The Mirror and the Ripper

Sure thing, honey. Hop on in. I'm Andy "I extend my hand in a friendly gesture with a genuine smile"

Where are you heading to in town?

Thats depends. Plenty of places if you've got money. How much do you have?

If your mean literally a few dollars, that'll buy you a cardboard box, honey. Exactly how much do you have?

"I look at her with a frown" Oh my, sweetpea. That won't buy you a room. What do you plan to do for money? What's your longer term goal here?

Well pumpkin, I wish you the best of luck. I'll help you pay for the rest of a hotel room for the first night to help get you on your feet. But your on your own after that, ok? I'm sure a dear like you can find work somewhere in town pretty easily.

"We arrive at a Drury Inn, and I help get you checked in. It's nearly $60 more than you had so I know you won't be able to stay here again. Still, I show you up to her room, and you're so thrilled with the TV, thermostat and phone that I can't help but chuckle"

Alright Bethany, I'm gonna go. The best of luck with everything. Remember...you'll be responsible for finding your way to get a room tomorrow, and for getting a job "I get ready to leave, but can't decide if a hug is too personal for someone I just met, but a handshake feels too "professional". I'll just roll with whatever Bethany does"

"I drive on home without giving Bethany much more thought. She's a little sweetheart and she'll find a way to get along. 3 weeks go by and I've all but forgotten about little Bethany. I head into town to get some groceries and after checking out, I see something across the street that catches my eye. In a tattoo shop, some big dude is berating someone who's cowering on the ground. I overhear the conversation" Good Lord I don't even know why I bother with you. Like tits on a bull. And I had to have been crazy to let you set a cot up in the back "I see it's a little girl with long red-ish hair. I mind my own business and keep walking until I hear" I'm not paying you for today, Bethany! How stupid are you? You've had two weeks and still can't even work the register?! Fuckin tard. "I pause and think "No...it can't be her..." I turn around and walk back to take another look to find it IS Bethany from nearly a month back. I quickly drop my groceries off at the car and head across the road to the shop"

"My heart sinks as I see Bethany on the ground, who's tiny frame has lost even more weight than the first time I saw her" Bethany... "I kneel down as she averts her gaze away from me" You don't deserve this, honey "I look up to the burly man with the tattoos" What the hell, man? How can you treat her like this? She was raised Amish and doesn't understand most of this modern stuff

"I gaze at him with steel eyes as I step up to him, going toe to toe" Then consider this her resignation from this shit hole. "I turn to Bethany and extend my hand" Come with me, honey...unless you wanna continue to work for this asshole "I say as I glare at him"

"As I help her stand, the artist grabs her other arm firmly and says snidely" Not so fast there, cupcake. I fronted you your first month's pay for food. You still have to work off the rest of that for another week "He says with a devious grin. "So get your ass back down there and get to scrubbing the floors again" I quickly blurt out" How much does she owe you? "The man looks back to me annoyed and growls" This dont concern you, ass "I grit my teeth and say again with more force" I said HOW MUCH DOES SHE OWE YOU "The man scoffs and says" $320 and that doesn't even include letting her sleep here. "I pull out my wallet and throw four $100 bills at him and say sarcastically" Keep the change, ass "He sneers at me, then at her until he finally let's go of her arm"

You don't owe me anything, sweetheart. How did you end up there, of all places?

I didn't find you, honey. Fate did. I just happened to be in town. I've only been in town twice in the last month. The first time I found you walking on the road...and this trip I happened to see you being berated by that guy. Not sure if you'd call that Fate, God or Destiny, but our paths were meant to cross, Bethany. I'm a strong believer that there's no such thing as chance encounters...especially twice.

"As we're walking back to my car, I feel you squeeze my arm in reassuring comfort and gratitude. I place my hand over yours on my arm and pat it softly. Your messy bun looks uber cute, but the Goodwill clothes have seen better days. Still, I understand that you had to get clothes somewhere on a budget of practically nothing. As we get to the car you pause, realizing that you really don't even have anywhere to go. I speak up softly" Bethany...if it's not too forward, I'd like to invite you stay in my guest bedroom until you get your situation figured out. Its warm and cozy, you'll have my sisters old wardrobe to wear and I know you don't have money or a way to pay, so I figured I could propose something slightly unorthodox

Well, first I want to make sure you understand that I respect you, and always put that first and foremost in my home. However, your so beautiful, and remind me of my fiancé that passed away a few years back. Times have been hard for me, and I miss her every day. She used to always walk around the house in her bra and panties, not to be seductive, but just to express herself. It never was perceived as sexual, but felt very home-y to me. In exchange to staying at my place, wearing my sister's clothes and providing you with food, would you maybe... "I turn my gaze to the ground, kicking a pebble nervously" willing to do the same?

