, Crystabella. Those who can't stand on their own two feet," Cherry stated bluntly.Ixora managed a sad smile. "I've been standing on my own since Mom and Dad passed away, but I still want to get married. I want to have kids." She hiccuped; her head felt like mush. "I just need to find someone who won't profess love one moment and then sleep with you the next."Cherry snorted and leaned in to sniff her drink before downing it, feeling the burn down her throat. "Unlike you, I'm not interested in that fairytale called love. I just take what they offer, that's all. Men are all the same—stupid as hell
COR DEXTRAS HOSPITAL, NEW YORK. "Doctor Jake?" Jake Brown sat in his office, lost in thought, his mind perpetually dwelling on the same painful subject for months now. People often spoke of the emotional pain of heartbreak in relationships, but they rarely mentioned the agony of losing a brother and attempting to move forward. Nothing felt the same anymore, not for him and certainly not for his family. If only Jerald were still alive. "Doctor Jake?" The voice, slightly more insistent, broke through his reverie. Jake lifted his head to find Mara standing before him, her expression etched with concern. Mara was a highly competent nurse who had joined his hospital ten years ago, shortly after it was accredited and commissioned. At twenty-seven, she appeared youthful and beautiful. She had gotten married three years ago and was now the mother of a lovely two-year-old daughter named Ciara. Over time, Mara had grown close to Jake after learning the reason he had left the arm
Cherry Silverbella Moores arrived home that evening to find Ixora lounging on the couch, looking relaxed with her left leg soaking in a bowl of water."What are you up to?" Cherry asked as she plopped down in a seat across from her sister.Ixora grabbed a pillow and tossed it at Cherry, who managed to dodge it, causing the pillow to fall behind her.Cherry glared at her sister and reached into her bag for some bubble gum. "What was that for?" she asked, popping a piece of gum into her mouth.Ixora shot her a pointed look. "Stay away from my stash, Cher. If you take beers from old Bobby's shop, at least pay for them. No need to give poor Chris high blood pressure trying to figure out how to get his payment."Cherry grinned cheekily. "Where's the fun in that?" She waved off her twin's concern. "Forget about that. Tell me about your day. Did you get the job?"Ixora let out a loud sigh as she reclined on the couch, her leg still in the water. "Mr. Ronald was out of town, so I had to leave
Quietly, Ixora left Cherry's room and made her way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She prepared eggs, bacon, cheeseburgers, and pizza. Lately, Cherry had developed a liking for pizza, which is why Ixora included it in their morning meal.An hour later, breakfast was ready. Ixora returned to Cherry's room to wake her up. "Come and have something to eat, Cher. I made breakfast.""My queasy stomach can't handle much in the mornings, Ix," Cherry replied drowsily, but she got up and followed her twin to the living room."Well, let's not forget that we're going to New York today," Ixora reminded her as they approached the dining table.The reminder sparked Cherry's memory, and her drowsiness quickly faded. She smiled brightly, saying, "Oh yeah, let's go check on our girl."They sat down and enjoyed their breakfast in silence. Afterward, they joined hands to pack their clothes and accessories into a large box.They began with Ixora, selecting her clothes, shoes, and other items, and pla
💝💝BROOKHAVEN, NEW YORK.💝💝Camila watched her daughter clean up the dining table right after dinner. A smile had been on her face since she heard about the arrival of her twin friends, and she was humming softly under her breath.Camila marveled at the change in this young girl and was very happy with herself for helping bring about that change. Her daughter was now so different from the girl she had seen for the first time two months ago.When her sons called and told her about their request for two females to come stay with her and Berezira, she was instantly curious about who those women might be to her sons, so she agreed immediately.When Berezira heard the news, her happiness knew no bounds, and that made Camila's curiosity soar to a different level. So, she got her daughter to tell her everything about the twins, which Berezira did wholeheartedly.Camila had come to know a lot about Cherry and Ixora, and although Brezira had innocently shared everything, Camila had already d
💝TOWER CASTLES IN HELMAND, AFGHANISTAN.💝💝Khalil Mostafa Ali Reza stood with his back facing the entrance of his throne room. He had just emerged from hiding yesterday and returned to his castle.He had spent the past two months deep underground. But finally, his long-awaited drug had arrived, albeit in small quantity.Viagnat. Only five small bottles of the liquid had been produced... five small bottles that cost a fortune, and he possessed all five. They would have to suffice for now because he couldn't wait for more.For the past two months, the US Army had been hunting him. He knew they were actively seeking him and would stop at nothing to capture him. However, he had kept a low profile, waiting for Viagnat. That drug was more powerful than a thousand armies.The US Army had turned this into a game, and he desired to change the rules. He knew that his captive and his twin had returned to the Army, but he still had men following their trail after they vanished from California.
