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

17 - Mark IV

"What?" I sit up straighter, holding Sandra's shoulders. "What do you mean? Who told you to do what?" I shake her. "Sandra." I shout when she doesn't answer.

Her sobs become stronger. "She ... They said ... they won't hurt my dad if I do what they tell me to do."

"Who? What did they say?"

She shakes her head. "I don't know. They asked me to .... to ... "

"To what?" I'm becoming more and more impatient and nervous.

"I'm sorry, Mark. I just didn't know where to get the money...."

Money? The resort? The money that's missing? "So ... it was really you?" Why am I not surprised? I knew from the start she had something to do with it. But, was that it? Is there something more?

"They said they'd kill you, too. I was scared, Mark." She continues.

I don't know if I would pity her, or get angry. If she told me the first time, then I would've done something about it. "How don't you know who it is? How did they contact you?" I ask instead, trying to put pieces together. "Does this have anything to do with what's happening now?"

She shakes her head again. "I just .... received a call ... I couldn't identify the voice because it was changed ... like a robot or something ...." Her cries subside a bit. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to ... I just didn't want to see anyone dying." She looks up at me. "Especially you."

"Sandra, nothing's gonna happen to me." I try to assure her.

"But, my dad." She sobs again. She buries her face on my chest and I can't help but put my arms around her.

"I'm sorry." It's all I can say for now.

"What do I do now? What if they come for me? What if they ..."

"Sssshhh..." I hold her closer. "I'll do my best to protect you, Sandra."

"Mark. I'm scared."

"I know." I rub her back. I can't tell her that I am, too. There are just too many people dying and missing. The scariest part is I'm not sure how I can really protect her ... especially Cristina.

_______

Because I can't sleep with all the questions still on my mind, I go to Cris' room to check on her. She's been sleeping since we came back from the hotel and I want to talk to her about the call. But, when I get to her room, it's empty. I hear something downstairs ... like some shouting. I quickly run down and to the kitchen, only to find Cris holding a knife against Sandra's neck.

"FUCK!" I run towards them and pull Cristina back. "JESUS, CRISTINA. What's wrong with you?"

She looks at me, clearly surprised, maybe even confused. "I'm ... Shit ..." She looks down at the knife on her hand and she immediately lets it go, dropping it on the floor. "Sandra...." She tries to go near the other girl.

Because of what I saw earlier and the fear that she might hurt her again, I stop her. "Cris. What are you doing?" I look at Sandra and see blood dripping down her neck. FUCK. "Are you ok?" The cut is not deep, but there's a lot of blood coming out already. "Shit. Let me just get some bandages." I frantically look around, glancing at Cris from time to time, trying to understand what's going on in her mind. Is she on drugs again? Why'd she do that? I go back to Sandra with the first aid kit I found in one of the drawers. "What the fuck were you thinking, Cris? What happened here?" I shout.

She shakes her head and she runs out the kitchen.

"Cris." I follow her up to her room, banging on the locked door. "Cris. Babe." I can hear her from just behind the door. "C'mon, open the door. Talk to me, please." But the door stays closed. What's going on with her? "Babe. Please open up. Let's talk about this."