Confused

[MARINA]

No. No. Please.

No. No. Please.

Marina repeated the words over and over. Her heart thumping faster, it scared her. She has been driving around town for the past few hours, confused. The situation worsened since Lana has stayed quiet for the past few hours. She summoned her again and got no reply.

What did she expect?

She was the one who screamed at her wolf to leave her alone so she could focus on her breath and her heartbeat.

Her black Kia 900 stood out, she parked the car on the roadside. A few blocks from her stood a signpost with names on it.

The Lake.

Lake Rimaria.

City Blue.

Each time she stopped there and read the name, one stood out. 'Lake Rimaria.'

Without doubt, she knew that was home yet couldn't bring herself to drive. Why would she anyways? Neither did she remember the last time she was there, nor recall that a few hours ago, she received the call.

Her phone was off because the ringing noise fueled her annoyance

Ivy kept calling her after she left the office in a so not good way. Earlier, Ivy had stayed like a stature inside the office for a few minutes, and when she came back to her senses, she realized she needed to follow her best friend and know what was happening with her.

Too bad, she bumped into Mr. Ballentine crying and after painfully twenty minutes of her explaining to him that it was a slip of tongue from Marina and nothing more, Mr. Ballentine calm down.

By the time she ran to the parking lot, Marina was gone.

Marina placed the back of her head on the back of the seat and closed her eyes. Once in a while, she could open the window to yell at some driver who stopped their cars to ask if she was okay.

Some cars, however, drove past her.

A car honked at her making her jump, she got out and screamed, "fuck you!" and as if the world heard her, for about twenty minutes no cars passed, it was frightening and at the same time so calming. At least no one approached her and asked why she was there.

The sun above her head was hot. It picked the worst day to shine bright.

Her fingers found their way to her bra, she unhooked it and held it then threw it into the car. She covered her eyes and mumbled, "heaven." Marina would have removed her t-shirt too and fried herself in the sun. But no, the last thing she needed was to add a problem to her unknown problem.

Marina stood there. Nothing changed.

Still confused.

Restless.

Tired.

And then…

Her stomach grumbled.

"Now. Now. What did I do to deserve this?" She wondered as she got inside her car. She drove for less than a minute, and then it died. "Son of a bitch." She screamed angrily at the car.

How could it do that to her?

A disappointed sigh escaped her lips, she left it running every time she stopped near the sign. She drove for hours without stopping at the petrol station, what did she expect?

"Call Ivy."

"Lana, you thwart, you are back." Marina half-screamed.

"Yeah." Answered Lana in a tired tone.

Marina banged the steering wheel; it honked, making her jump. "Son of a mammal." Marina cursed. She searched for her phone and gave up after two minutes. "Impatient," Lana commented.

"Leave me alone," Maya screamed. When she felt Lana retreating, she joked, "now. What do you think you are doing? You are stuck with me."

"Check at the glove compartment," Lana said.

Instead of doing that Marina started the car.

Vroom!

She exhaled, a smile spreading all over her face. Unfortunately, the car stopped again. "Come on." Yelled Marina.

"Just check inside the compartment and call Ivy," Lana advised.

Marina puffed out. With her eyes closed, she opened the compartment, when her hand felt the phone, she removed it and stared as the screen lit up. It didn't have a pin or password. Ivy has been the one who changed after occasionally having to receive Marina's call from the landline asking about her phone PIN.

"Beta," Lana said.

"Relax," Marina replied in annoyance.

She clicked on the name and stared at the phone. Fortunately, it didn't ring even twice, Ivy's voice came. "Marina, oh dear Lord. Are you okay?"

"Why shouldn't I be?" Marina asked.

"Where are you?"

Marina shut her eyes, and when nothing came into her mind, she mumbled, "give me a minute." She left the car and luckily, she went in the direction where the signpost was.

"Lake Rimaria. City Blue. The Lake." Marina said.

Muddled, Ivy replied, "Uh?"

"Hey, don't be judgemental that is what it says here."

"Oh," Ivy said in realization. "Give me ten. Or thirty. I don't know. But stay there."

"Cool," Marina said calmly.

** One hour later. **

"Oh crap! Marina, I didn't say you dry yourself under the sun as you wait for me." Ivy muttered as she walked to where Marina was. Marina had stayed under the signpost for the past one hour, well, that was what Ivy said, right?

"Come here." Ivy pulled her into a hug, "don't you ever scare me like that."

Marina struggled to untangle herself from the hug and walked back to Ivy's car. She saw someone inside, she spun around and asked, "who is that?"

"Cecil Ayn."

"What?"

"She is your childhood best friend, Marina. Did someone hit your head or something?" Joked Ivy.

Oh, if only she knew…

"Marina," Cecil shouted as she got out of the car.

Marina smirked, the woman's slender figure screamed at her, "fuck me."

Ivy slapped her back, "please, don't go there."

Cecil threw herself at Marina, "I have missed you." She said.

"Okay, Cecil. It was nice seeing you. Can you please drive her to her home? Let me get a way to get this car out of here." Ivy muttered. It wasn't the first time she and Cecil have met.

As they drove into Marina's compound, Cecil's mood dampened. Marina walked out of the car and ran to her house. She needed a cold shower. Cecil followed her into her bedroom, and before Marina removed her clothes she hugged her again, "I am sorry for your loss."

Marina hummed and pushed her away slightly.

"Your father is dead, Marie." Cecil blurted out.

Marina took a step backward, "what do you mean?"

"He passed away this morning, I have been calling you non-stop," Cecil said.

Wretched wail resonated out of her lips, Marina stooped low, a hand on her waist. She inhaled and exhaled rapidly. Cecil placed a hand on her back and circled it soothingly.

Marina's eyes caught Cecil's shoes. She straightened, "did you enter my house with your dirty shoes?" Seethed Marina, her voice low.

Cecil removed her hand from Marina's back, one question in mind. "The fuck?"