It doesn't have to be lingerie or anything scanty...just the casual-ness of whatever you normally wear under your clothes. "I pause as my cheeks turn red" I'm sorry is this coming off as too creepy, cause thats not who I am. I just miss Molly so much "I say as tears start to well up" and long to feel the same feelings I used to when she breezed around the house so freely in her bras and panties

You really would so that for me? Something that seems so personal and against social norms? I expected to feel judgemental glances for this, but you don't even understand how much it means that you're willing to do this

Thank you so much Bethany! You're such a sweetheart ❤️ and please, call me Andy. "We're far past "sir", honey

"We both get in my rickety old truck and start driving out to the country. You hang your arm out the window and feel the cool breeze travel up your arm, blowing through your body as you get goosebumps to the liberation you feel. You sense a new chapter of your life is starting, and your closeness to Andy only grows deeper. Your hand starts to slowly inch towards mine, as you're tempted to reach out to take my hand. Still, you do and resist since you're concerned with how it would be perceived. The red sunset feels just as warm as that of a Monet painting, and you wonder what you ever did in life to deserve such a transcendous aura of emotion. We drive for nearly an hour, and although your mind tells you to be weary of how far away from civilization this stranger is taking you, your heart doesnt feel the slightest pang of concern. Finally, we come to a very long driveway that wraps around a treeline for minutes. It seems to go on forever until the tree line ends, and your face is overtaken by shock, awe and pure unadulterated surprise. Andy's house isn't a house at all...it's a mansion is so big it almost looks like a resort. Lavish landscaping are in surplus with ornate decorations strung throughout the gorgeous motif. He pulls his beat up truck into the bay of a garage that feels like a warehouse. You look around and see dozens and dozens of sports cars, trucks and vehicles"

"Once we park in the garage I get out and walk around to your side and open your door to help you out. You're still in awe of everything, and want to ask why on earth you drive such a beater truck when you've got tens of millions of dollars in other vehicles in the garage itself"

That's a fair question. This truck was my father's, and at one time it was all he had to his name. After he passed, I promised to never get rid of it. All of these vehicles around here you see are amazing, but they don't have a soul like dad's truck. I feel closer to him when I drive it, and as humble as I've had to become the last few years, I've learned that memories and happiness doesn't equate to money. In fact, some of the stuff I value the most, such as my dear Molly...couldn't be saved with all the money I had

Did you really mean it earlier? That you're ok wearing your bra and panties to lounge around the house in exchange for staying here?

Ok thank you, Bethany. I show you to your room "I walk you down what feels like endless hallways until we arrive at a large set of mahogany double doors. I open it up and you gasp as you cover your mouth. The room is extravagant and huge. The walk in closet is larger than most bedrooms themselves"

I have a confession, Bethany. I didn't bring you here to stay temporarily until you got on your feet. No...there's...there's... "I pause" Well, it might be easier just to show you. Please, follow me...

"I lead you down another maze of long corridors. We arrive at yet another set of grand doors. I open the doors to the oversized solarium and your eyes are drawn above the fireplace...and you feeeze, breath and all. There, on the wall in front of you, mounted above a lavish fireplace, is an oversized framed 4x6 foot photograph of what appears to be you and I on a wedding day. The picture shows me spinning you around as smiles adorn our faces, our lips locked together and permanently frozen in time. The white dress is lavish beyond anything you've ever seen with a long train that's whisked around us in the air like something out of a Disney movie. I can hear your breath stammer as you're struggling to understand what you're even seeing" Wha...what am I looking at Andy?? And ha...wha...how is there a picture of us together on a day that never even happened? Did you photoshop this as some sick joke? "You look back to me, instantly taken by surprise to find tears streaming down my cheeks, my face quivering to try to hold more from pouring out. I quietly walk up closer to the photograph and point to the small engraved plaque on the front of it. You can't quite read it, but as you walk closer, you finally make it out, "Andrew and Molly Hexler, 9/11/20"" The reason you don't remember it, Bethany, is because it's not you. This is my Molly "I say as I run my hand over Molly's head in the photograph" I miss you so much Mol "I say as I start to weep again"

"I wipe my eyes and finally try to compose myself" You look like you're her twin, Bethany. And your kind heart and soft center, it's identical. I know you're a completely different person and have your own story, but now you can maybe see why I had such a strange request when I first asked you to come stay with me...wanting you to walk freely around my home in your panties and bra. She did all the time, and absolutely loved the feeling. I got so used to it, and the thought of seeing you...her mirror image doing so...well, it was just too much and I had to ask you to. "I look at the pic and then back at your again" God, you two were IDENTICAL!

