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Seduction

Chapter One

It was a warm and peaceful night in Grand Forks, North Dakota as the city sat wonderfully

under white, drifted clouds with the stars that sparkled beautifully across the sky. Underneath all

the glamour and glory of the residential area sat a small, perfected home that was placed in the

midst of the neighborhood city area. In the house stood dark, painful memories and loads of

deceptions due to Leonard Devorae a Forks Electric Company worker, who was Rebecca

Devaroe’s abusive husband. He was a delirious man who she was married to for three years, but

during the years he was horribly offensive to her. Numerous times Rebecca would be covered

with fatal bruises on her body from the top of her head to the bottom of her legs, which tortured

her terribly. There were moments when she could not even get out of bed to take care of her two

year old twins, Taneka and Tina Devaroe due to his horrible abuse that crippled her severely

over the years. It was an atrocious time for her and she hoped that the agony would come to a

stop one day so she could live a productive life with her daughters. From the moment she gave

birth there was nothing but disaster that followed one after the other like a flock of rocks that slid

down the heavy mountain continuously. The time that they shared together were unbearable, but

one day Rebecca would bring all of this madness that she and her daughters encountered to an

end. One that she might have to risk her life for.

When Rebecca met Leonard he was all she ever dreamed of. She was his queen that he adored

and Leonard was her knight in shining armor that she never wanted to depart from. What more

could a couple ask for? But now in the blink of an eye everything changed for the worse.

Leonard had become an enemy and a total stranger to Rebecca. Out of the blue, he came home

and beat her to where the blood drenched down her face in large numbers. She stared hard at her

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hands over and over that were covered with it and realized that her twins watched and became

paranoid at every blow that he threw across her face. Every hit that he pounded on Rebecca’s

body made the girls more petrified than ever. They cried excessively and felt defeated as they

stared at the one man who was supposed to be their king, but instead they saw a person who they

totally had no knowledge of. It was know a dreadful time for the entire family who experienced a

transformation that brought everyone into a life of despair. But no matter what Rebecca stayed

strong and resided with her husband, who almost took her life away from her thousands of times

through the years.

The atmosphere in the two bedroom house of Rebecca Devaroe was quiet and calm while she

bathed her two year old twins Taneka and Tina as they happily played in the bath tub of water.

They were the spinning image of their mother with their light skin, brown hair and gorgeous

hazel eyes that brought their beauty out tremendously. From the moment Rebecca saw their faces

she no doubt in her mind knew that there was nothing in the world that she adored more. But just

like in fairy tales there was always someone or something who tried to destroy her happiness

with her daughters, and that was Leonard. They loved each other without a doubt in the

beginning, but heartache kicked in drastically when Leonard lost his brother RODNEY due to a

devastating car crash that changed his world forever. Over time he became abusive, then the

drinking and the deceit followed shortly behind. The situation ate her and her daughters up on

the inside where their feelings were distressed over him. Many times Rebecca had this important

question plastered across her mind that she could never dismiss due to how terrified she was.

How did she have children, let alone twins with the abuse that she encountered every day? But

she did and loved them tremendously from the day they were born. There were several times

when Rebecca wanted to leave, but she felt as if she was a hostage and could place her daughters

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in a situation that was far worse then what they suffered in the past. She was severely trapped

like a castaway in a dark dungeon with no way out. With no family, and nowhere to go she

continued to stay and deal with the devastation that she allowed herself to become a part of for

the past three years. She took her mind off Leonard and smiled as she watched her daughters

play in the water joyfully.

“You both are having fun. Aren’t you?” Rebecca said. She stared at Tina pleasantly as she

placed her finger under her chin while Taneka splashed the water just as her sister’s laugh was

heard throughout the bathroom.

While Rebecca wiped her daughters down, she thought back to when she first met Leonard at

a North Dakota bar shortly after she moved from her home state of Alabama. Leonard stood tall

at 5’7, 153 pounds and was the color of light caramel. He had the most adorable hazel eyes that

anyone could have ever seen, which was what turned her on to him. Rebecca dated Leonard for

several years and when they felt that the moment was right they were married. It was a

wonderful time for her because she was never seriously involved with anyone, yet with the

emotions she encountered with her new love, she believed that now was the perfect time to be

with the one who she loved. In 1980, Two years after they were married Taneka and Tina were

born. It was a great time for both of them as they watched their two daughters sprout, but shortly

after their birth Leonard’s brother was killed. Rodney was his soul mate, provider and a person

he would go to in time of need. Now their time with each other was destroyed and Leonard, who

was beyond this world of pain, could never accept it.

Rebecca took her mind off her disturbed husband and continued to wipe down her children as

they played in the water and as fast as lightening she heard a loud slam from the front door that

made her and the twins jump. They cried terribly and with concern on her face, Rebecca walked

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into the living room upset dressed in her pink house coat, slippers and her black hair was placed

back in a ponytail. She stared at Leonard as he glanced around with angry eyes.

“Leonard what is wrong with you? You scared the twins.” She whispered as he slammed his

coat on the floor and stumped up to her.

