She was driving down the road, with a tear running down her face. Her fright was only thickening, as it was overtaking her mind. Staring at the headlights in front of her, dominating the darkness of the night, she stepped on the gas pedal accelerating quickly down the hill. As she drove faster, she approached a closed road with massive gates and construction vehicles. She did the only thing she thought she could possibly do; she took evasive action, grabbed the wheel with two hands and jerked the wheel, swerving into the construction zone. Slamming on the brakes, she heard the sound of little pieces of glass shattering, metal wrinkling against another obstacle in the back, and the pieces of the vehicle detaching, as her head was forced to the steering wheel. When the car came to a stop, her mind was focused on nothing but the sound of the steam arising from the crushed engine of the vehicle. Slowly lifting her head from the steering wheel, she struggled to remember what she intended to do.
Three Days Earlier
Day 1
Cheyenne, was a 26-year-old college student finishing her last year of college. It was just three days before graduation, and the thought of the freedom she was about to have, was the best feeing she's had in a while. It was almost time to step forward and pursue her dreams of developing a career, and a family. She never thought she would make it this far, as she didn't have the best childhood. It was stable until she was eleven years old, when her family fell apart. It was just her and her widowed mother, living in such a big place; it was lonely. Her mother spent years after, hardly raising her child on her own, living with the fact that her husband wasn't there anymore to help. Her father, a lawyer, was intelligent, inspirational, and definitely a role model. Cheyenne learned everything from him, and avoided making any decision without asking herself the leading question in her life: "What would my dad do?" Ever since he passed away, she always believed that he was there with her; sometimes she thought every chill that rushed through her blood was a sign of his presence. At least that was her belief until this day. After school, she walked to the library to study for her final exam. She landed her hand on the handle of the entrance, and she saw it. Just glancing for a second, she saw something in the reflection of the large windowed door. Despite the knowledge that she only saw it for a second, the image was already engraved in her mind, and it did nothing but send a chill through her body, and all she could hear is the enormous intensity of her heart beat. Quickly, Cheyenne ran inside the building and found a table to sit at. The relief of being around other people again made her feel so much better.
That night, as she lay in bed, she could see nothing but what she did earlier. This time, her mind was very focused on the image. In the reflection, she recalled the image of herself, but not herself - an unnatural demon that she had no sense to forget - permanently trapped within her conscience. This spiritual clone of her had a pale face and bloodshot eyes, with drenched hair soaking her clothing. It looked almost as if she had just awakened from a long coma from underwater. It was an image of Darkness and of Evil - of Horror and Hell - leaving her lay through a dark, sleepless night.
Day 2
The next day, Cheyenne approached her best friend early before school that morning, and explained the story to her, just to have a sympathetic ear; to be enlightened that she's not crazy.
"Rachel, remember earlier this week in class, we were learning about doppelgängers and their role in life?"
"Cheyenne, you don't actually believe that do you? That stuff is mythical and... well, absurd. Ridic..."
"You're right. It's crazy."
"I know it's been stressful given the memories of your past, and it's definitely not helping with the overwhelming week of finals. Hallucinations can be haunting from all this nonsense."
"You're right. I just need a lot of rest. Hopefully this feeling will ware itself off."
Rachel smiled and led her to their class for the final exam. When the professor arrived, he handed out the tests and let them begin. Cheyenne stared down at the paper, focusing all of her mind and time on that final. She broke a major sweat and before she knew it, she was at home preparing for graduation the next morning.
Day 3
She It was the eager feeling inside of finally graduating from college that overcame her worry of some spirit of hers shadowing over her. This was a beginning of a new milestone; a milestone that she’s been waiting for her entire school career – a lawyer. She's spent her whole life dreaming of becoming what would make her father proud. The amazement of making it this far made her feel as if a weight has just been lifted off her shoulders. As soon as evening had come, she tried on her cap and gown, and as she saw her grown self in the mirror, she saw someone behind her in the reflection. It was the first time she's seen her mother smile in a long time. Her mother walked up to her, with a tear running down her face. Petting her head, she reminded Cheyenne how proud she was of her. As the big night drew itself closer, the more excited she was to get it over with.
That Night
The night was warm; lightening was visible in the distance. Ignoring all her surroundings, Cheyenne sat in the middle of the crowd, waiting to hear her signal to stand up from her chair. Then it echoed through the field, "Cheyenne Pearce!" With hundreds of hands clapping together and cheers covering the field, she stood up with a smile. It was like high school graduation all over again, but better. It seemed forever before she made it up to the stage, and the moment her foot stepped on it, she received her diploma just knowing that this was it. This was a new beginning. At the end, once the air was filled with graduation hats, she felt free, and could believe nothing more than the fact that her father was looking down on her. Contentment took over her body. Life felt so right, that the thought of any tragedy blocking the way was a ridiculous fairytale.
After the ceremony, her friends invited her to an after party. Hoping to make it there before the storm arrived, she rushed to her car. When she got in, putting her seat belt on, lightning struck again. This time, her attention was caught in her rear view mirror, as a shadow appeared to be in the back seat of the car. She could only catch a glimpse of the face with the strike of lightening every few seconds. The figure looked just like her; the reflection she saw just the other day except this time, rather than the illusion of a spirit from hell, this was the real thing. The thought that she ever had a twin never crossed her mind. Her mouth dropped. Her body froze, by extreme terror of the villain. A chill rushed through her skin, and the sound of her heartbeat thickened. She had no understanding as to why - even without the devil image anymore - she still appeared evil. Cheyenne felt a tap on her waist. She had to believe it now. As her own sister lifted a taser up to her waist, the silence was filled with a soft, malicious voice.
"Drive."
She was driving down the road, with a tear running down her face. Her fright was only thickening, as it was overtaking her mind. Staring at the headlights in front of her, dominating the darkness of the night, she stepped on the gas pedal accelerating quickly down the hill. As she drove faster, she approached a closed road with massive gates and construction vehicles. She did the only thing she thought she could possibly do; she took evasive action, grabbed the wheel with two hands and jerked the wheel, swerving into the construction zone. Slamming on the brakes, she heard the sound of little pieces of glass shattering, metal wrinkling against another obstacle in the back, and the pieces of the vehicle detaching, as her head was forced to the steering wheel. When the car came to a stop, her mind was focused on nothing but the sound of the steam arising from the crushed engine of the vehicle. Slowly lifting her head from the steering wheel, she struggled to remember what she intended to do. This short feeling felt like it was the longest experience of her life, and it had to be finished. She looked in the back seat, and saw nothing but broken glass. Not even a body. She opened her door, and stepped out of her vehicle. Walking around it, listening for a sign of presence around her, she approached the back of her car and there she saw, a body lying on the ground without any movement. Looking further into the trees was the shape of a tombstone. She took baby steps, toward it, and under a bolt of light, she read it to herself. "Cheyenne Pearce." Once her foot just past the body of her sister, fright struck her when a grip caught her ankle.