Thank you for listening to me, Bethany. Perhaps now you see why I said that you're welcome here permanently, not just temporarily. What's mine is yours, and don't feel obligated to do anything. You dont even need to work or find a job if you dont want. Anyway, I'm gonna go crash in the living room...pretty tired. Your room is down the way. Take 2 lefts, a right then 2 more lefts. I want you to know that I'm not trying to personify Molly through you, but rather love seeing you, and being reminded of my Molly while also realizing the amazing beauty you are, yourself. And again, thank you for not judging me with the panties and bra thing

"Bethany tosses and turns in bed that night, unable to sleep. For reasons known, she feels drawn to walk back to solarium in the dark. She flips on the light and looks at the picture of Molly and I again. She studies her mystery twin closely, trying to find either a connection or disconnect from the woman in the pic that she's never met, yet looked so identical that it even fooled herself into thinking the pic was of her. She shivers unexpectedly, almost feeling like Molly is part of her in some way she can't really understand. As she stands there looking at the picture of her mirror twin, she slowly reaches over her shoulder and slides the strap off her nightgown. She slowly slides the other strap off as her nightgown falls to the floor. She stands there in her bra and panties as her eyes never leave Molly's picture and says softly" Is this really how you used to walk around the house? Are you ok with me being around Andy like this? He misses you so much, and I just want to comfort him

"Following the strange draw to the solarium, Bethany slides back into her oversized king bed and drifts back to sleep, finding herself injected into a lucid dream. She's walking down a dark, long corridor of an old building she doesn't recognize. There's no one else around, and it's eerily quiet. Old fluorescent lights dimly flicker as the hallway turns icy cold, and she sees a silhouette of a figure at the end of the tunnel. She sees her own breath as she shivers to the chill, inching closer to the end of the corridor. Right before reaching the end, the outlined person becomes more clear, her eyes focusing on the woman walking toward her in a yellow string bikini. As she quizzically moves closer, Bethany thinks she's staring at herself, despite the fact that she's never worn something so revealing. She then spots the large diamond ring on the woman's finger, realizing it must be Molly, or rather some manifestation of her. Molly walks up to Bethany and stops, a mere foot separating them, then slowly reaches up to rest her hand on a transparent solid barrier that suddenly becomes apparent between them. Molly speaks but comes across mute, as the barrier creates a soundproof seal. Bethany pauses and speaks, but Molly can't hear or understand her. Bethany relents, then simply reaches up to overlap her hand against Molly's mirrored hand on the other side of the glass. Even through the dream, there's a strange feeling of closeness that Bethany's never felt. She closes her eyes and feels a warmth pass through her as the corridor starts to warm up. She opens her eyes to find that Molly's gone, and she's alone in the corridor. She feels something odd on her left hand, and looks to find the diamond ring that was on Molly's finger is on hers now. She's startled to find that while she was admiring the ring's beauty, the same bikini she just saw on Molly instantly replaces the clothes she had on. She suddenly wakes up, feeling Molly has somehow given her blessing to vicariously comfort Andy through Bethany's nearly identical body and appearance"

"I slowly wake to the daylight coming in the windows and see the outline of Molly leaning over me in a gorgeous yellow bikini. My mind must be playing tricks on me" Mol...Molly?! "I plead helplessly. Bethany answers softly" Good morning, Andy. No, I'm not Molly...I'm Bethany, remember? "I pause and do a double take" I...I'd have bet my life you were Molly. My life. "Bethany smiles softly" If it helps, you can call me Molly. But please remember, at the end of the day, I'm not her. I don't have her memories, identity or consciousness. But I respect how hard this is for you and how it turns your world upside down to see her face in me. If you want to look at me and remember her through me, I'll happily allow you to do so, ok? "You beam a comforting smile at me as you make the offer, in hopes of helping me find closure in Molly's absence by essentially letting me treat you like you're her. I stammer as I know this is playing a dangerous game that may have deeper repercussions, but still I miss my Molly, and appreciate Bethany's offer more than she'll ever realize" Ye- yes, maybe just for a day or two...I'd like to feel Molly here again with me. You don't know how much this means to me, Bethany...to have the memory of the love of my life here with me again, if just for a day or two. I will always respect you as Bethany, but please, just for a short while, let me indulge in the belief that you're my Molly...God you look like her so...so damn much "I say with eyes that plead so deeply that Bethany's soul gushes with compassion and love that she doesn't even remotely understand, but still senses. I hesitantly reach up and hold my hand towards your face...closing my eyes as you take my hand and lay it on your cheek, closing your eyes as I start to weep" I've missed you so much, Mol. You...you... "I start to cry unabashedly"

