Loveless♣

Isabella

THE house was eerie,to say the least.The chills it exuded could be felt from a block away.It was not literally cold, but you could feel the chill internally. It was more like the feeling one gets when one enters a graveyard; even on a hot day,an uneasy coldness would be felt in the bones.
Bella stood on the porch,staring at the house.It was huge,and grey.It seemed odd out of the many colourful houses that graced that street. Then again,it was a home for the disabled and unwanted.The house wasn't the only thing that looked odd on that street.Bella undoubtedly stood out amongst the other passersby. Her green jumpsuit hugged her generous curves well,and her side parted Afro made her noticeable.She looked like she belonged in a fashion house rather than an Adult Care Home.
She clutched her bag to her side cautiously, and proceeded inside.The woman at the desk was deathly pale,and her hair was visibly receding.She lifted her thin face to look at Bella when she entered,and assessed her.Bella waited,while the woman stared her,and she wondered what in the world would make a person want to work in this dreary place.The walls were painted a dull yellow,with some practical items around the room:a wall clock, a lamp,some old magazines on a rickety table. The hallways looked endless.They were formed in a horizontal X.The reception stood in the middle,and the woman,who seemed to be the receptionist, sat in a carved corner that was made to receive visitors.The woman wasn't looking hospitable though.
Bella cleared her throat,interrupting the woman's study of her.Their eyes met,and the chill in her bones deepened.
"I'm here to see-"
"I know who you're here to see,"replied the woman sharply."You're the other one,aren't you?"
Bella managed a nod.The woman's voice was as scratchy as she'd expected.
"I'll escort you to her room,"the woman said.
"No no,there's no need.I know the way,"Bella said hastily.The last thing she wanted was this woman with her when she walked the dreary halls."You must be new here.The other receptionists are familiar with my presence here."
The woman was skeptical.
"She's my family, you know that,right?"Bella asked.
"Well...it is obvious, but-"
"But nothing,"Bella said firmly."I'm going in,ma'am."
She walked briskly past the woman without a backwards glance.She moved into the left hallway and walked up the long flight of stairs,struggling to keep her composure.No matter how many times she came here,the place always seemed to unnerve her.
There were many rooms in the hallway to the left and to the right,she turned right and entered the one that had plush carpeting in front of it.She pushed the door open without knocking,startling the plump pretty nurse bent over a person in a wheelchair.
Her eyes brightened when she saw Bella."Oh,miss!You're here!"
She rose,revealing the person in the wheel chair.In the chair sat a tiny,frail young woman who had once been beautiful.Her once full face was thin,her big brown eyes were sunken,and her formerly luscious dark brown hair had lost its lustre.Yet when she looked up and smiled,she was still the mirror image of Bella.
Looking at her,Bella's mind immediately flashed back to precisely thirteen years ago.
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The Bronze Bellas were the most exciting thing to hit the theatres in France since the cinemas were created.They were a magical sensation.The stunningly beautiful brown eyed,long haired twins were the best performers France had ever seen.At first,when they had first stepped on the stage at the La Petite Talent Show in Lyon,France, everyone smiled and decided to give them a chance since they were twins, but it was their talents that won the hearts of the French.They sang in voices that rocked the rafters and for the first time,in history, two nine year olds were given a standing ovation in a classical talent show.
After their debut that day,they were signed by a famous talent manager.They became a smash overnight.They were booked for every television show and theatre act.Wherever they went,there was an overflow of audience.They performed at dinners,state parties,restaurants, hotels.They toured France. Reporters called them The Bronze Bellas,an apt name considering their skin color and the fact that their last name was Bronze.They were taught how to dance and that made them even more entertaining.They had exclusive interviews with Paris Match and the Times Magazine.
The Mayor of Calais organized a huge dinner in honor of the twins,Isabella and Marabella.It was though the whole of France attended. The event was televised nationwide. Every hotel in Calais was filled,and the overflow spilled up and down to the city of Paris.Photographers took pictures non stop of the epic twins,The Bronze Bellas.The large banquet hall where the dinner was to take place was filled with the elite of France.
