i don't have a title for this yet (mark x cesar)

Vol. 2

**sorry this part is only cesar's pov, the next bit will be all of marks :)**

Cesar POV

It's following me with inhuman pace. Probably because it isn't human. I don't dare look back as I reach Mark's door. I knock 2 or 3 times, with no answer. I hear something behind me, and I don't even want to see is it's what was chasing me. I knock more rapidly. I consider yelling Mark's name before he opens the door with a handgun.

"Cesar? Wha-" I shove him over and lock all...three deadbolts. Is Mark that paranoid? Well, with what's going on, and what just happened, I don't blame him. "What the fuck is going on?" I drag him upstairs, and it's until then that I notice I'm limping. Whatever. I'll deal with that later. I get up the last step and we enter his room. He sits down on his office chair and catches his breath. "My mom is dead." is what I start off with. Maybe not the best idea because Mark's expression is hard to read.

I take a deep breath before continuing, my voice still breaking. "It was an alternate. We didn't lock the doors, or the windows, and...and it got her." I look down, my face burning with the guilt and pain surrounding my thoughts right now. Mark slowly gets up, and walks towards me. I don't want him to ask me any more questions, I really don't. I don't want to talk about this. I brace myself for questions and answers I couldn't provide.

Instead, he embraces me. A warm embrace, contrasting the stark cold in the room. My face warms up. Why? I don't even question it. His arms are wrapped around me, as though it could protect me from all that's going on. I know it can't, but it's nice to be able to pretend it can. It doesn't seem to want to come into Mark's house. That seems kind of weird when I first think about it, but that's not what I'm focused on right now.

He's showing me affection. This isn't like him, he doesn't normally do this. I consider the fact that he's an alternate, and it sticks. I shove it to the back of my mind, because there's no way he could possibly be one. Or, could I be wrong? Could Mark be an alternate? This clouds my thoughts. I can't think about anything else now. The thought that maybe, Mark could've been a planning factor in killing my mother. I tense up, leading Mark to release the embrace.

"Are you okay? I know it's a stupid thing to ask, but I want you to be safe here." He mutters. My face softens. No. There's no way he's an alternate. He just cares about me. But, an alternate can lie, deceive. It make me think, What had my mother seen? Did she see me? Or my father? I visibly cringe at even the thought of my father.

"Yeah. I feel alright. I'm just...still on edge." I get out. I can't tell him what I think. What would he do? Would he feel hurt? If he actually was an alternate, would he attack me? It all jumbled together. "Well, that's alright. I'll be here if you need anything okay? His soft brown eyes look into mine. He's trying to make me feel safe. I tell myself. He won't hurt you. I smile lightly.

"Well, Cesar, you look kind of..." He looks me up and down with mock disgust. "Oh, I'm so sorry that I can't look pretty running from my imminent death, Mark!" I do an over exaggerated bow to prove my point. He looks a little guilty for saying it at first, but once he sees me laughing he starts laughing too. "Well, here." He hands me a gray hoodie from a drawer. I hesitate before taking it. Why? Do I still not trust him? "Come on, it's alright. It's not laced with arsenic." He gives a small smile. "Sure. Thanks." I say, taking it from his hands.

He could be lying. My brain tells me again. No. He couldn't. I cut it out of my mind, knowing he's just being nice. This time, the thought finally goes away.