"Against her better judgement, Bethany decides to jump head-first into transforming into Molly for Andy. She doesn't know much about Molly besides her love for him and her tendency to walk around the mansion in her bra and panties. Still, she knows he needs this desperately, so she softly clenches her teeth as she fully commits and engages for the first time, whispering softly into Andy's ear as he weeps" There there, honey...Molly's here for you. No need to cry. I'll always be with you "I stop and look up to study her face, her caring smile, and in that moment, it is Molly. I lean forward and softly kiss her lips and muster out quietly" I love you so much, Mol. You don't even know how hard it's been without you! Don't ever leave me again! "I wrap my arms around you in a tight embrace"

"Bethany decides to take her Molly persona as far as Andy needs, and starts to feel much more in tune with it. Days go by, which eventually turns into weeks. It gets to the point where she can't remember the last time she even heard the name Bethany. She becomes extremely comfortable strutting around the house in her bra and panties all the time, and doesn't even give it a 2nd thought anymore. Luckily, sexual intimacy hasn't come up yet, but they routinely cuddle and snuggle close. Life seems to be going pretty well, even if Bethany, or rather her true self, starts to fade quickly as Molly starts to become the only part of Bethany that exists anymore"

"Just as her mind is starting to become more confused if she's really Bethany anymore at all, she finds herself in another dream. It starts out identical to the last, except this time, as she walks up to the glass, she sees Molly on the other side...dressed in tattered, stained and torn clothes. There's bruises around her wrists and feet, as well ad her neck. Her body and face are dirty with cuts, scars and bruises throughout, one of her eyes are blood red from a ruptured sclera. Bethany is frightened, but urgently slaps her hand up on the glass again, expecting Molly's hand to come up and meet hers, but she looks at Molly whom shakes her head no. Molly screams frantically with her face up to the glass, but its mute again. Still, this time, the shape of her mouth makes the 2 words clear as day she screams..."Save Me". Bethany starts frantically hitting the glass with both fists while screaming "HOW? WHERE? WHAT??". Then, a sinister 3rd figure walks up out of the shadow behind Molly, all dressed in black and puts a bag over Molly's head and pulls her back as she kicks. Bethany falls to her knees, tears pouring as she pounds the glass while Molly is dragged out of sight. Then...Bethany snaps awake, gasping wildly I'm bed. She immediately runs to Andy's room and wakes him frantically" Andy, Andy!! Do you KNOW Molly is dead, or was she assumed dead?! You've never told me anything about what happened to her? I need to know RIGHT NOW!

"Bethany slowly walks back to her bed and collapses on it, not even sure where to start. She knows this wasn't merely a dream...she feels Molly in a way she can't understand. It's not just missing her or sadness. It's a feeling she can't shake. She decides to start from the beginning of the obvious and heads down to the police station. She's told that Molly is assumed dead and that all records are in the public archive now across the road. She heads over to the dusty department and asks for Molly's case files. She signs for it and is handed a very thick folder that's overflowing with paperwork. She decides to take it back to Andy's and work on taking it apart. After sifting through the endless accounts and statements for hours, she doesn't seem to be making any progress and eventually lays her head down on the paperwork. As her head rests on the stack of dusty papers, she closes her eyes, exhausted and wishing she could catch a break somewhere. Although there's no airflow in the room, a breeze seems to blow a large stack of papers off the desk. With frustration, she sighs, leaning over and picking them up. As she reaches for the last few, she sees a photocopy of Molly birth certificate. She slowly picks it up and studies it. She feels a chill as she sees that Molly has the exact same birthdate as her. She feels goosebumps on her body as the coincidence is reaching unbelievable levels now. However, it's not until she sees the name on the paper that all of her blood drains from her face. It doesn't read Molly. No, it reads - "Baby Girl 2", born 3 minutes after her. She feels shivers run down her whole body as she her eyes well...everything is falling into place now. She doesn't know how they ever got separated, but there's no doubt in her mind now that Molly is her blood twin sister that she didn't even know existed. Still, she thinks back through her life, how a part of her always felt like it was missing, like something wasn't right."