At the start of the dinner,Marabella told her sister that she wasn't feeling well.She'd been having strange headaches for weeks.Isabella waved it off.
"You're just tired,Bel.We've been rehearsing a whole lot.Just try to stay calm,"Bella replied quickly.
"But,Bella,"Marabella whined."I don't think I can take all of this. It's more than I expected. I don't think I can perform tonight."
Bella gave Bel a withering glare.You see,Isabella was the first twin,so she was a few hours older than Marabella and somewhat had authority over her.Isabella was called Bella,while Marabella was called Bel,for short.It was mostly because Marabella hated her name and had begged Isabella to shorten hers too.The reason being that while Isabella means "dedicated to God", Mara means "bitterness".
" I wanna go home,Bella."
"Hush!There are over a thousand guests here from all over France right here,because of us,Bel.You are not backing down now!"
Tears formed in Marabella's eyes.
"I want Mommy."
Bella frowned.Their mother was sick,she had brain cancer.She was in Spain,her homeland,with their grandparents.The doctors had said that it was impossible for her to get well.Marabella did not know this,of course,but Bella did.She was mature for her age,her father had said so when he confided in her about her mother's fragile condition,so she understood that her mother would die soon and had already accepted it.
She looked at her sister,and clutched her hand tightly.
"Listen,Bel,we have to do this.We just have to.I promise you,petite fille,that this is the last performance we'll do,ever,then we'll go see Mommy.But for now we do this...for her.Comprehendê?"
Marabella nodded profusely.The Mayor rose to the podium and tapped the microphone twice to get everyone's attention. When they all turned to face him,he said,"Mesdames et senieurs,I present to you the most entertaining kids in France,our very own pride and joy,The Bronze Bellas!"
The applause that resounded around the room was so loud that the twins thought the windows would break.Marabella heard the sound ten times louder in her head.It was as though her brain was being pierced by a thousand needles.It took her a lot of willpower and fear of Bella's disapproval not to scream.Hot tears filled her eyes but she blinked them away quickly and pasted a fake smile on her face.She let Bella lead her to the stage.Bella's face was the picture of happiness.She looks so happy,Marabella thought,I don't wanna ruin this.
The stage was cleared for them.The lights in the room dimmed,a spotlight,underneath which was a rotating disco ball,appeared and shone on the twins like a thousand stars.It was amazing to behold.The guests in the room sighed in adoration.
Bella began to sing softly,her pure voice touching the hearts of everyone in the room.When she reached the end of her verse,she gestured to Bel,but Bel stood frozen in the spotlight.There were beads of sweat on her forehead.
There was an unbearably long moment of silence.The guest began to whisper amongst themselves.
" Bel...Bel,it's your turn,chêrie,"Bella said frantically.
Bel did not move.She looked frightened.The pounding in her head was getting louder,the beads of sweat forming faster.
"Marabella!"Bella yelled angrily. The sound resonated deeply into Marabella's head,causing her immense pain.She held her head right,tears trickling down her face and looked at Bella."Lo siento,Isabella,"she said before she screamed long and loud,an agonizing wail to hear.Then she slumped to the floor.

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The house was beautiful,calm.Even in the darkness,Bella knew her way around.She knew this house like she knew the colour of her skin.She dropped her keys on the kitchen counter and sighed.It had been another long day with Marabella. Another day of crying and petting,Bella doing the former and Mara the latter.Bella smiled at the thought,funny how the roles were reversed years ago.She walked to the ceiling to floor glass window in her home.It faced the city.She loved to look at the city at night.It was so contrasting,beautiful yet dangerous.From afar,it looked mellow but she knew it was a façade,the city was wildest at nighttime.She checked the time on the glow-in-the-dark wallclock.Eleven minutes past nine.She wondered where Nina was.She wondered what had commenced during the family meeting.
"Nina?"she called,moving round the house."Nina, are you here?"
She decided to go into the bedroom, and the sight before her had her screaming for help.