“Why isn’t dinner made?” He asked as he grabbed her arms tightly.

“Get your hands off of me. I have to get the twins. They are in the tub.” Rebecca firmly said

as she struggled to break free.

“I don’t care! You move when I say move!” She finally broke away and ran in the bathroom

with tears as hard nails that streamed down her face. What she saw broke her heart more than

anything ever could.

“Ahh! Oh my God!” Both the twins were faced down in the water. Rebecca grabbed Taneka

as fast as lightening and laid her on the floor where she started CPR. When she did her baby

forced the water from her throat and heavily started to breathe. She grabbed Tina as the tears fell

down her face in large numbers and saw that she was lifeless. Her little baby would not move an

inch and the agony that Rebecca felt as she watched tortured her heart like a flamed torch. She

nervously blew in her mouth countless times and when she did Leonard walked up to the

bathroom door without as much as an inch of care to what laid in front of him. He stared hard at

all of them and did not say one word as if his heart was frozen black. It was like an evil entity

entered his body and there was no way of getting it out. Without any remorse or regret, he

walked out and headed toward his bedroom while Rebecca struggled to get her two girls to

breathe. He did not have one feeling or concern for his family who was such a strong impact in

his life. After a while of blowing in Tina’s mouth, she finally spit up the water from her throat

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and a loud cry was heard. Rebecca immediately called an ambulance and both the twins were

rushed to Memorial General Hospital.

Rebecca arrived at the packed emergency department with Taneka and Tina where they were

escorted to a hospital room. The twins experienced a terrible scare with their lives, but due to

Rebecca’s quick thinking they were both on their way to a healthy recovery. She stood by their

beds and watched as they slept and noticed that their breathing skyrocketed to normal. She gazed

at Taneka as her little eye lids blinked and her fingers moved gracefully within her crib that she

slept in so quietly. She walked over to her with a smile on her face and pulled the blanket over

her chest as a result of the chill that surrounded the room. Rebecca did the same for Tina and

glanced at her lovingly as she placed a small grin on her face.

“My two little angels.” Rebecca whispered as she stood amazed over what Leonard had done.

She covered her eyes in distraught and cried terribly for the safety of her girls who she loved so

much. With a tormented heart, she walked around Taneka’s bed and sat down in the green,

leather chair with a mind that could not believe that her babies were admitted into the hospital

and what was worse what Leonard had done. She placed herself to the back of the chair, closed

her eyes and focused on what she wanted to do about this worthless husband of hers, but nothing

strong came to mind. She could leave and go to a shelter, but that was the last place she wanted

to be with her two year old daughters. Rebecca, all of the sudden, heard a sound from Taneka.

She stood up and witnessed a small smirk on her face as she inhaled a strong breath. Rebecca

pleasantly touched her little hands as she glanced at Tina who appeared like she was pulled away

into dream world and she questioned herself with the word “Why?” Rebecca was surrounded

with hatred for the one man who stole so much from her over the past several years and was at

the brink of ending his life dead in his tracks. While she reminisced on her life with her family,

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DR. LUTHER BARRINGER, the twin’s pediatrician entered the room. He was head of the

Pediatric Department for fifteen years and royally loved every drop of his responsibilities when

he worked with children. He stared at Rebecca with grey eyes as she lovingly stood over her

daughter.

“Mrs. Devaroe?” Dr. Barringer said softly.

“Yes.” She quickly turned around and gently rubbed her eyes.

“It seems that the twins are fine but we want to keep them overnight.” Rebecca shook her

head in agreement, but was terrified for her daughters and thought that the hospital would be the

best place for them considering what happened. Rebecca sat down in the chair and thought

about the devastation that her twins had experienced, which pierced her heart like an arrow. It

tortured her dramatically, but her husband who acted as if he no longer existed, could care less.

He had no concern in the least for how his wife felt, and had no feelings of remorse or regret

whatsoever about his flesh and blood. It appeared as if they meant nothing to him or as if they

were never born. Rebecca on the other hand adored her daughters and wanted Taneka and Tina

to be happy. The doctor walked out but as he did, Rebecca turned off the overhead light, sat

down and fell asleep. She was not leaving the hospital without her daughters and intended to stay

until they left the hospital together.

The time finally came to where Rebecca brought her girls home and took them straight to bed.

They slept the whole day and mostly half the night, but with the ordeal that they encountered she

could not blame them. While the anger rose in her body, she watched Taneka and Tina as they

slept safely, yet wondered what Leonard had in store for them. She sat in her rocking chair by

their beds, covered her eyes with her hands and never thought that things would get so bad with

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her daughters, or Leonard. She was paranoid for all of their lives and could not believe that

Taneka and Tina were on the brink of death. Rebecca reminisced on her girls and wondered

would this be the end for them as well as herself.

“I almost lost my babies.” She said quietly as the water filled up in her eyes. Her tears became

heavy like rocks that fell down her cheeks. With a tired heart, Rebecca kissed both Taneka and

Tina on the forehead and gently touched their hands. She noticed right away that they were frail,

and that their skin turned pale due to the overwhelming night in which they had experienced.

