Hiromi showed me to my room as soon as she said we were twins. I must have fallen asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow and now I was sat at a small dining table alone. The soft snores I could hear from another room told me that she was asleep and I'd already explored the place and made myself breakfast. The whole basement was grotty but good enough to live in. There were some old fashioned gaming devices and a black and white television. I wondered how long Hiromi had lived here. Obviously not by choice. Maybe she'd been captured as I had. But what did they want from us?
Bored, I searched the small bookcase. It was full of romance and mystery novels then a section that had been labeled "books on twins". It contained both fiction and non fiction, stories of twins depending on each other and being unbelievably close mixed with information about twins and telepathy. Then I saw it. A deep red scrapbook stuck out like a saw thumb amongst the novels. I opened it to see scraps of newspaper and magazine clippings. All containing either mum, dad, Uncle Hikaru or Aunty Gemini.
"Bright new star wows viewers" a picture of mum accompanied the headline. She stood beside her costar in the film it reviewed and was smiling.
"Designers outshining their own mother?" The story was about Dad and Uncle Hikaru when they launched their second line of clothing. It was very popular and I remember being taken out to many places to celebrate.
"So you found my scrapbook?" A voice startled me and looking back I saw my reflection. She smiled lovingly before sitting cross-legged next to me. "All I know about my family is what I get from these clippings. Thing is I don't know who's daughter I am. Being the daughter of people that both have identical twins kind of makes it hard when all you know is their surnames are Hitachiin and King." She smiled sheepishly before looking down at the book.
"Well, since I'm beginning to actually believe you are my twin, our parents are Kaoru and Gemini." I said pointing to the pictures. "What I want to know is how we got separated and why I've got a brother who is supposedly my non identical twin."
"The men told me that I was abandoned at birth but I don't believe them. The pictures show that they are nice, caring people. Not the type to abandon a child." I could tell she wanted to know the truth as much as I did. A strong unknown feeling overwhelmed me and before I realized what I was doing, my arms were around her in a strong hug. I felt her stiffen slightly then relax as she hugged me back. What was this feeling? I'd never experienced it before.
"Mum why are you and Aunty Gemini so close?" I asked. My nine year old self sat at the dining room table next to my mother watching her sew up my broken rabbit plush toy. I remember crying when it ripped and mum had hushed and comforted me.
"Well, we're twins. It's a special bond only twins have that makes us closer than any siblings. Even when we fight we always find a way to make up and forget about it. Something just makes it unbearable to see the other unhappy." She replied before biting and snapping the thread and handing the pink rabbit to me. "There, and don't tell Uncle Honey you broke it." She winked as she walked out, leaving me confused about what she'd said. I didn't feel that way about Mamoru. Sure I didn't like seeing him unhappy but it wasn't unbearable.
Mum's words rang through my head as I let go and looked at Hiromi. That's exactly how I feel. All my life I've felt like something's missing. That's why I was so determined to come to this meeting, in hopes it would fill the hole in my heart. It had, but not in the way expected. I'd found my missing half and I felt complete. I would never leave her now. Not ever.
"How are we getting out?" I was the first to break the deafening silence. She looked shocked then stood.
"We don't. Not now, not ever." She mumbled before putting the scrapbook back and walking back to her room.
I couldn't leave her. After finally feeling complete after all these years I couldn't bear to be alone so I followed her in. All the basement I'd seen so far had been low standard and unimpressive but Hiromi's room took my breathe away. The walls were painted white and had been obviously graffitid by her over all the years. All four walls covered in doodled that slowly increased in talent. From scribbles to beautiful portraits. In one corner I saw a bundle of self portraits that were labeled withy different years and ages. One for each year.
"Wow..." I was truly at a loss for words. She sat on the bed and watched me as I inspected each drawing. Even though I didn't look at her I knew she was smiling secretly. After I'd finished I turned to her to see a sketch book resting on her knees. Her hand glided effortlessly over the paper in swift motions and she was concentrating hard. After a few minutes of watching in fascination her eyes returning my gaze broke the trance. Sitting beside her, I saw she's drawn another portrait. Just like the ones on the wall but with a slight difference. The parting was the other side and the eyes were less soft. Me.
"I draw anything and everything that intrigues me. I long to see the outside world and draw everything. From what I've read it's a truly beautiful place." She said while slipping into a day dream.
"Wait, from what you've read?" I was startled by the statement and wondered what on earth she meant.
"I've been down here my whole life. I've never seen the outside. Only this basement." Shock and horror washed through me. She'd truly never left, and we more than likely would die here.