"Bethany knows this isn't a matter of "IF" her sister is alive, as she feels her sister is still with her. The real question is, how long does Molly have left? And where is she? All of the physical evidence leads to complete dead ends, and the case truly is as cold as a case gets. Bethany takes naps as often as possible and sleeps for long periods of time. She's convinced that Molly will reach out to her in a dream again, hoping some sort of twin ESP spurs, but it never seems to. She decides to keep all of this new info about her blood connection to her twin a secret from Andy, fearing that it'll be too much for him to handle. Naturally, she finds it hard to continue to strut around in her bra and panties now that she knows Molly's still alive, much less her sister. Andy taked notice quickly, but doesn't make a big deal about it. Afterall, Bethany has helped him cope through his feelings of the loss of Molly. Bethany grows impatient quickly, many nights finding her pleading audibly by herself for Molly to help her out. Still nothing but silence and dreamless nights. Andy notices the change in Bethany's behavior as she's more irritable now, and becomes more distant. One evening, as he walks by Bethany's room, he hears her sobbing. He knocks, and she frantically wipes her face and answers the door" Hey Bethany, are you ok? You haven't seemed like yourself, and I thought I heard sobbing. "she forces a fractured smile and says softly" I'm just going through some personal stuff. I'm ok though, didn't mean to alarm you. "He sits down next to her and gently wraps his arm around her back, pulling her closer to offer some solace. She feels comfort in his arms and lays her head on his shoulder. He slowly lays her back on the bed and snuggles up to her, offering some caring support. Despite everything going on, she still loves the feeling of him there, and leans into his warmth. There's no words spoken as they both just lay there in a mutual comfort that feels both inviting and connecting. She again feels his Love for Molly being passed through to her, and despite how it may or may not be intended for her, she soaks it up. Bethany doesn't even realize how sleepy it's making her until she finds herself fast asleep..."

"Before Bethany even realizes she's asleep, she finds herself in that same creepy hallway for a 3rd time. Realizing quickly she's in the dream corridor again, she sprints to the end of it until she reaches the glass. There's no sign of Molly. She slaps both hands on the glass in frustration, shouting for anything to happen on the other side. Slowly, she sees some...thing...emerge in the distance, crawling on the ground on it's belly. She quickly makes out that it's Molly, but she looks critical. Her beautiful blonde hair is now matted, spattered red with blood throughout. Something's terribly wrong. She army crawls with one arm while the other drags limp by her side. She seems unable to stand or even sit up, half of her body flops as dead weight. Bethany drops to her knees, crying uncontrollably as she covers her mouth with one hand, slapping her other on the glass while screaming inconsolably. As Molly nears the glass, Bethany is utterly horrified to see that Molly's mouth has been sewn shut, blood trickling from the suture holes as Molly looks at her sister with a look of hopelessness, a few tears streaming. Bethany ducks down low to meet at eye level with Molly. She finally reaches the glass, laying her head softly on the floor and very weakly lifting her battered and blood-stained hand up to the glass. Bethany instantly shoots her hand up to the glass, and the instant her hand overlaps Molly's opposite the glass...like a high speed upload, hundreds of images and scenes flash through Bethany's mind so fast that she can barely decipher them. She sees countless scenes of Molly's kidnapping, abuse, rape, torture, starvation, vomiting, and physical anguish. Knowing the time with this connection to Molly is limited, she tries hard to focus and pick up on clues as to where Molly is being held. Most images are in a dingy, dark room that resembles a basement, but she can't be sure. She sees a few flashes with street signs, but they're so fast she can't make them out. She spots an odd looking blue door on a yellow house as Molly is dragged in, still fighting despite being gagged and bound. Just as she feels like she starting to gain useful insight from Molly, the sinister man in black again walks out from the shadows and grabs Molly by her ankles, breaking the hand connection on the glass as she's drug away. Molly claws at the floor with her good hand, her nails leaving long rows of etched marks as tears stream from her eyes filled with horror. Bethany stands up and frantically starts screaming, pounding on the glass as her sister is drug off into the distance until no longer visible. Bethany suddenly snaps awake, screaming as Andy tries to console her" I saw her!!! She's alive b...but barely!! I need to see her again! I need more help, Molly! I need to meet you again! "Bethany pleads as she cries into her hands. Despite the comforting embrace, Andy looks at her skeptically, still believing these are merely unfounded wishful dreams of his dead wife"