Rebecca, stared hard at both of them with one vow in mind.

“I will never let you go through something like this again.” She whispered as she pulled their

blankets over their bodies while they slept. She slowly lifted her head toward the window and

saw how beautifully the moon’s reflection came in toward the twins. It was a gorgeous scene and

after she froze on the sight of it she pulled the small, wool blanket over her body and fell fast

asleep.

It was the dead of night and Rebecca slept through it in the twin’s room to make sure they

were alright. She awoken with a quick jerk and thought about Leonard who always made her life

a living hell. Rebecca meditated on what she wanted to do about him before he killed her along

with her babies and the secret that she held inside for so many years was about to be released.

Strongly, she came to one logical conclusion. Enough was enough with her so called husband,

and now was the time to get rid of the one who made her whole world so difficult to bear. While

she thought of ways to get rid of her deathly husband, a loud yell was a heard that stretched

down the hallway like a sound out of a horror flick.

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“Rebecca! Rebecca!” Leonard yelled. She walked toward the twin’s bedroom door with a

heart that pounded heavily out control for fear of what he would do to her. Leonard was a

constant, irresponsible man as well as the type who allowed his life to slip through his fingers as

a result of his past. It was not always that way, but ever since tragedy struck him with his brother

he was forever destroyed and he beat his wife harshly from day to day. Rebecca slid down the

wall, crossed her arms in front of her stomach while the tears poured down her face

uncontrollably. She was tired of the corruption and due to that she thought for sure she would

have to defend herself sooner or later. She answered Leonard nervously.

“Yes, what is it?” She said as she stood up and cracked the door open.

“It is four-thirty in the morning. Why aren’t you in bed?” He yelled.

“I fell asleep while I was watching the twins.” She opened the bedroom door wider to see if

he was coming down the dark hall and to her surprise, he wasn’t.

All was silent around the house and Rebecca watched her daughters as they slept charmingly

into never, never land. Exhausted, she stretched her arms above her head and closed her eyes due

to how drowsy she was. Quietness pounded against her ears like a feathery wind on a summer

night. It was so peaceful she could have heard a pin drop and within a quick second life turned

drastic for her. In a flash, Leonard ran through his bedroom door and pushed into the twin’s

room harshly. He knocked Rebecca down and started to punch her in the face while her head hit

the floor dozens of times. She screamed in horror and woke Taneka and Tina out of their sleep.

They instantly started to cry and as they did Leonard ran toward their bed in an attempt to quiet

them. Rebecca in pain lifted up toward him.

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“Oh no you don’t Leonard! Leave them alone!” Rebecca yelled as the blood ran down her

face continuously. She grabbed his leg and knocked him down brutally, which caused his mouth

to hit the bed frame. He turned around quickly as fast as lightning, went toward her and stared as

if he wanted to stab her through the chest with a sharp, pointy, knife. Rebecca cried in agony

while her children watched in horror as their mother got abused again for the thousandth time

over the years. Leonard grabbed her by the arm while she was packed in pain and placed his

hand tightly around her neck squeezing it tighter by the minute. It was so distraught that her face

turned blue as she gagged heavily for air to where her eyes rolled to the back of her head. He

spoke to her massively as his hands secured her neck where he tried to mutilate her life

completely.

“Don’t you ever defy me, Rebecca! When I am in bed, you are with me!” Leonard strongly

announced to her. He continuously knocked her head against the floor causing it to drain out

blood to where the carpet and her pajamas where soaked with it. While she struggled for air,

Taneka and Tina looked on as she laid on the floor in total distress.

“Daddy, stop it!” Taneka replied as she cried. Tina placed her hands over her eyes. When

Leonard heard his daughters’ voice he immediately released Rebecca. She coughed and

struggled to get air into her lungs as her children watched in horror. He weakly stood up and

stared at her as if the world belonged to him and he was the soul king of it. He smiled warmly

with slick eyes and walked out as if nothing happened. It appeared like a game to him that he had

no plan on losing. While the blood trickled down Rebecca’s face from her nose, she stared at the

door paranoid and came to her last straw with this man. She could no longer go through the

agony of being beat another day. She mellowed out, stood up and positioned herself in the

middle of the floor with a phony grin on her face.

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“I will be there in a few minutes, Leonard.” She said pleasantly as he headed toward his

bedroom. She struggled over to Taneka and Tina with a body that was tortured and basically felt

mangled. She gently laid her terrified daughters down and stayed with them until they fell asleep.

While she relaxed on the bed she felt the pain of her horribly beaten face and could no longer

continue to allow her twins to see her in this drastic condition.

After a while Rebecca struggled into the bathroom, looked into the mirror and washed her

face completely off that was smothered in blood. What remained behind were the scars and

wounds that she received from Leonard’s brutal attack. She touched each lash that was

embedded on her face and in an instant she was again in tears. Her heart ached and she wanted

to stop this time of despair before it got any worse or before it caused her or both of her

daughter’s death. Rebecca glanced at the brutal marks that were now a part of her face and

postulated that tonight was the time to end it all, even if it caused her death.

