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

18 - Secured?

I am yanked from the back. Uncle Ed pulls me inside the house without letting me balance on my own two feet. "Fuck!" He just keeps on cursing under his breath. He only lets go of me when we reach the back door. He opens it and pushes me outside. I almost trip on the rug as I scurry and he follows close behind. "Did you see who's in the car?" He whispers.

"No." I whisper back. "But, I think I saw four people inside."

"Shit!" He pulls me to the side when we hear the front door banging. We squat behind the bushes, trying to control even our breathing.

I'm afraid that they could hear my loud heartbeat. My tears are also scared to come out. I cover my mouth with one hand and hold onto Uncle's hand with the other, gripping it real tight.

"Cristina?" It's soft and shaky. But, even with just that one word, all my fears disappear.

I jump out from where I'm hiding and quickly run to the man standing inside the house by the door. "DAD!" I literally throw my arms around him and my sobs come out. "Dad!" It feels like I haven't seen him and held him for years. "Dad." I repeat that over and over between my childish cries.

"My little bear!" He hugs me just as tight.

I hear a loud sigh beside us and see Uncle Ed smiling weakly looking at us. "Is everything ok, back there?"

I suddenly remember, "Dad? Mom. Is she ...."

My dad sighs, too and releases me. He holds both my shoulders as he looks down at my face. "She's safe."

Everything brightens just with those words. I hug him again.

"Let's go home."

Home. How I've longed to hear that. I didn't think I'd hear that from my dad after the things that have been happening.

"C'mon." With his arm still around my shoulders, he leads me to the front where some men are waiting.

Is everything over then? Is everything gonna be alright from now on? I want to ask him about everything. But, a certain person comes to mind. "Dad." I stop walking and he does the same. "Mark. What about Mark?"

He pulls me, letting me continue walking out the front door. "Ed will look for him. For now, I have to take you to safety."

I yank my hand from his grasp. "No. Dad! We have to...."

Uncle Ed cuts me off. "Some guys are already searching for his car. Don't worry, Cris."

"No..." I shake my head. "Dad. Please." I beg, taking his hand and looking up at him with my teary eyes. "At least until we know that he's alright."

He looks down at his feet then at Uncle Ed. He closes his eyes as he licks his lips. "Alright." He finally says. "Twenty-four hours." He negotiates, looking at me with his commanding face. "Twenty-four hours and we're going home."

_______

It's been a long night. It's already dawn when we check in a hotel just near the place. I lay on the bed but my eyes just won't close. I know I'm tired and sleepy, but I'm more worried. Especially when I see Uncle Ed and Dad still on their own phones and pacing the room.

My dad looks at me with a rather sad face and he sighs before walking slowly towards the bed I'm on. "You have to rest, Cristina." He says, sitting beside me. He fixes my hair that are splayed at the side of my face.

"Dad?"

"Hm?"

"I .... I remember everything now." I tell him softly, pulling the blanket closer to me. "I'm sorry."