Behind Your Death

By Tatiana Márquez

Do you believe in the special connection between twins?

From a young age, Alicia and Alana shared a unique bond, capable of experiencing what the other was going through. Whenever one felt pain, the other would share in the sensation. After their parents separated, Alicia moved to the city with their mother, while Alana stayed back in their hometown with their father. The distance did nothing to sever the special connection they shared, neither their love for each other.

One day, Alicia was overwhelmed by an excruciating pain out of nowhere, and it scared her. She tried to reach Alana but was unsuccessful. Driven by a strong sense of unease, she began a journey during a stormy night and eventually lost control of her vehicle due to the unbearable pain.

Before she lost consciousness, she only heard heartbreaking words from the other end of the phone:

"We regret to inform you that your sister Alana has been found, all indications suggest she committed suicide…"

Alana's death caused Alicia's world to crumble, spurring her to return to their hometown in the quest to uncover the truth behind her sister's death.

This led her on a journey riddled with small-town secrets and a passionate romance…

What secrets are hidden behind your death?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Noveltoon
• Release date: Feb 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224032082

Book preview

Behind Your Death

Chapter 1

We all have secrets, things we don't want anyone to know, about embarrassing things that happen to us, about someone we like, about infidelity, something we keep quiet out of fear. But there are some secrets that are very heavy to bear, even after death they continue to weigh on us.

You say the hardest secrets to see are the ones that are hidden in plain sight, or those that everyone knows, but pretends not to know so as not to end up stained by it, not realizing that they are consumed by it up to their necks, just by looking the other way.

My name is Alicia Morgan, I am 26 years old and I am a forensic doctor. My life was normal, my best friend was my twin sister Alana.

Despite living thousands of miles apart we were very close, we saw each other on vacation, holidays or whenever we had the opportunity. When our parents divorced, they made us choose who we would live with and they separated us. I came to the city with my mother to start a new life and my sister Alana stayed to live with my father. Over the years we grew up, but our special connection remained. When we were close, that connection was stronger to the point of scaring our parents, because we could feel what was happening to the other.

When we were nine years old, we decided to climb a tree to retrieve my sister's kite that had become entangled in the branches. But when I climbed, the branch broke, hitting my head and leaving me instantly unconscious. One of our friends alerted our parents about it, finding both of us unconscious.

Although the doctor checked my sister, she was perfectly fine and only woke up when I did. Afterwards, our parents' fights became evident, each day more and more until they divorced and separated us. It was a hard blow for us because we did everything together, but time made us take our own path. She graduated as a teacher in the village and started working as a secondary school teacher, everyone loved her because she was sweet, warm, and made people instantly like her.

But everything changed that day, that cursed day, that June 6th I woke up as any other day with my alarm, made my bed, looked for my clean uniform and packed it in the suitcase with all my stuff ready for my job. I had been the second forensic doctor at the police station for a year.

I bathed, got dressed, made a ham and cheese sandwich. But from the moment I woke up I felt that feeling of sadness, something that was pressing on my chest, that bad presentiment.

I decided to call Alana, but she didn't answer. I insisted several times, but got nothing. I breakfasted quickly, because my boyfriend called to say he was waiting downstairs.

I washed the juice glass, grabbed my purse and left, walking to meet William. As I finished my sandwich, I saw my boyfriend who handed me a coffee. He had done this every morning since we had been dating for two years. One of the many things I loved about him was that he was a gentleman and supported me in everything.

But I had that feeling that I could not explain.

William: Ali, dear, I'm talking. While he drives.

Ali: I'm sorry, I was distracted.

William: So, are we going to Tamy's birthday party tonight?

Ali: I don't know, I don't feel like it. Honey, I have a strange feeling.

William: We're here, honey. Let's just go for a bit and you can distract yourself and shake off that frown, okay?

Ali: Okay, I say goodbye to him with a kiss, which he returns with another, more passionate one. I head into work, greet everyone, change and read the report. There are only two autopsies scheduled for today.

After I'm done, I call my sister again, but she doesn't answer. The day goes by as usual, but with that nagging feeling inside me that won't let me be in peace.

I call my father, even though we're not on good terms. But he doesn't answer either. At the end of my shift, I call my mother who is traveling with her husband on a cruise, to see how she is getting along, but she sounds very happy.

After speaking to her, I get ready, not feeling well, this niggling feeling was killing me, this feeling was too strong, when Will came to pick me up for Tamy's birthday, he was talking and my mind felt like it was somewhere else, I couldn't think about anything, only about this feeling that was suffocating me, but I didn't know what to do.