In agony, Rebecca walked down to her bedroom and slowly opened the door while Leonard

continued to sleep peacefully as if his life was beyond compare. In agony, she quietly headed

toward the kitchen being careful not to make a sound as the blood continued to stream down her

face. Tonight was the night when she would commit the unthinkable. It was the time that she

would end the abuse that darkened her days for so many years. She turned on the stove and filled

up the biggest, black, iron pot that she had with water. Her eyes stood still in time, while she

stared at the fire that strongly convinced her that the days of hell were about to instantly cease.

This was the last time that Leonard would put his hands on her, or let her children see how

abusive he was. When she saw the bubbles in the pot she turned the stove off and quickly

thought about what she was about to do. This was not her, but the beating over the years brought

her to a decision that she did not want to make. She carefully grabbed the pot with two brown pot

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holders and walked down the hallway with it very slowly. She prayed that she did not drop it

scolding herself to where she ended up in the hospital, but kept on moving with the heavy urn.

Amazingly she made it to Leonard’s bedroom door and behind it slept the man that she was

destined to end his life. She pushed it opened with her arms and bare feet and tried with all of her

might not to let the door squeak, for if it was heard she knew that her life would shortly end. As

Rebecca slowly entered the room her heart pounded like a drum and raced out of control like a

runaway train, while the tears of pain drizzled slowly down her face like a waterfall. She knew

that the moment was now to execute Leonard out of her life and end the essence of this troubled

man that hunted her for years. She finally got that chance now. Rebecca glanced across the room

and squinted her eyes tightly as agitation was expressed all over her dismantled body. Quietly

she walked toward the bed as the hot pot burned through the pot holders almost scolding her

fingers. She could barely hold it anymore, but no matter how hot the iron container got she was

determined to end his life right then and there. She watched her husband sleep peacefully for the

last time as the memories of him swooshed through her mind like a train. He was not worried

about a thing on earth. He was fearless and not one spec of distress was in him, not even after

what he committed. With all the years of war, Rebecca could finally get rid of the guilt and pain

that she suffered from since the day the twins came into their lives. She took a big sigh and with

all of her might she poured the hot, boiling water on his body, threw the pot at him and quickly

ran out the room. He awoke after he felt the terrible pain of heat that became a part of him, and

that he would be saturated with for the rest of his life.

“Ahh! Ahh! What did you do? You slut! Ahh!” Leonard jumped out of the bed while

Rebecca ran to the twin’s room where she held both of them tight. She heard Leonard scream in

tremendous pain while she cried over the disaster that she committed this very night.

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Rebecca laid horrified while she focused on the door and right then she saw Leonard’s

shadow as he ran into the bathroom drenched in agony. She held Taneka and Tina tight to her

chest and sobbed in sorrow for the one whose love had turned into nothing but hate. She felt

imperfect for what she did, but could not take the abuse anymore, and did not want to risk

putting her children through the same fate. There was no other way around it she thought, and

felt that he deserved exactly what he got. She released her children and eased her way over

toward the door with wide eyes. Rebecca did not see him and due to her suspicion she stood by

the door tortured in fear. She stared down the dark hall way toward the left and the right.

Leonard was nowhere in sight, not even a cry. In the pinch of a second he ran out of the

bathroom screaming as he rushed toward her in a wave of tumbling madness. Rebecca rushed in

the living room away from Taneka and Tina and tried not to let them see the dismantled part of

their father’s face. Full of hatred, he stood face to face with her while he was in the living room

and Rebecca stared at him as the wounded part of his features swelled up beyond recognition.

She was in disgust due to what happened, but she wanted to torture this manic who had become a

psychopath over the years that made life difficult to bear. He had severe burns on his face, arms

and legs and his skin peeled off as a result of the severity of the hot water. While Leonard stared

at her dead on, Rebecca screamed in horror as she watched the man who was once her husband

and who basically ruined her life. Her hands went to her mouth to keep her from screaming, but

her eyes tightened up as the tears rolled uncontrollably down her cheeks. She eased her hands

from her mouth as she trembled, done with the one person who she considered her mate and who

strongly transformed her life into a living hell.

“This is for you Leonard! You will never put your hands on me again!” She yelled. Without

holding back Rebecca picked up a wooden chair that sat by the wall while Leonard quickly

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lunged toward her, and she pounded him in the head. He dropped to the floor instantly where his

death was now a reality. On the outside she looked on him with wide eyes and quivered all over

due to what she committed, and on the inside she could not have felt better. She refused to

believe that she murdered this man because this type of offense was not her, but the proof stood

right in front of her face and she did not regret it one bit.

