𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐀 ✔︎ (ongoing)

|18| warning

There, standing on the doorstep, with a concerned expression on her face is Marina's mother. Noel.

"Hi," I say. I try my best to sound as casual as possible- but inside I'm freaking out. "How did you find this house?"

Without even looking at me for more than two seconds, she pushes past me and her eyes wander around for Marina.

"There you are," she proclaims, stomping towards her.

"Mum? Why are you here?" Marina asks, standing up.

"I need to have a word with you," she says. "All of you. That is, you, Sam, Sara and Francisco."

Abdel, Karim and Tariq welcome her for some tea but she rudely rejects in a cold manner and leaves the house, expecting us to follow her.

As soon as Sam shuts the door, Noel bursts into tears.

"Listen," she sobs, facing all four of us. "I want to let you know that Richard is on his way here. He found you by paying someone to track Abdellatif's phone illegally, using the dark web."

"How do you know this?" I demand. "When did you find out?"

"I found out two days ago and we had an argument about it," Noel cries, taking a seat on a bench. "I had a look at the location and came here myself. I took a plane to Marrakesh and informed the taxi driver the location to take me so that I could warn you."

"Warn us about what?" Marina asks. She walks towards her mother and gives her a firm hug.

"He's going to follow you. And... he's already paid the Mafia of Liverpool--"

"No!" Marina screams. "No!"

"I'm sorry, darling," Noel cries. "I need to go now. I just needed to warn you."

"Why are you leaving?" Marina's voice cracks.

For the first time, I see the broken look in Marina's eyes. I've never seen her so vulnerable, so fragile. My heart drops in guilt and regret at the memory of the unforgivable things I said to her earlier.

"I-I'll miss my flight," Noel stutters

"But haven't you just arrived? Please, Mum. Stay."

"I can't sweetie," Noel sniffs and plants a kiss on her daughter's forehead. "I know you can manage alone with your friends. Plus, I don't think your father would go too far to hurt you. He loves you. I just came to make you and your friends aware of his plan, just in case something does happen."

As a white taxi pulls up, the coldness in Noel's empty eyes hidden by her watery smile hits me. She's leaving. How could she leave us when she knows we're in danger? When she knows her daughter's in danger?

What a cruel, cruel woman, not different from her wicked husband.

Marina clings onto her mother, tears streaming down her face as Noel tries to break free to get into the taxi. Before her daughter can even say anything, Noel shuts the door and it drives away, leaving us standing in the dimly lit street.

"What do we do now?" Sara asks, her voice trembling with fear.

"We need to come up with a plan," Sam suggests, his voice authoritative. "We can't let Richard harm any of us. We need to protect ourselves."

"We need to know where Richard is coming from and what his plan is," I say. "Maybe we can figure out a way to stop him before he reaches here."

As we stand there, under the stars, facing the uncertainty and danger that lies ahead, I can feel the weight of the situation pressing down on us. The warning of Richard's arrival strikes me in the heart like a dagger, as if it's a threat.