thewell

Anika and Sheri were identical twins. Though identical in appearance they were different in every other way. Anika was a bright popular little ray of sunshine while Sheri was dark and quiet. Everyone at PS666, their school, used to call her
Scarysheri. They lived in a cottage in the woods behind the gym of the school, but it was near a small town. Tomorrow was the girls's 11th birthday and they would be visiting their mother in the mental institution.
"Anika, do you remember what mom said to us last year about tomorrow?" asked Sheri as she checkmated Anika's king.
"You mean how she said one of us would die? Yes, but, she's crazy so I wouldn't take it too seriously," replied Anika.
"Oh, you won!" Anika said defeated.
"Ok girls, time for bed," said their father. They packed up the chess game and went to bed. In bed Sheri remembered back to that day. Suzanne, their mother, had told them about how her twin Audrey had died and said to them that one of them would die also on their 11th birthday. Sheri shuddered at the thought. She didn't want to die. The next morning as they were eating breakfast, their father said something interesting.
"Girls, when we go to visit your mother today I want you not to believe anything your mother may say about your birthday. Is that understood?" he said. The girls looked at each other confused but they nodded.
"Good, now let's go shopping to buy you girls a new birthday outfit," he said with a smile.
At the mall , Anika got a pink dress and also a pendant with a little dolphin hung on it. Sheri got a purple dress and a blue headband.
"Are we gonna see Mom now Dad?" asked Anika.
"Yes, we are" he replied.
It was a very long drive. But they finally arrived at the rusty gates of the Clayburn Institute. They got out of the car and entered the building passing an elderly woman talking to the flowers and a man sleeping on the bench. They made their way to the office.
"Hello, may I ask who you are visiting?" asked the nurse.
"We're visiting Suzanne Almar, I'm Charles Almar," their Dad said.
"Right this way, Mr.Almar," the nurse said.
They followed her to room 13D. The door opened and there was their mom.
"Girls, you talk with your mother I'll wait outside," their Dad said. He stepped out.
"Looks like your father still can't stand me, that Chuckkkkkky," their Mom said.
"It's our birthday today mom. Did you know that?" Sheri asked.
"All too well, my sis Audrey thinks that you two should stay well away from that well, don't you Audrey?" She looked at the empty chair next to her as if someone was there.
"Mom, do you remember last year when you said one of us would die today?" Anika asked.
"Yes, one of you will. It is the way it goes, in this family if one of the twins doesn't die before their 11th birthday then one of them will be murdered, " their mother replied.
"Okay then," Anika said, looking puzzled.
"Okay, we have to go" their dad said as he barged in the door. They both waved goodbye to their mom and left.
"Look at the time, it'll be 9 before we even get home," their dad said. They got in the car and drove off.
"Hey Sheri,wake up," Anika said shaking Sheri. Sheri got out of the car and sleepily went to bed, Anika following.
The clock struck 11. They both got out of bed and left the house as if by instinct.
"Where are we going?" asked Sheri as she walked past the tall trees.
"I have no idea It just feels right to go this way," Anika replied.
"Anika, I don't wanna die," Sheri mumbled.
"Then don't go," Anika said.
"I can't, I feel as if I have to go," Sheri replied.
After a while they reached a clearing with a little well. Sheri saw that Anika was clenching something in her fist.
"What's that you're holding?" she asked Anika.
"My dolphin pendant, for good luck," Anika replied.
Suddenly a black hole appeared in the ground and out came a figure wearing a black coat and a black hood. The figure had a scythe and a horrible face. They instantly recognised the figure. It was Death. The pendant in Anika's hand dropped to the ground.
"Run!" Anika yelled. Anika ran to the left while Sheri ran to the right. Death seemed to follow Sheri, he turned right.
"Oh no," Sheri cried to herself, "He's chosen me." Sheri ran back to the clearing and so did Anika. They held each others hand tightly.
"Anika, I don't wanna die," Sheri said in a ruffled voice.
"Waaaa!" Anika yelled as she tripped into the well. Luckily Sheri was still holding her hand.
"Quick, pull me up!" Anika screamed.
"I'm trying to!" Sheri replied. Sheri looked behind her and saw that Death was reaching out his hand to touch her. She suddenly remembered her mother's words, "If one of the twins doesn't die before their 11th birthday then one of them will be murdered". What if one of them does die, does the other one live on? Sheri thought. "Anika...I don't wanna die...I'm sorry," Sheri said, she let go of Anika's hand. Anika screamed as she fell. Sheri turned around and saw that Death had gone. By murdering her sister, she had cheated Death. She felt sad as she knew she would never see her sister again but she was grateful she hadn't died. Something shiny caught her eye. She walked over to it and saw it was Anika's necklace. She put it in her pocket and started to walk home.
"The End," I said to everyone.
They clapped with boredom in the Extracurricular classroom.
"Very good story Chantel, it says here in your records that you have a twin yourself, true?" asked my ExtraC teacher.
"Yes, I....USED to have one," I replied with a grin.

Written by Chantel Love and the All Star Prozac Monkies