I knew nothing about my dad and my sister Alana, we got to the club for the party, Will was taking care of the gift, we wished Tamy a happy birthday, everyone was dancing, but I was only interested in leaving, unconsciously, I stole the car keys from my boyfriend, while he was talking to his friends.

I left the club, planning to drive to the village. I had to see my sister, hear her voice telling me she's fine. The village was four hours away. I intended to go there, having this gut feeling that something was fatally wrong. The sky was black and the darkness was eminent, watching rain drops begin to fall. A storm was coming.

Suddenly my chest hurt and it seemed like I couldn't breathe while driving. When suddenly I lost control of the car, all I remember was a sharp impact and a jolt of the car, I feel strong buzz in my ears, my phone, with its now broken screen, began to ring.

With my hurting body and my hands covered in blood, I picked it up, I couldn't ask for help because I couldn't get my voice out, I just hear the voice and those words that broke me.

We are sorry to inform you that your sister Alana...Her body was found lifeless, everything indicates that she committed suicide... Hello, is there anyone there...can you hear me— (on the line) As I just watch the rain fall and everything becomes dark for me...

Chapter 2

It's as if I'm caught in a dream, chasing after my sister Alana, yet I can't seem to find her, or when I do, she vanishes before my eyes. There's something different about her; joy has left her eyes, her dress is torn, and bruises mar her body; her voice is all I hear.

Ali, it wasn't me.

I yearn to respond, but images of us laughing and playing as we always did, and then visions of myself on the road losing control of the car, are what I last heard before waking in a room, unsure of where I am, blinded by the light. Then I see my mother, tears of joy streaming down her face.

Violetta: My child, you've awakened. I thought... I thought I'd lose you, too.

Ali: Mom, I'm thirsty. Confused.

Violetta: (wiping my tears away, she passes a glass of water with a straw) You've been in a coma for three months... You can't imagine the pain of losing my daughter so suddenly, inexplicably, and then to be told your other daughter is in intensive care... I felt like I was dying.

Ali: Mom... Mom, please tell me it's a lie that my sister is just waiting outside.

Violetta: Feeling a lump in my throat, my heart aches.

I wish more than anything to tell you that, crushed.

Ali: Mom, she wouldn't do it. I'm certain of it. The world is collapsing around me. A sharp dagger pierces my chest, causing pain, burning, and agony. I try to strip everything away, only repeating, She didn't do it, she didn't do it. I start to rip everything off in desperation; I want to escape; I feel like I can’t breathe—

Violetta: Please, someone help me! A doctor! — screaming, holding onto my daughter.

Then the doctor comes in to administer a sedative.

I watch her go still. I can see she's shattered. Ever since their birth, they were one. What’s odd is that it's been three months since the accident. The doctors said there were no injuries or fractures, yet her body doesn't respond, as if she's lost in deep slumber. I sense my girl felt her sister's death; they've always had this eerie bond since they were little that somewhat frightened me.

I see William enter the room.

William: I came as soon as I heard. How is she? Concerned.

Violetta: (Drying my tears) She had a crisis. The doctor had to sedate her. Watching my daughter, now asleep in the bed.

Thank you for not leaving her side during this time, and for being there for her.

William: Don't thank me. You know I love her. My studies in England are all set, and I want her to come with me. It might help her to get away and ease the pain a little. I've talked to my parents, and they said they would support her doing a postgraduate degree in criminology.

Violetta: Thank you. It's what’s best for her. It will do her good. Holding his hand, I'm glad he's my daughter’s boyfriend. You're a good man.

(Hours later)

Ali: I wake up and see him asleep in the room's chair.

I try to stand up, but my body feels heavy, and I nearly fall, but Will catches me and helps me walk to the bathroom and back.

Hello, I say.

William: Hey, you don't know how happy I am to see those green eyes again. I almost lost my mind when I heard...

He wraps his arms around me for a kiss, and I cling to him.

Just then, a nurse comes in with food; I watch her devour everything.

The doctor said they're going to run some tests, and if all is well, you can go home.

Ali: Can I ask you a favor?

Can you get my sister's autopsy report?

William: Alright, I'll get it if it brings you peace.

Ali: What have you been told? What did mom tell you?

William: I sit on the bed, taking her hand.

Please rest. We'll have time for that later.

Ali: I want to know everything. I know she didn't do it. I'll do everything in my power to prove it.

William: I know what your sister decided is hard to come to terms with; even your mother doesn't understand. Your father took care of everything.

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