"Bethany frantically tries to fall back to sleep in hopes of connecting with Molly again, but when she does, she simply sleeps. She wakes up the next morning, even more frustrated. All she got out of her short time with Molly was a blue door on a yellow house located somewhere that she doesn't even know. Weeks go by, and still no dreams. She senses her pain more than ever and feels Molly is fading. She tries to connect the dots to what might have changed to cause her connection with Molly in a dream, and just as she's in the shower, it dawns on her...Andy!!! The catalyst that's causing the dreams is Andy! Somehow, via twinnage ESP or something she can't explain, Andy's vicarious love for Molly that he feels when he sees Bethany creates some portal that opens her mind to Molly's consciousness...the corridor. She quickly showers, throws on a bra and panties and dashes around the mansion to find him watching Sports Center in the den. She pops 3 Ambien and nestles up next to him on the couch, cuddling up close" I'm not feeling very good "she says in hopes of stirring some emotion from Andy" Could you maybe just rub my back until I fall asleep? "She says, batting her eyes softly at him" Of course, honey "Andy says as he moves over on the couch to have her lay down next to him, rubbing her back softly. She closes her eyes and doesn't have to wait long for the Ambien to kick in. Like the snap of a finger, it's immediately apparent she was right...she's back in the tunnel again. She again sprints towards the glass, her heart racing as she hopes to see Molly alive again. As she gets closer, she sees Molly curled up in a ball on her side, naked by the glass. She's skin and bones now, her rib cage prominently protruding. Her left eye is swollen shut, and her right eye's still bloodshot red from the ruptured sclera. The stitching around her mouth looks infected and extremely painful now. Bethany pounds on the glass to get her attention, only to see the man in black swiftly approach and kick Molly hard in the belly. She winces in pain as more tears stream down her battered face. She takes multiple kicks until she rolls up, her back to the wall. Bethany sees Molly rest her hand back on the glass, and she immediately meets it with hers as the visions quickly start again. Bethany is laser-focused this time, knowing Molly won't be able to keep her hand there for long. After a kaleidoscope of images fly by, FINALLY...she spots a golden nugget. She catches a glimpse of a piece of mail on the floor fast enough to see "Sycamore Ave, Edgerton Kentucky" flip by. She doesn't see the house numbers, but she's got all she needs. The connection abruptly ends seconds later as Molly is beaten ruthlessly, curling up in defense" I'm coming sis! Hang in there! "Bethany needs to wake up NOW. She looks around, sees a metal shank sitting next to her, grabs it and thrusts it into her abdomen. ~ POOF ~ She wakes up gasping, knowing Molly can't possibly survive much longer"

"The 4 hour drive to Edgerton feels like days as each minute feels like it's wasted time. Even doing nearly 100mph on winding back roads in the middle of nowhere doesn't seem fast enough. Bethany's heart is pounding, her hands slick with sweat as she finally approaches Sycamore Ave in Edgerton."

"As she turns down the road, she starts to feel a sense of unease. Many of the houses here have boarded up windows and foreclosed signs taped to the doors. The street seems deserted, eerily quiet. She bites her lip and keeps driving slowly until she spots the yellow house with the odd-looking blue door from her dream. She feels her blood pooling as she comes to the realization that this is it. This is where Molly is being held."

"She parks the car a few houses down and cautiously makes her way towards the house. As she approaches, she sneaks around the side of the house, trying to look in every window, only to find them boarded up or taped off. She hears faint noises from inside the house that sounds like clanging, but no vocies. Her heart races faster and faster, but she takes a deep breath and tries to steady herself. She heads to the back door, finding it unlocked and slowly opens the door and slinks in." "The house is dead silent, save for the wind holding through the drafty rafters. She hears commotion come from behind a door and she freezes. She doesn't hear anything more, so she slowly opens the door that heads down to a dark, damp basement. It's pitch black, so she pauses and listens for at least a minute. Nothing. She starts to head down the stairs and gets her cell phone out to provide some light. She hears a metallic rustle on the other side of the room. She quietly whispers" Molly? "The clinging sound intensifies as she finally shines her light towards the sound. Her eyes fill with horror as she sees Molly naked on her belly of the concrete floor, her neck, wrists and ankles all chained together behind her in a hogtied position that would evan make a contortionist cringe. Her mouth is still sewn shut as Molly whimpers at Bethany, unable to see the person behind the piercingly bright light. Bethany puts down the phone on the floor and approaches Molly. At last, Molly finally sees Bethany as her whimpers turn into crying. Bethany whispers comfort into her sisters ear as she inspects the heavy-duty chains that bind her. She has no idea how she's gonna remove these and looks around the room for a key. She runs back to her phone to dial 911 but sees she has no signal. She tells Molly" I gotta go upstairs to call for help, I'll be right back! "Just as she turns to head upstairs, she hears the back door open and close and hears footsteps through the floor. She quickly flips off her phone light and ducks under the stairs, just in time to hear footsteps coming down, a man's voice booming sadistically" Alright bitch, four-o-fucking clock, and you know what that means "he walks toward her, unzipping his pants. She whimpers and wiggles on the floor"