After the deadly murder of her husband, Rebecca dropped to her knees and cried. She kneeled

over him while her head went to the floor, but was glad to know that the madness that she

suffered from came to a terrifying end. She sat up, looked at Leonard and saw the bruises that

were all over his body from the hot water. His skin hung off of his face and the water was so hot

that his legs were burnt clear down to the bottom layer of his skin. Rebecca could no longer look

at him, but with everything she experienced she was destined to do what she had to in order to

free herself from this maniac. She thought hard about her circumstances and knew she had to get

rid of his body and keep her twins from finding out. She stood up, wiped the tears slowly from

her face and realized that her time was very limited. With no mercy and no regret she had to take

him to a deserted area where no one would find him. Rebecca quickly ran into the hallway, and

grabbed a black, large sheet out of the cabinet with tears in her eyes. She ran into the twin’s

room to make sure that they were fast asleep and magically they were. She quickly walked into

the living room as her heart pounded and unfolded the huge black sheet that would now make

Leonard’s presence a secret. With no thought of the consequences, Rebecca kneeled to the floor

and rolled Leonard’s lifeless body over so he could be on his back. She stared at him from the

top of his head to the bottom of his feet, and distinguished that what she caused was out of her

league. She looked at his pale skin, glanced at his face and noticed that Leonard’s eyes were

opened as if they stared at her straight on. He knew exactly what she committed, but he was

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gone. He was not breathing. He did not move and his heart stopped beating. His lifeless frame

that was no longer a part of this word laid on the floor in his black and white pajamas that were

soaked from top to bottom. Rebecca contemplated on what she had to do, and that was to do the

unbelievable.

“Alright Leonard. You are going far away from here.” She said. Without a thought to what

Rebecca was doing, she pushed him onto the sheet and covered his entire body. She knew that

what she coldheartedly did was wrong, but with two daughters she was not about to give up her

life for the death of a deranged maniac.

It was late and whether she wanted to or not Rebecca had to dispose of Leonard’s body before

day break. She was nervous as she walked back and forth across the floor with not a single plan

as to how she wanted to do this. His death hunted her and the more she thought about it, the

worse her feelings mangled her. She turned off the lights that were in the living room, sat down

on her love seat and tried to figure out a gimmick of what needed to be done to guarantee her

safety. With a tortured mind she picked up her phone that was placed on the nightstand beside

her and dialed JILL ROBERTSON, the next door neighbor. She was a Puerto Rican lady who

moved to North Dakota in 1975 to pursue her dream to become a nurse. She was married to an

auto mechanic and had two children who were both college students. She appeared as a short

lady, very stubby and loved Rebecca and her girls dearly.

“Hello” Sounding sleep.

“Jill, can you take the twins for about three hours please?” She said. Jill sounded like she was

asleep and did not answer Rebecca.

“Jill, would you please take the twins for a while?” Rebecca asked with a stern voice.

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“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I am fine. I have an emergency situation that came up and I need to take care of it right

away” She said relentlessly. She shook her head dismayed as she stood in front of Leonard’s

body.

“Yes, I will take them. Are you bringing them over now?” Rebecca walked across the floor.

“I am going to get them ready now.”

“Alright.” Rebecca hung up the phone and felt crushed due to what happened. She fell to her

knees and wanted to scream due to her actions, and what she planned to do, but she realized that

right now was not the time to fall to pieces. She took a huge breath, got herself under control and

was ready to do what she had to for her two daughters’ sakes. Rebecca had no other choice to

make. She had to dispose of her late husband’s body immediately.

It was five-thirty in the morning and Rebecca was still in her living room with her husband’s

body who she gruesomely put to rest. The morning got later and the time with Rebecca was now

shorter. She got up, ran in the twin’s room, took a deep swallow and when she did there was a

terrible pain in her throat that made her cry out. She ran quickly to the twin’s beds and woke

them up with the harsh memories of what she committed on her mind.

“Taneka and Tina wake up. You are going over Jill’s house.” She swiftly pulled their red

coats out of the closet while they sat up in the beds.

“Come on honey put this on.” Said Rebecca. She placed Taneka’s coat over her shoulders and

then Tina’s.

“Mom, I do not want to go. I want to stay home.” Said Tina with a sleepy voice.

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“Come on, Tina. We do not have time to waste and put your shoes on.” The twins looked

under their beds for their shoes and quickly slid them on their feet.

“Come on. Let’s go.” Rebecca said as she cried. She walked toward the front door with Tina

on the right of her and Taneka on the left. She raced through the living room, looked at

Leonard’s body as it laid in the middle of the floor and hoped that the twins would not notice

him. Amazingly they made it out the house without as much as a question.

When they arrived next door Rebecca looked at Jill’s home that was enormous, yet fit for a

queen. It was magnificent and reminded her of a castle that belonged to a famous empress. It

was a beautiful black and gold color with gorgeous carnation flowers that were planted in the

front yard. The trees looked as if they were going to touch the sky and the house was built out of

bricks that were painted white. Rebecca ran on the porch with her twins and knocked heavily on

the door. A lightly, lowered female answered.

“Who is it?” Jill answered.

“It is me. Open the door.” Rebecca said. Jill opened it slowly and looked surprised at what

she saw. Rebecca was covered in bruises as if she was run over by a truck and appeared faint and

lost as if she landed on another planet.

“Rebecca, what is going on? Did you get into a fight with Leonard again?” She shook her

head no.

“Please, Jill. Just take the twins. I have to go.” The children ran into the house, laid on the

couch and before the blankets hit their bodies they were out like a light.

