Nefarious (4 Ch. Sample)

 Rylan woke early the next day. The Sheriff had sent word to her that Pastor Caxton, Collin and Tate would be arriving at the house at nine am. She stopped by the bakery and grabbed a dozen assorted muffins and four coffees. Just paying them for their help didn't seem like enough.

Especially for Tate. Rylan knew it was going to be harder for him than the others. After all, Rydel and her were identical twins. There was a slight difference in their appearance but at first glance you wouldn't be able to tell them apart. To Tate, Rylan was sure; she was going to look just like Rydel.

Rylan walked in the house. She sat the box of muffins down on the island then ran out to get the coffee. It was sunny but rain in the forecast for later that day. Rylan hoped it held off for the guys to get a lot done today.

"Knock, knock." Marlysa came walking in through the kitchen door. "Ry?"

"Coming." Rylan took the stairs from the second floor to the kitchen. "Nice to have you here today."

"Wow! It looks great in here." Marlysa looked around the spotless bright kitchen. "And it smells lemon fresh."

"You can get a lot done when you work nonstop for hours and hours." Said Rylan with her hands on her hips. She wasn't mad at Marlysa. Just teasing her. "What friend did you run into?"

"Bree Tanner. Do you remember her?" Marlysa sat her things down beside the muffins. She opened the lid of the muffin box. Her hand hovered over them until she found a chocolate chip one.

"Don't touch the coffee. That's for the guys. I would have got you one but wasn't sure you would be here. As for Bree, yeah, I remember her." Another person from her past that was there that summer night. Bree was one of the lucky ones from that night. She escaped with a twisted ankle and some cuts and bruises from running through the woods after the attack started. Or so Marlysa told her. Marlysa was how Rylan knew certain things from that night.

"What guys?" Marlysa asked with narrowed eyes and a mouthful of chocolate chip muffin. "And why are these guys coming here today?"

"Sheriff Thomas got us some help for the outside. Pastor Caxton, Collin Bancroft, he's the deputy sheriff, and Tate." Rylan looked at her cousin, who froze mid chew.

Marlysa choked down her muffin. "Tate Warner?"

"Yes." Rylan slumped against the island knowing they were both thinking the same thing. Rydel. "Um, do I, um." Rylan struggled with her words. Tears burned her eyes. "Do I look like her too much?"

"Oh, Rylan! Don't think like that!" Marlysa dropped her muffin on to the bar and rushed over to her cousin, wrapping Rylan in her arms. "Don't you dare start blaming yourself for anything, Rylan Somers! None of it is your fault! And it especially won't be your fault if Tate can't handle that you look like Rydel." Marlysa's voice broke when she said Rydel's name. The three of them had been more like sisters then cousins. Tears filled her eyes. "Not your fault." She rubbed Rylan's back.

"It feels like it. I'm the only one that made it out. Rydel, mom and dad. They're all, all." Rylan started crying. Her body shaking in Marlysa's embrace. Hot tears streamed down her face.

"Don't, Ry. Don't." Marlysa pleaded with her cousin. Many times, over the years she had heard Rylan cry herself to sleep over that night. Had she always been blaming herself for that night? A scuffling noise drew her attention behind her.

"I'm sorry. I'll come back." Luke Caxton apologized when the blonde girl holding Rylan looked over her shoulder at him. Both girls had tears stained faces.

"No, it's alright." Rylan said moving away from Marlysa at the sound of the pastor's voice. She wiped her face with the sleeves of her shirt and cleared her throat. "Are the others here?"