Cherry emerged from the bathroom a while later, looking exhausted. She always felt drained after vomiting, and that was how she felt at the moment.But even though she felt sick, she couldn't be pregnant. She had been so careful. It just couldn't be true. No way."Where is that gray-haired quack of a doctor?" she muttered, looking around."He left a while ago. Oh, Cher, you're pregnant," Ixora said, her voice filled with shock as her eyes fixed on her twin's belly.Cherry instinctively covered her flat belly and made her way to the bed. "That old quack. I'm not pregnant, Ixora. It's impossible."Ixora wasn't really listening to her. "You are pregnant! But how could this happen? You were always the one with the condoms. You were always so careful, Cher."Cherry sighed and sank down on the bed. "Yeah, that's what I can't wrap my head around."She forced herself to think. Was she really pregnant? But how could she be when she always used condoms?No man had ever touched her without a con
Although the Brown twins didn't stay long in the Army, their reputation for strength and physical prowess during training made them well-known. As a result, they were promptly promoted to the Python Team upon leaving the military camp. The General calmly listened to Jerald's story before addressing the twins."Things haven't been the same since Operation Un-Done. It was the only mission the Python Team had ever failed since its formation, and it held significant importance. Various military agencies, such as the KGI, FBI, and Terror Corps, heard about Operation Un-Done. Some sympathized with us, understanding that not all missions can be successful. However, a few mocked us, claiming that we thought we were invincible only to fail and lose a comrade during the most crucial mission, when the US Army was expected to be the best in the world."The General paused, then continued with determination. "Although we failed the mission, I'm glad we didn't lose a member. We're thrilled to have y
💝💝TOWER CASTLES IN HELMAND, AFGHANISTAN.💝💝Khalil Mostafa Ali Reza sat with three of his most trusted drug dealers, resembling a round table where four drug dealers gathered to drink, eat, and converse in their language.They were about to arrange a drug shipment in a few days, but they hadn't disclosed the exact location for the deal. Since their near-ambush by the US Army eight months ago, they had become extra cautious."So, which part of Japan are we shipping the cocaine to?" one of the drug dealers asked in their language."To Nagasaki," Mostafa confirmed, "But that's not what I want to discuss.""What do you want to talk about?" another one inquired."Viagnat," he replied bluntly. "I want that drug Viagnat, and I want it quickly. What are your suppliers saying about the production and shipment of that drug?"They took turns answering..."My supplier said it will be ready in five months.""Mine said it will take seven.""Two months," one of them reported."My supplier estimat
After a long while, they were all seated at the dining table, eating. Jerald savored the food... Damn, he had missed his mother's cooking.Though they had grown up with a cook, their mother always made an effort to cook for them whenever she had the time."So, why did you come back from work, Father?" He asked when he finally realized his father had come home early. That was highly unusual.Williams smiled. "I forgot an important paperwork. Or rather, a paper that was supposed to be important an hour ago. It's no longer important now.""Is it a contract? What kind of deal was it?" he asked curiously."You see, I was planning to officially announce George as my successor in the company. That was the paperwork," he stated.Jake laughed. "Well, it seems like luck is on your side, Jay. You wouldn't look good in a lab coat at all," he teased."Very funny," Jerald said with a smile. "I would never want to be a doctor. That's your field, Jakey.""Stop calling me that, Jay-Jay," Jake shot bac
"Camy?" William called softly, his eyes fixed on the figure that closely resembled his deceased son.Camila understood the shock that coursed through her husband's body. It had been ten minutes since she laid eyes on her son, and it still felt like a dream. But she knew with certainty that it wasn't a dream. Their son Jerald was alive and back home.She walked over to her husband and placed her hand on his shoulder. "He's real, Will. Our son is alive, and he's back home," Camila whispered, her voice filled with intense emotions.That reassurance was all William needed, and he pulled his son into a hug. It wasn't a bear hug, but a genuine embrace between two men who had thought they would never see each other again.The papers were scattered on the ground, but William couldn't care less about them. He stepped aside, allowing one of his security guards to gather the papers."Jerald...! It's really you, my boy!" William exclaimed. Unbelievably, tears welled up in his eyes. His son was al
Camila, in her early fifties, was aware that many women her age experienced deteriorating eyesight, often resulting in the need for glasses or contact lenses.However, she had never required visual aids before because her eyesight had always been excellent. Or at least, it used to be. Now, she couldn't be so certain.The figure emerging from the car bore a striking resemblance to her deceased son, Jerald. Camila's mouth dropped open as she stared wide-eyed. "Oh my God..." she exclaimed, turning to her son, Jake, and gripping his arms. "I hate to admit it, but I think I finally need glasses...""No, mother, you don't need glasses. It's really Jay..." Jake reassured her gently.Camila vigorously shook her head. "No... It can't be... Jerald, my son, is dead. Why are you playing this cruel game with me? Giving me false hope... It's not good for me, Jakey."Tears welled up in her wide eyes as she beheld a sight she thought she would never see again until her own passing.Jerald observed hi