My brother, My Beloved, My child

 My brother, My Beloved, My child

The dark water racing under the bridge contrasted sharply with
the yellow and orange leaves riding atop the ripples. Balding
maple trees shadowed the riverbank while the remains of a
cornfield rustled violently in the cold wind. Standing on the
cobblestones by his trusty wooden cart, he shivered, not only from the cold, but from what had happened a short while ago. Eustacia stood quietly beside him, shivering in her torn dress. He, Jason Woodbury, who had always been the good twin, had murdered his evil brother, Alistair. It had been self-defense, as well as defending the honor of his beloved, Eustacia. Jason had come upon them just as Alistair was attempting to rape her. He would never forget her screams and cries, her skirts pushed up, and her privates revealed to him. Jason had been filled with rage, and had stabbed Alistair in the back, killing him. Eustacia and Jason were both stunned when they realized that Alistair was truly dead. They had loaded his body onto the back of the wooden cart, and covered it in burlap.Jason said that he would bury him that night, after dark.

Now, as they sat on the riverbanks, Jason tried to think of other things. It was going
to be a bad winter but they were well prepared. He wanted to be married to Eustacia soon, so they would be together during the  winter. But he didn’t know how what happened this evening might change things between them.

 Suddenly, a
strong gust brought the sound of maniacal laughter. He stepped
quickly to the back of the cart, and threw back the burlap
cover...Alistair’s gruesome face staring back at him. Eustacia had covered her ears, so she had heard the laughter as well; it wasn’t his mind playing tricks on him.  Jason was at least consoled by the fact that his brother was still dead, so the laughter couldn’t have been him. He put the burlap back over the body, and climbed into the cart, Eustacia beside him. As they rode along, Eustacia hid her face and began to sob. It was a horrible story, about how this wasn’t the first time that Alistair had attacked her…..and even worse, he’d succeeded in raping her. Now, a devastated Eustacia went on, she was carrying a child, and she didn’t know if the father was Jason or the now deceased Alistair. Jason told her that they’d get married as soon as possible, and that far as anyone else would ever know, the child was his. He dropped Eustacia off at her cottage, telling her that he would pick her up in the morning and they would find someone to marry them. After that, Jason went to an abandoned field and buried Alistair’s body.

It was late when he finished, so he went home, had a simple repast of bread and butter, and ale, and went to bed. He slept fitfully, bothered by dreams of Alistair. He kept seeing his brother making love to his beautiful Eustacia.

Eustacia had a restless night as well, troubled by Alistair’s death. She also felt as though she had been unfaithful ti Jason, even though with Alistair it had always been rape.

The next day was All Hallows Eve. It was also Jason and Eustacia’s wedding day. The people in the village had somehow learned of their secret nuptials, and while they were away getting married, decorated Jason’s cottage to surprise them. While they were gone, the couple decided to put the past behind them, and forget about what Alistair had done to them. When they arrived home, they found a feast, music and dancing, and wedding presents from the other villagers. It was after three the next morning when their last  guests left and they went to bed. During that night, Jason and his new bride were both murdered with the same knife that Jason killed Alistair with……..the murders have never been solved……..