Manipulation (Sequel To Total Control)

Resolving Mistakes

Your POV

Being alone with my thoughts has become foreign to me, I got so used to having Dark with me all the time, I've forgotten how my mind runs wild when it's alone. These past few days Dark's been gone. And Jamie left two days ago and I've been thinking alot about what she's said. What I think of all of it is still not coming to me. I don't know what to think of it.

Before she left, she told me - blatantly frank - to open my damn eyes and wake the fuck up. Her words. She said that Mark cares, a lot. I don't know whether I believe that or not.

But it has been eating me up inside. Like I said, my mind is running wild. Conjuring up all sorts of heart-wrenching scenarios. Each one of them where he's still caring for me, but something terrible has happened to him. I see it even in my dreams. Sick, an accident, hospitalized. Each time, he's on his death bed, the worst being killed by the one who hates him the most.

Dark. I know he's capable of it.

But in each, he's holding my hand, saying he cares and he'll always care. And it breaks my heart. And there's that other one.

He's safe, he's healthy, he's happy and he hates me down to the bone. The thought of it crushes me but I'd rather that one over the rest. At least, in that one, he's ok.

I've been wanting to call him, but apart of me is dreading that I call and he just out right yells at me. And shows me that he wants nothing to do with me ever again. The feeling I get from that is like the twisting of Dark's blade. Gut wrenching.

And it's from that feeling that I know, I still like Mark. And I want to tell him everything. But it's just coming back to one thing, one question.

What happens when Dark returns?

If he found out, who knows what he'll do. And I know, I know I'm supposed to be furious at him. I'm supposed to see him as a monster, but I don't. I just can't. I think I love him but I also think I love Mark. And I just don't know what to do. If only I could pack up my life and run, run to the end of the earth, but I can't. It's just not possible, even if I have the money, it's not possible.

Cause the earth is round. It doesn't have an end.

If only though, if only I could leave this life of mine.

All of a sudden, a shrieking constant sound pulled me from my thoughts. It shot at my ears, about two second intervals before a next assault. I blinked rapidly, bringing myself back to the world. Only to find that, that screeching sound I heard was my phone ringing.

It's crazy how things are heightened when you're in your own world.

I picked up my phone, staring at the bright screen in confusion. Mark's face lit up the entire surface, his arms and legs had foam pads stuck to them, one rested on his head perfectly as he balanced it and a stupid grin on his face. I remember that day so clearly. If it could've just remained that simple.

It wasn't until the annoying ringing brought me back again that I hadn't realized that I didn't answer the damn thing.

I swiped across the screen and held it up to my ear, expecting to hear Mark's voice.
"H-hello" I said
"Y/n, hey, this is Ethan " I was surprised to hear Ethan's voice on the other end. But not the good surprised.

"Ethan?! H-hi" I stuttered.
I heard him take a breath.
"What's wrong? " I was already breathing panicky.
"Um..Mark, he uh, he asked me to call you to um, to tell you... " he trailed off.
"T-tell me, what? " I asked nervously. I could already feel my eyes burning.
Then I heard someone in the background. I couldn't really hear what they were saying, I think it maybe was Tyler.