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Rebecca exhaustedly walked into the living room as Jill shut the door behind her. She ran

over to the twins and kissed them on the forehead as if it was the last time she would ever see

them. When she did Jill noticed what appeared to be blood on her finger, but did not mention one

word about it. Her main concern was Rebecca and the twin’s safety.

“I have to go.” Rebecca headed for the door and Jill ran after her.

“Rebecca turn around and look at me.” She turned in fear while her eyes filled up with water.

“What is going on? You know you can trust me.” She said softly.

Rebecca realized that if she told Jill she would place herself in a deep situation by going to

jail for the rest of her life. She approached the dining room table, sat down in the white, designed

chair and placed her head in her hands. She could not believe what Leonard drove her too. Out of

concern Jill sat down beside her and wanted her to explain what happened. Even though her

night turned horrible, Rebecca realized that she had to tell her best friend what occurred at her

house.

“Leonard is dead.” She said reluctantly as she brought her head up.

“No, no, Rebecca you didn’t” Jill stared at her with disbelief as a huge breath was released

from her.

“I got tired of his beatings so I hit him with a chair and he died from the blow.” She looked in

space as she explained. Jill stared at her as if she knew what the situation was about due to what

she witnessed in the past. The abuse was a continuous thing, but she never believed that it would

get so far out of control where Rebecca would kill him. She stared with a shocked expression on

her face.

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“Is that why you have scars on your face and blood on your finger.”

“Yes, yes it is. Day in and day out he was beating me. I couldn’t take it anymore.” Rebecca

said as she cried. Her best friend turned her way and walked toward the middle of the floor with

her arms folded.

“Where is he now?” Jill asked. Rebecca rocked back and forth in her seat nervously and

could not get the chair that she hit Leonard with out of her head.

“His body is in my house. I have to get him out of there.” She said frustrated.

Jill quickly ran upstairs toward her oldest child MARY. She was eighteen years old and loved

the twins very dearly. She was the splitting image of her mother from top to bottom and appeared

beautiful as ever. She had dark hair that slid down her back and she possessed a medium frame

from her shoulders all the way down toward her hips. She was very healthy and took care of

herself well. Mary was a medical student studying to become a nurse practitioner. She glanced

at her mother as she stormed inside her room with Rebecca quickly behind her.

“Mary can you watch Taneka and Tina while I and Rebecca leave for a while? She has

something to take care of and I am going to drive her around.” Mary knew that something was

wrong the minute she saw the expression on her mother’s face. Why else would they leave the

house so early in the morning?

“Alright mommy. I will watch them. Are they here?” She asked with a worried look on her

face.

“Yes, they are downstairs asleep on the couch.” Mary rose out of bed and put her pink, cotton

robe on.

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“Alright. I am on my way down.” She said as she slipped on her house shoes. She ran

downstairs straight toward the living room where the twins were asleep and stared at them as

their eye lids blinked swiftly. While Rebecca and Jill headed toward the door, Rebecca glanced

at Taneka and Tina with tears in her eyes. In her mind she knew that she was doing this for them.

“Come on Rebecca. Let’s go.” They both hurried out the door to Rebecca’s house where the

body of Leonard Devaroe laid leaving the twins behind.

It was nearly light outside and the sun was about to rise strongly over the horizon toward a

city where one woman strived hard to hide the crime which she firmly committed. Rebecca

brought the car around to the front and she glanced around a quiet neighborhood for proof of a

bystander. Nobody was seen and with that she took in a huge breath. With the dawn of day that

nearly approached, Rebecca and Jill walked into the house where Rebecca’s life had took a

dramatic change. Leonard was right where she left him. On the floor soaking in a pool of blood

with it drenched all over the sheet. Jill quickly rushed over to him, unwrapped the sheet and saw

that he was not moving. Rebecca stood over her as a result of how shocked she was. Never in a

million years would she have ever thought that Rebecca would kill, not even due the abuse. Jill

snapped out of it and perceived that they did not have much time before the sun rose.

“Come on Rebecca. We need to get him out of here.” They carefully picked his heavy,

lifeless, body up that was still in the black sheet and struggled toward the door.

“Oh my God this man is heavy.” Said Jill as his body went vividly from right to left.

“Come on. We need to get him to the car before it gets too light.” Rebecca said as her voice

struggled to get the words out.

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After a hard struggle Rebecca and Jill successfully got Leonard’s body into the car without

the presence of one soul. They shut the back door silently, entered the car quickly and made sure

that this was truly what needed to be done, and according to Rebecca, It was. Rebecca pulled off

down the dark street that stretched for miles, with the one man who was no longer alive in the

back seat. Rebecca wondered would she get away with this horrible crime, and to her it was too

dreadful to answer. The question pounded against her head as she continued away from her home

and children that she enjoyed so much, but whether she got away with her crime or not, she had

to dispose of Leonard’s dead body quickly. Jill glanced at Rebecca strongly as she speculated on

what she would do next.