"Bethany finally pulls off to the side of a country road, takes off her layered shirt and throws it over Molly's naked, shivering body. Molly's in an advanced state of starvation, barely weighing 80lbs. One eye swollen shut, she looks at Bethany with a weak and confused expression. Bethany speaks up" I know you're confused and don't know me, but...but I'm your twin sister, Molly. My name is Bethany "She laces fingers in hers and tightly grips her hand" You came to me in a dream, or whatever you wanna call it, but our connection is what led me to you. "Molly moans something, but winces. The stitch holes around her mouth look red and infected, no doubt painful with movement. Bethany looks for something to cut the stitches off Molly's mouth but finds nothing. Suddenly, Bethany's car door is opened and the man in black yanks her violently out by her hair and throws her to the ground, yelling" You fucking cunt! "He says as he gasps, the stab wound in his back still searing. The man starts wailing on Bethany, kicking her hard with his steel-toed boots. Molly gets out and runs around the car, mustering any energy she has left to throw herself on the mans back. The man first winces to his wound, but then tauntingly laugh and throws her against the car as she slides to the ground" Bitch! Now I KNOW you know better! "He kicks Molly hard in the stomach" And this is for hiding you had a twin! "He kicks Molly even harder, blood trickles out her mouth" Just think, this whole time we could have all played together! "He again turns to Bethany and kicks her chest, cracking 3 ribs as she cries out in excruciating pain" And thats for stabbing me, bitch! Oh your gonna pay in every way possibly now "He says as he turns to pick Molly up, walking her over and throwing her in his trunk. She cries and whimpers loudly, still curled up in a ball. The man heads back and scoops up Bethany. She starts fighting, clawing and leaving painful scrapes across his face. He quickly wraps his hand around her neck and squeezes tightly, subduing her into submission as she struggles to breathe. He throws her into the trunk, landing on top of Molly with a thud as he proudly proclaims" God, they were right, fishing in a different state really made more sense. Never woulda guessed when I snatched her up at a mall that I'd strike gold with twins. And then, after all that, YOU came to ME! I always wanted twins, and now you're BOTH mine. I choose when and how you die! "He laughs and glares at the two of them for an extended time, soaking in the sight of his new toys" First thing we gonna do is stitch that purdy mouth shut when we get home "He says to Bethany with a chuckle. Just as he reaches to close the trunk, there's a deafening, sharp sound. Bethany and Molly feel warm spatter pepper them, more of it visible on the trunk as well. The man slumps forward, a large bullet exit wound over his heart as he lifelessly slides down the back of the car, his body landing on the ground with a thud."

"Despite her stitches being cut, Molly is still silent the rest of the drive to the hospital. As she arrives and is worked up, she's considered throughout the hospital as "The Miracle Girl", in that her tests show that she shouldn't be alive. Infection has run rampant through her body, and half of her organ's aren't functioning properly as she's in stage III kidney failure. Her tiny womb has been decimated, but somehow is believed to be surgically repairable. Cognitive responses are astonishing, considering how her extreme lack of nutrition shows the same medical results as someone in a coma. When I tell them that she has a husband, Andy's quickly phoned. On the other end of the line, Andy see's his phone ring and picks up, not recognizing the number. As the physician tells him that his wife is in the ICU at Snyder Medical Center in Edgerton, he raises an eyebrow and says" Do you mean Bethany? My wife Molly passed away last year. "As the physician confirms that Bethany is here with Molly, Andy is already rushing to his car, speeding off to the hospital 4 hours away. His mind races even faster than his Ferrari as it speeds towards the hospital. Hours later, he enters Molly's room, her eyes lighting up with tears as she sees him approaching through her good eye. Seeing her horrific physical condition, he covers his mouth, eyes welling up as he borders shock. He walks up to her to embrace her tightly for the first time in a year and a half" I-I'm so...I...just-- thought "Andy can't even find the words. The tears stream freely from his eyes as he holds her tightly. Molly speaks for the first time since her mouth was cut of the stitches" I thought I was dead for sure. I just waited for it. Wanted for so long for the torture to end. I thought I’d never see you again "Andy holds her tightly, still refusing to let go as he hears her speak. He quietly asks" How- I mean who found you? How did you get free? "She explains it was Bethany who saved her, and that they're twins who got separated somehow. She further explains how they’d been able to communicate through dreams, although neither of them knew of their relation to each other until Bethany told her. The nurse comes in and tells Andy that Molly needs to get more rest and that visiting hours are over. Andy steps out into the hallway, finding Bethany outside the room, sitting quietly. He picks her up off her feet with a towering bear hug. As Andy holds her tightly, he whispers into her ear" Thank you so much. Thank you for bringing my Molly back. I was wrong to doubt you and owe you my life. Anything you ever want or need...say the word and it's yours. I'm eternally grateful...sister-in-law "Bethany has no words, but just soaks up how such good it is to have her sister safe, and knows that in part, she has Andy to thank for helping her to make the dream connection to her sister"

