Cherry was slowly roused from her slumber by a persistent knocking at her door. At first, she tried to ignore it, determined to enjoy her well-deserved rest after staying up late watching an action movie. However, the knocking continued, growing more insistent with each rap against the door."What the heck!?" Cherry muttered under her breath, her annoyance growing.Reluctantly, she forced herself to wake up, throwing off the warm embrace of sleep. She yawned and glanced at the wall clock, which displayed the late morning hour of eleven.With a resigned sigh, she realized that she couldn't sleep the day away, much as she craved it. She muttered to herself, "Can't a girl catch a break and sleep in?"Without bothering to put on a robe, Cherry got out of bed and headed toward the source of the incessant knocking. Her nightwear clung to her as she walked to the door and yanked it open, her disheveled appearance revealing her just-awakened state."Can't somebody get some sleep in this ho--"
"Everything cool between you and Ma'am Cherry, Ma'am Ixora?" Berezira asked casually, the woods surrounding them as they sat on Berezira's favorite fallen tree branch.Ixora glanced at her, "Yeah, all good, dear. My twin's just being stubborn, but she'll come around," she replied optimistically.Berezira resisted speaking her mind, but Ma'am Ixora seemed seriously down. Even if the sadness didn't show on her face, it was plain as day."Why's Ma'am Cherry giving you a hard time?" Berezira inquired softly, her familiar halting accent carrying concern.Ixora's lips formed a sad curve. This girl with few words and haunted eyes picked up on everything."Because I hurt her first," Ixora admitted truthfully."How'd you hurt her?""Well... she doesn't like opening up to people, doesn't trust easily. She trusted me after twelve years, and I used that against her.""You betrayed her?" Berezira looked genuinely saddened.Ixora shrugged, offering a smile as she ruffled Berezira's wavy hair. "Sort
The journey stretched on, with the continuous pops of bubblegum and distant car horns as the only sounds in the car.Ixora's eyes lingered on her twin throughout the drive, patiently waiting for the moment when Cherry would inevitably crave an espresso or cappuccino."Let's stop at the nearest station. I wanna get an espresso," Cherry suddenly announced.Ixora allowed a small smile to grace her lips but remained silent. Jake nodded, "Alright."When they reached a station and stopped, Ixora spoke up, "I want one too, so I'll get it."Cherry ignored her, as expected. Ixora approached the espresso machine, dropping in coins and withdrawing two espressos. From her pocket, she produced two pills, dropping one into a cup. She returned to the car, handed the doctored espresso to Cherry, who took it without a word and downed it in one gulp.Ixora settled back in her seat, enjoying the view as they continued their journey. After a while, Cherry succumbed to sleep.💜🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇?
His smile vanished, his expression serious. "I may not know why, but I do know she despises water, and I'm guessing it's because of this place. I suppose this is where everything began?"Ixora swallowed hard and nodded.She glanced around, taking in the familiar breeze and the sights that stirred memories. She, too, had painful recollections associated with this place, as it was where it all started.This place had not only taken away their beloved mother, but it had also stolen Cherry away from her."Spring Lake," she paused sadly, "That's what this place is called. We used to come here every weekend for picnics with our family.""This place was our favorite in the world. Mama and Papa loved bringing us here, and Cherry and I loved choosing this spot for our next picnic. It was always quiet, with few people around. The peace and serenity were addictive. This place holds so many memories for us, both good and bad," she spoke, gazing out through the unmoving vehicle's window."Both goo
Marigold chuckled, shaking her head at her dramatic daughter. "It's all right, my Bella. I'll talk to Ixora and have her fix your bed just the way you like it, before she left it all messy. Here..." She lifted the hem of her dress and gently wiped away Cherry's tears. "Stop crying. Remember, you're my Silver, aren't you?"Cherry sniffled and nodded, "Yes, but Ix is your Bella too." She felt better now that Mama was drying her tears.Marigold nodded, "You're right, Ixora is my Bella too. You both are Mama's Bellas. But..." Marigold cleared her throat and began to sing the familiar lines."You're my Silver. She is my Crystal..."Cherry beamed. She loved it when Mama sang The Bella Rhythm. As usual, she finished the verse for her mother."I am your Silvy. She is your Crysty.I am your Cherry. She is your Ixora.We are your favorite fruits. We are your favorite flowers.We are Mama's beautiful twins.We are Mama's Bellas!"As Cherry completed the familiar rhythm, she grinned mischievously
80.She's going into the water... Ixora is going to drown herself...No. Absolutely not.All anger drained from Cherry's body, leaving only shock. She stood just feet away from her twin, shock paralyzing her.She knew what her mind was trying to tell her, but she didn't want to think about it. She knew Ixora too well. If she was determined to go deeper into that water, no one could stop her.This can't be happening... Damn! This can't be happening."What the hell do you think you're doing?" Cherry stammered nervously.Ixora looked at her with tears in her eyes and the wind swirling around them. "I'm going into the water, Cher," she said."Don't be ridiculous, Ix. We both know you can't swim. Stop this foolishness and get out of there now!" she shouted, taking another step away from the cursed water.Ixora wiped away her tears. "Why should I? You hate me now... you said it yourself."Cherry waved her off quickly. "Of course I don't hate you, Ix. I was just angry, you know I didn't mean
After Ixora bid him farewell, Jake headed towards the car to retrieve the forgotten picnic bag. His thoughts lingered on how furious Cherry would be once she woke up and realized she was in the one place she never wanted to be.Lost in his thoughts, a tingling sensation crawled up Jake's neck, alerting him to the feeling of being watched, stalked. He halted and scanned his surroundings, but no one was in sight. Yet, the eerie sensation persisted.Reaching the car, Jake glanced up and locked eyes with three men standing a few feet away. They didn't resemble ordinary city dwellers; clad in black attire with half of their faces concealed by caps, their muscular builds surpassed even Jake's own physique. His gaze fell upon the closed pocket of one of them, noticing something that an average person might have overlooked—they were armed, unmistakably assassins.The leader of the group, Anwaaraddin, or Araddin for short, had been sent with his two assassins from Afghanistan to capture the el
As Jake sprinted along the shoreline, his eyes scanned the surroundings, desperately searching for any sign of Cherry and Ixora. To his dismay, they were nowhere to be found in their usual spots.Drawing closer to the beach, he was met with a sight that left him dumbfounded. From his vantage point, he struggled to distinguish between the two identical twins.Both of them were drenched, water streaming down their bodies. One lay motionless on the ground while the other frantically performed chest compressions and wept... that must be Ixora.A surge of panic coursed through Jake. "Ixora? What happened—?" His words trailed off as he locked eyes with the tearful twin.It was Cherry, the one in tears.Shock gripped Jake's face, his chest tightening at the heart-wrenching scene. Cherry, typically guarded and resistant to showing vulnerability, was now openly weeping.What could have transpired? It was evident that both of them had been in the water, given their soaked appearance.In that mo
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