“Where are we going to take him?” Rebecca’s heart paced vigorously where control over it

was simply impossible and she was so scared that her thoughts were planted on jail time. What

would she do without her twin daughter’s? While she continued, she ended up on a road where

the area was abstracted with nothing but trees. No houses, no buildings, no mountains. Just

thousands of trees that carried on for miles. She glanced through the window with a heavy heart

and saw something that was dismissed from her eye sight for what seemed like a millennium.

The horizon from the sun that beamed light rays through the stacks of billions of leaves. It was

time for that early light to hit the city, but being to her benefit, it would take a while before it did.

“We are going to Muskeg Lake.” Rebecca answered with soft words.

“We are going to throw him into the water?” Rebecca shook her head in agreement, but

refused to accept that this tragedy was reality. She was a very modest person and did not expect

for things to get this far out of control. She reminisced hard about the circumstances and she

wished that there was another way she could have done this considering she had gotten her best

friend involved. Jill glanced at Rebecca with worried, numb eyes that were distressed and she

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was very unsure about her wellbeing. After a few minutes of silence, Rebecca finally spoke with

tears in her eyes as she thought about Muskeg Lake.

“Yes, that is the only place we can take him where he will not be found.” Jill sat speechless,

but felt sorry for her best friend who had been terribly traumatized over the years. The best thing

was it would never happen again.

Rebecca and Jill timidly continued down the road in fear due to the lifeless body that they had

positioned in the back seat. Rebecca glanced through her rearview mirror and saw Leonard’s

covered body in fear for her life and Jill’s life, who she dragged into this murderous event. She

wondered what would happen to her and what lied ahead with her future. With the main highway

posted across the river bank there was always a chance that they could get caught and that could

spell disastrous for the both of them. It was extremely dark where no one was seen and with no

oncoming traffic it appeared as if there plan was a clean sweep. The darkness made it purely

difficult for anyone to see them, and they hoped that it would remain that way for a long time.

They arrived at the lake, a place where it would be Leonard’s last stop and Rebecca parked

slowly in a driveway that appeared as if it had been decades since anyone stepped foot on the

land. There was an old, raggedy shack that was surrounded by trees that appeared as if their days

were numbered more than a thousand years and the atmosphere was embraced by a sooty,

devoured scent that converted the area into an abandoned field. Rebecca and Jill got out and

glanced around a near blackened area with eyes that attacked a glare of light that came from the

city across the water. Everything looked good on her behalf, but while Rebecca and Jill stood in

darkness, the quietness was anything but silent. They heard the sounds of crickets, and birds that

pounded against their ears strongly, but that was not enough to stop Rebecca from getting her

goal accomplished. Rebecca ran around to the other side of the car, opened the door quietly and

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with the help of Jill, she pulled Leonard’s body out. He was so heavy that Jill’s back popped as

they both slid him across the seat.

“Come on Jill. Lift him up.” Rebecca said quietly.

“I am trying but he is so heavy.” Jill felt as if she was going to drop him on the muddy grass

that laid beneath their feet. She was exhausted and her stomach became upset due to the

nastiness of the water which made her body cringe up dreadfully. Remarkably they made it to

the edge of the water that was dark in color as if it was heavily contaminated. The terrified ladies

stared at each other due to the nasty liquid that flowed in front of their eyes and could not believe

that Rebecca’s hard circumstances brought them to this, but nasty or not they had no choice but

to go on with their plan. Rebecca was ready to do what she had to, and Jill was ready to follow in

her footsteps in whatever direction she headed.

“Put him down gently.” Rebecca said quietly. They laid Leonard down in the grass and

without another thought they pushed him into the water with a limited splash. Their bodies went

numb as they watched his frame fall underneath the lake which would deteriorate over time. Just

then a thought roamed through Rebecca’s mind. No more abuse, no more yelling, cussing or

screaming and with that in mind she would not have it any other way. As she watched her heart

pounded and felt as if it skipped a beat, but as she stood at the edge of the lake she realized that

she nor her twins would ever have to deal with this obsessive man as long as they lived. Rebecca

could now raise her children without the violence, the beatings, the drugs or the drinking that

caused her so much destruction through the years.

When Rebecca and Jill disposed of Leonard’s body they ran back in the car and sped down

the road as fast as lightning. Things were so quiet that they could have heard a pin drop. Their

23

eyes were glued to the street as the both of them thought about what they just did and that it was

a crime. Jill stared at her and tried to think of something that would make the morning more

pleasant, but with the look on Rebecca’s face she did not know what to do. Jill wondered if she

felt the same way. All she could do was remain by Rebecca’s side every step of the way, but she

would always remember this dreadful day.

“Rebecca do you have any idea what we just did?” She stared at Jill with eyes that spelled

disaster and a heart that was grieved while she kept her point of view on the road.

“Yes Jill. I do. I know exactly what we did.” Rebecca admitted quietly.

“We just dumped a man’s body into the lake.” She wiped the sweat off of her head that

dripped continuously down her face, and could not believe that she became involved with such a

crime. Rebecca glanced at her best friend and knew right then that she was terrified for her life.

