Don't - Mark Tuan Fanfic (Third Book for 'Can't')

4 - Letting Go

"That's right, Samson. First your pretty little boyfriend. Your family. Then you." An eerie chuckle comes out of the receiver. "We will make sure that you suffer just like us now. We will destroy everything that is precious to you. Just like how you destroyed the only person that matters most to us."

I can't hear the rest as the phone easily slips out of my hand.

"What?" Mark is holding my shoulders, shaking me gently as I just stand ... frozen. "Babe? What's wrong?" He shakes me harder when I don't answer. "Who is it?" He picks the phone up, but I think the caller has already hang up ... or did I end the call? Doesn't matter.

Who was that? The voice was unrecognizable. The caller must've used some kind of device that made her voice robotic.

Yes ... HER. The caller didn't seem to bother letting me know that she's a GIRL.

Sandra?

She's the only girl I know now who would want revenge. Who the fuck else?

"Cris? C'mon, babe. Talk to me."

I lick my lips and blink, the first two movements I make after the call. I gasp for air then, as if I've held my breath the entire time. My eyes move and they land on Mark's worried face. "I have to go."

"What? Go where?" He gives me one strong jerk. "Who was that?" He raises his voice. "Cristina. Who called?"

I'm shaking all over as I get out of his grasp. I walk to the kitchen and Mark follows.

"Babe. What's going on?"

"I need a fuckin' drink!" I go through the bottles on the cupboard, looking for the wine I think is there. Bottles of other condiments come crashing down the floor. I ignore it as I get on top of the counter to get a better view of what I'm looking for. "Where is it?" I search frantically.

"Where's what?" Mark is trying his best to hold onto my leg, preventing me from falling. "What the fuck, Cris."

I finally find the bottle at the corner of the end cupboard. I immediately open it and tilt it in my mouth, letting the warm liquid flow down my throat.

"BABE!" Mark now yells. He reaches up for the bottle and snatches it from my hand just when I'm tipping it to my mouth for the second time, making some of the precious juice spill down the counter. He yanks at my leg and I fall on his arms.

"Mark!" I scream.

But, he holds onto me tighter, carrying me back in the room. He lays me on the bed, pinning my arms with his hands and my legs with his. "Tell me what the fuck is going on!!!" He grits his teeth as he looks down at me.

That's the only time my tears come out. I fight for breath as my sobs are getting on the way of my breathing. "I'm ... I'm scared." I finally let out.

"Baby." He whispers, his face softening up. He lays on his side beside me and pulls me against his chest. "I'm here." His lips are pressed at the top of my head. "I'm here, baby." He says softly, as if his words would be assurance enough to safeguard me from whatever is coming. The strokes he makes on my hair does little to console me though.

But, I still cry in his arms, allowing him to make me feel even just a bit safer, letting him warm my outside when my insides are shivering in cold.

Even just for this time, I'll let him.

_______

"Who are you calling?"

Mark is no longer beside me when I opened my eyes, instead, Mr. Puffy is at the space he was at last night. He's seated at the foot of the bed, his phone in his hand. "Your dad." He answers without turning to look.