Dabbling in Danger

Break Down

Adeen

I need a way to get this stain out.

"I did not plan for this," I say through clenched teeth.

I pick up my rag and dunk it into the bucket of hot water and bleach. On my hands and knees now I start scrubbing.

The spot is more dense than I expect. The rag is drenched and completely dyed a deep red, same for my hands.

God dammit, what a stupid move leaving the gloves on the boat!

"Mmm," Malina moans grabbing my attention, she starts coughing and scrunching up her nose, eyes squeezed shut.

Must be waking up.

I toss the sopped rag into the water and move it all off to the side of the bed. If she sees me cleaning and I'm stained in blood, it might trigger another fainting spell.

On my feet now I walk up to Malina who I've left tied up in rope and propped upright on the floor next to the bathroom door.

I step past her into the bathroom, twist the faucet handle and wash my hands using the hottest water I can stand.

Malina goes into a coughing fit, I turn the water off and tower over her, watching.

She isn't fully awake yet.

I crouch down in front of her, watch her twisted up face as she comes to consciousness. Her eyes start to flutter then they finally open, she looks around in a daze then her eyes land on me. I watch as she registers my face and maybe even remembers the situation we're in.

"Babygirl?" I say quietly.

"Mm," she hums, then looks down at the rope wrapped around her body.

"Malina?" I ask.

Head hanging low, her lips begin to tremble and tears slip down her cheeks.

Oh sweet girl.

"Why are you crying love?"

She doesn't reply at first, just keeps up with the tears and I'll admit it rubs me the wrong way, but then she lifts her head slowly and looks at me with those watery eyes.

"What is going on?" She sobs. "Wh- what did you do to my sister, why am I tied up like this?"

"I'll try to answer each question as best I can."

I smile, hoping to put her at ease, but she remains frazzled and somber.

"Well," I clear my throat starting with the first question. "What's going on is, I made a little mess of things, now I'm trying to clear that up."

Her eyes bulge for a second, looking away from me and toward the bed.

"What happened to Tiana," I continue, leaning into her line of view again. "There was an incident, she fell and instead of getting the authorities involved I took care of it."

"Took care of it how?" She sniffles.

"I already told you love, I followed through with the plan."

"Wh- what plan?!" She stammers, raising her voice. "I don't have a clue what you're talking about Adeen! I- I didnt- I just-"

I feel the blood boiling under my skin. Before I know it I have my hand wrapped snugly around her throat quieting her whines.

"You know I hate it when you play stupid," my voice goes husky.

Her tongue juts out as she gasps for air to hit her lungs. I release my grip, remembering she isn't the one against me.

"I'm sorry baby," I mutter shaking my head. " I didn't mean to lash out at you, I-" I groan bringing a fist to my head, "I just need you to be on my side right now, I need you to realize that all I've wanted was you and this is the only way we could have each other."

I rise to my feet standing over her again and instead of looking at me she continues coughing and sucking up hyperventilated breaths.

"Don't you get it?!" I holler, walking away from her now. "We did this for us, everything was for the two of us and that, that flesh eating leech was going to tear us apart! You know that!"

I spin on my heels to look at her again, she's got a frightened look on her face which only pisses me off more.

"I finished this all up for you," I sneer at her. "When we came here what did you think we were doing?"

"You said we were celebrating," she answers bewildered.

"Yes, celebrating what?"

"Graduation and Tiana's sobriety!"

"You didn't think to read into that just a little more? We were celebrating us, freedom, unity!" I shout.

I begin to pace between the bedroom door and Malina in the corner.

"When we got here, I gave you a promise ring did I not?"

"Y- yes," she stutters.

"What did I tell you to do?"

"What?" She's confused.

I snap around to look at her, "what the hell did I tell you to do?"

"I don't know, I don't remember," she cries.

"I said, 'what ever you do, don't stop believing in me!' Did I not say that to you?"

"Yes," she squeaks.

"And what was your response?"

"N-never."

"Never," I repeat  after her. "Exactly right. Yet here you are, doubting me, questioning me. What- When I asked you to pick up the car while I rented the boat, did you think that I just forgot?"

She looks around as if she's searching for the answer.

"Yeah, that's what you said."

"It doesn't matter what I said," spit flies from my mouth. "What matters is what was done, you had to of been aware. Baby, that was for looks! I told the boat owner that my wife would be getting our car, that's what that was for, to create a story line for us... When we collected fish and rocks in the net, that was supplies to finish the job Lee! Don't you get it, we are a team! We did this together!"

"No! No, no, no!" She grows hysterical. "I wasn't- I didn't know! Why, why would I want to kill my sister?"

I stand tall a couple steps away from her.

"Because you wanted to be rid of her just as much as I did," I say this calmly. "You tried to turn a blind eye, you tried to pretend you weren't involved but you played every card dealt to you. You can't lie about that."

She's bawling now, doubled over as much as the constricting rope will allow.

I slowly move toward her, listening, observing the sobs shake her frame.

"I hate to see you upset," I say quietly. "But if this is what you're choosing to do, I'll leave you to it. I need to get back to cleaning up this blood."