She almost regretted bringing her into this, but now that it was done, there was no way that

things could be turned around. Now that Leonard was dead and his body was thrown into the

lake the damage could not be undone. Rebecca took a deep breath and had not felt this relieved

in years.

“I know. The only thing we can do is go on with our lives as if nothing happened.” She said

as the tears rolled down her face one by one. Rebecca knew that it was something that would

stick to her heart for the rest of her life.

While the sun continued to rise and the night slowly disappeared, Rebecca drove down the

street with her children on her mind and wondered who would take care of them if she was

arrested. If it ever happened she wanted Jill to take custody of Taneka and Tina. She trusted her

a great deal, and knew that she would do the best that she could for them. If the police found out

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about Rebecca she would take the heat herself and her name would not be mentioned to anyone.

She was ready to accept what would happen to her if her secret was known and she was ready to

take it on alone.

“Jill, if I get caught I want you to take care of the twins.” She gazed at Rebecca with worried

eyes and due to how terrified she was her heart pounded like a drum out of control. She realized

that if Rebecca was discovered she would not be too far behind her. If she wasn’t she would

gladly take care of the girls without a doubt.

“Rebecca, chances are if you get discovered, I won’t be far behind you. I will get caught

too” Rebecca shook her head in disagreement, and had enough faith to believe that Jill would

come out of this alright if she kept quiet.

“No you’re not. You will be fine as long as you do not say anything.” Rebecca could not let

her friend be arrested due to her circumstances. If she was incarcerated, she would take the

blame for everything that happened, including the disposal of Leonard’s body. Rebecca drove

down the street in her black Camaro while she glanced at the terrified look that was planted on

Jill’s face. All that she saw was fear that covered her expression in large chunks that were too big

to get rid of. Jill’s scared eyes told Rebecca all she wanted to know about her thoughts to what

happened. Was she terrified? And with the look that was plastered across her face the answer

was clear. “Yes.”

Jill closed her eyes and could not get that picture of how Leonard’s body fell into the water

out of her mind. She, along with her best friend dropped him into the lake without a care in the

world. Without as much of a thought to the consequences or penalties that would hunt them All

of a sudden, it hit her that what she committed was against the law and definitely out of her

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league. Jill meditated about Rebecca who was her best friend since the day she moved to North

Dakota from Puerto Rico. They instantly clicked from the first moment they met and loved each

other endlessly like sisters. After Rebecca married Leonard back in 1979 they purchased a house

that was layered in black and red with beautiful flowers that grew outside the anterior of the

porch. The grass was overturned in the front and back yard, but with lots of care it grew

wonderfully within the year that followed. Rebecca loved a lot of things about it and the fact that

she could sit on her porch and watch the sunset was one of them. When she was alone one day

that was when she saw Jill who was relaxing on her deck as she sat in her white, cotton robe.

Neither one had the guts to speak so they stared at each other as if they were friends for years.

Jill drank her tea as Rebecca gently smiled at her and that was when she spoke, and from there

their friendship blossomed into sisterhood. From that day on they were like twins and never let

anything separate them. Jill was more than just a friend, she was a person who Rebecca grew to

love as the years continued on.

As Rebecca drove Jill home, Rebecca was convinced that the last thing she ever wanted to do

was put her friend in any danger. The expression that was smothered across her face was one

that looked as if it would last forever. Rebecca thought long and hard about her children’s lives

and wondered if they would be able to continue on without their father and forget this ordeal, but

with Leonard’s death everything to her was too out of control. Rebecca could not erase her

mistake and there was a strong chance that one day she would have to tell Taneka and Tina the

truth, but until that day came she would take her moments with her children one precious day at

a time.

Rebecca arrived at Jill’s house without a word that was said to her. She got her twins and

went straight home to a house that was haunted by bad memories, deceitfulness, and abuse.

26

Taneka and Tina ran into their rooms not knowing what happened, and pulled out their toys

while Rebecca sat in the living room on her luxury chair miserable at what occurred earlier in the

morning. She felt depressed, but not regretful, as she stared hard at a blood spot on the tan carpet

where Leonard’s dead body laid after she hit him with the chair. She pondered hard on her past

years of torture that she was put through by this man and could not believe that she allowed

herself and her daughters to suffer through such dreadful hate, but what could she do? Rebecca

was stuck between two stone walls that were never separated. From her bones all the way to her

soul she felt nothing but agony due to what happened, but also felt pity for him. Fact was she

released what she held in for so long and was glad that he was no longer a part of her life or her

twins. Rebecca reminisced on when she took the large, black pot full of hot, boiling water and

poured it on his body without as much as a thought to what the consequences were. The bruises,

the burns, the dead skin clouded her mind drastically, but even though she felt sorry for him, her

heart was filled with so much hatred through the years for the man who was once her husband

that she did not care what she had to do in order to stop him. She was not concerned about him;

she was more concerned about Taneka and Tina. She wondered about their lives and how she

would raise them without their father, but with a lot of commitment she could do it. Rebecca

listened to the quietness in the house and heard no screaming, no beatings and Taneka and Tina

were not crying. Music to her ears, she thought. As she placed a smile on her face and fell

peacefully asleep.