Chapter 2

I couldn't accept dying so unfairly, crying and pleading with him, "I'm really not Brenda. If you kill the wrong person now, you won't get another shot at revenge!

"Please, just give me one more chance. Let me call my parents. They can tell you I'm not Brenda!"

He was silent for a few seconds, then said coldly, "I'll give you three chances to call. If no one can prove you're not Brenda Ross, don't blame me for what comes next."

The cold blade slid across my neck, sending chills down my spine and making every hair on my body stand on end.

"Trust me, my parents can tell us apart!" I blurted out.

Even though Brenda and I were identical twins, our personalities couldn't have been more different.

She was outgoing and lively, while I was quiet and reserved.

Most people couldn't tell the difference between us, but my parents? The moment we opened our mouths, they instantly knew which one was the older sister and which one was the younger.

As for my boyfriend, maybe he could tell us apart, but I wasn't about to bet my life on it.

I took a deep breath and said, "Call my mom first. You dial."

The man pulled out Brenda's phone, found my mom's number, and made the call.

The call connected almost instantly.

I took a deep breath and tried to sound as normal as possible. "Mom, are you still up?"

My mom replied, "Not yet, sweetie. What's up? Why are you calling so late?"

When I heard Mom's gentle voice calling me "sweetie," my tears welled up all over again.

For a split second, I almost spilled everything. My fear, my desperation, the mess I was in. But I forced myself to hold it in.

One wrong word and I was dead. He'd kill me without a second thought.

I blinked back tears, doing my best to sound chill. "Mom, can you guess who I am?"

I held my breath, waiting for her reply, my heart racing like mad.

Mom took a moment to think before answering.

After about four or five seconds, she laughed softly. "Brenda, seriously, you're all grown up. Still playing this guessing game?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Mom, who do you think I am?" I blurted out, totally stunned.

Mom just laughed like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Of course you're Brenda! Sweetie, this trick won't work on me. You know I can always tell you two apart."

I was falling apart. "Mom, I... please, just don't mess with me right now, okay?"

My mom said, "I'm really not joking, baby. I raised you and your sister myself. There's no way I could ever mix you two up. The second you speak, I know exactly which one of you it is."

Yes, Brenda and I used to swap phones and pretend to be each other, but Mom never once got it wrong.

So why did she have to mess up now, when it mattered most?

I was utterly helpless, pleading with everything I had. "Mom, please, I'm begging you! Just listen carefully, really listen to my voice! Please, try to hear who I really am!"

Mom yawned, sounding tired. "Sweetie, it's really late, and I'm exhausted. Let's talk tomorrow, okay?"

I was freaking out. "Mom, please, just a few more minutes, okay? I really need to talk to you!"

Mom was starting to get impatient. "Sweetie, I'm really tired. We'll talk tomorrow. Bye."

I said hurriedly, "Mom, please don't..."

But she hung up, just like that, and all I heard was that harsh, endless beep in my ear.

I looked up at the man, tears streaming down my face. I had nothing left but to beg him.

I said, "She's definitely doing this on purpose! Please, can you call her again? Just one more time!"

He put the phone away, looking cold as ice. "You've already wasted one of your chances."

I didn't dare try to bargain with him. I brushed away my tears and said, "Call my dad."

He pulled up my dad's number and hit dial.

After a few rings, someone finally answered.

My dad's voice was barely above a whisper. "Brenda, your mom's trying to sleep. Whatever it is, we'll talk about it tomorrow, okay? I'm hanging up now."

Desperate, I cried out, "Dad, please, don't hang up! I need you! Just listen to me!"

My dad sounded weary and exasperated. "Is there something else?"

I took a deep breath, trying my best to sound calm. "Dad, I really want to eat your homemade crispy pork strips."

That was a code only Dad and I knew.

I'd told him ages ago. If I ever said those words, it meant I was in serious trouble.

Not even Mom or Brenda knew about it.

Now, there was absolutely no way Dad could mistake me for Brenda.

But after a short pause, Dad just said, totally unfazed, "Alright. Next time you come home, I'll make it for you."

I was floored. Dad didn't even react to our secret code. For a second, I just stared at the phone, totally stunned.

"Dad, it's me! Jessica!" I cried out.

Dad was starting to get impatient.

He said, "Brenda, quit fooling around. Your mom needs her sleep. Whatever it is, we'll talk tomorrow. Get some sleep yourself. Burning the midnight oil every night is bad for you. I'm hanging up now!"