"Molly is in the hospital for nearly a month as her body fights its way back from the extreme deprivation and failure she experienced. She was on dialysis for weeks until her kidney's eventually righted themselves and pulled out of their failed state. Her womb and genitals that were ravaged severely are both able to be surgically repaired, and although recovery will take time, her gynecologist expects Molly to be able to conceive and carry a pregnancy. Many of the scars had to be grafted and it took some time to fend off the infection around her mouth stitches, but she does pull it off. The bruises and scratches all heal within the month and Molly’s color eventually returns. Bethany refuses to leave her side during any visiting hours, and Andy pays for her sister to stay at a hotel across the street from the hospital for the full month. Every day, the two of them learn more and more about each other, and find themselves more surprised - or lack thereof - to find that their interests are both in line with each other's. There's many tears shed as the two of them continue to unravel each of their sides of the story of how they crossed paths, and how they kept meeting at the glass wall in their dreams. Molly confesses that she thought she was looking at herself in a mirror all along, and didn’t think Bethany was even a real person. Bethany explains how she instantly recognized Molly in her dream, but didn’t understand why she was seeing her. Bethany expressed exactly how much love Andy really has for Molly, and that everything he did was simply to channel Molly's memory, and how she made him feel. She even eventually offers up the nugget about how Andy asked if she would be ok walking around the house in her bra and panties, and just how much it reminded him of her. Molly raises an eyebrow at first and asked if Andy ever tried to "put any moves" on Bethany, but just tells her that he was always a gentleman and made sure that she understood that it wasn't sexual but only to help him cope with her absence. Much to Bethany's surprise, Molly is quite receptive to this, saying how it sounds just like him. Andy spends nearly as much time with Molly as she’s healing in the hospital, finding himself getting overly emotional on a daily basis as he tries to explain to Molly how hard life had been without her, how he couldn’t move on, and how he thought he’d seen a ghost when he first picked Bethany up on the dirt road. The day finally comes, and Molly is released and walks out on her own two legs. She’s put on 15 pounds, and hopes to put another 20 on in the next few months. They all ride back to their home together as Molly hangs her hand out the window, letting the wind lift and drop it as she closes her eyes and smiles at her extreme changes of fortune. She feels so extremely loved right now, and with her husband and twin by her side, and knows there’s little she won’t be able to handle"

"That evening, after Molly gets situated back in her home, they ask Bethany to join them for dinner. After eating an exquisite meal of wagyu steak, lobster tail and crabs legs, the table falls silent momentarily. Andy reaches over and takes Molly's hand with a smile and speaks up" Bethany...Molly and I both know we owe her life to you, and so much more "Bethany blushes and says" Oh stop it. She’s my sister too, I know how special she is "Andy goes on" No, I'm serious. We've talked it over, and we'd like to invite you to live with us in the guest bedroom, permanently. If you meet someone and get married, you're both welcome to live here in our home…your home. If you decide to move out, just say where and show me the home and it's yours. Money doesn't buy everything, but I'll be damned… "he looks at Molly with all the love her can muster, tears pricking at the corner of his eyes as he looks back to Bethany again" ...I'll be damned if it's not gonna buy you all the gratitude I can offer. "Bethany is stunned, speechless and feels dumbfounded" I..umm...I...oh my gosh "she fans herself nervously" I don't even know what to say. I love you both so much, and thank you for this "Molly stand up and walks over to Bethany, leaning in for a hug as tears of joy stream down her face and softly says" I've gained so much more than anyone here...a second lease on life, an amazing twin sister I adore, and the most devoted loving husband that I thought I’d never see again. I insist, sis. Stay with us "The sisters both cry tears of joy as they embrace tightly. Bethany slowly glances over Molly’s shoulder at the large photo on the wall of Andy twirling Molly on their wedding day, the same photo that set their lives on the most unlikely collision course with destiny. As she feels wrapped in the warmest embrace of love, Bethany quietly thinks to herself" Finally…I’m home.