This was crazy.
Why did she have to realize that she loved Santana when it's all too late? She could have realized that long time ago, or accepted it. She could have said something before Santana left. She could have stopped her. And she shouldn't be acting so languid right now- for her child, she should not.
In all honesty, Brittany still couldn't understand why Santana wanted to divorce her. There's no sense in trying to figure out now, though, because they're done, as what Santana said it.
On the other hand, it's funny. Their story was inverted. One year and four months ago they got married and now they're strangers. Shouldn't it have started at being strangers first before getting married?
Brittany knew she shouldn't have waited for things to become like this. But if Santana really loved her, she would come back, right? Or maybe Santana doesn't love her anymore?
Four days. Four days without Santana and Brittany felt like she wouldn't last for tomorrow. Tomorrow was Saturday, she'd meet Santana for a short time when she would finally pick Laurenzo up. Would that be enough? To see Santana only every Saturday and for only a short time?
Brittany felt her eyes water as she stared at Laurenzo, who was sleeping yet again. The grief was filling her heart. This always happened the past four days. Every time she's thinking of Santana her heart would always ache.
Have Santana already eaten? She would certainly want to eat anything Brittany had cooked.
What if she fell sick? Who would take care of her?
Was she tired from work? She'd surely want Brittany to massage her.
Who would cook for her when she went home late and hadn't eaten yet?
Who would make her her favorite caramel coffee every morning?
Those were the questions Brittany asked herself every day, but she couldn't bring herself to call Santana and check on her. What if Santana doesn't love her anymore? What if that was the reason why she wanted divorce? Brittany was too scared to hear it all, and so she would act indifferent.
Brittany hated it.
She was too miserable to even act like she's okay when in reality she's totally not and too far from being one.
Brittany hated it that she had to act strong, like nothing's wrong, when all she wanted to do was break down and cry and it's all because she lost someone that meant the world to her.
~.~
Now what? Santana asked herself as she dropped on her bed she used to share with Brittany before, facing the ceiling. She just went home for office lunch break.
She bit her lower lip. The force of Brittany's last kiss was still lingering on her lips. The feeling of Brittany's soft lips against her was still freshly etched on her mind, even Brittany's reaction after that. When Brittany pulled away she pushed Santana's head against her chest and remained quiet for the rest of the night until Santana just fell asleep because of the effect of the medicine. Santana didn't want to pressure Brittany about it, knowing the girl didn't really want to talk about it.
When Santana went back home to her parents they bugged her about the divorce, but her short and bitter answers had silenced them. A 'we doesn't fit' and 'there's so many things we couldn't agree with' had stopped Ernest and Maribel from asking questions. None of those reasons where true, though. They asked about Laurenzo's custody and Santana explained to them that Brittany have the whole week with him except Saturdays when he'll be with Santana.
Thinking of Saturdays, she remembered that she would meet Brittany tomorrow. It was her chance. She could confess right away without idle talks. But wouldn't that be so unromantic? Or should she be thinking of a romantic confession right now when she couldn't even last another day without confessing, knowing that it wasn't safe to keep this waiting?
"Ugh." Santana messed up her hair. "I should really confess soon, before it gets too late."
~.~
Marley pitied Tina. Tina was tied on a chair, hair disheveled, and skin bruised from trying to break free. Marley had been kind to keep her mouth and eyes free of any cover, fed her, and let her bathe for the past couple of months. The bathroom was at the corner of the room and it didn't have any windows so Tina couldn't escape. Marley hadn't hurt Tina in any way too; she couldn't bring herself to. Tina doesn't have anything to do with her problem, so she'd let her pass.
"Seriously, Marley, what do you want from me?!" Tina barked.
"How long have you been asking that? But I'll answer you the same thing." Marley calmly walked around Tina's chair and bent over her shoulder. "I don't need anything from you but I'm not gonna let you go either, not until I've already did what I've wanted to do for fifteen years now." She walked again and stopped in front of the younger girl. She bent on the waist to meet Tina's hateful glare with her smug looks.
Tina saw, for a moment, that there was still Harmony behind those eyes, the kind Harmony she knew. But it was only for a short time. It disappeared soon and was replaced by coldness.
"Ahh, Tina, do you really hate me that much? Shouldn't I be the one hating you 'coz you tried to catch me? Too bad I caught you first."
Tina remembered receiving a call from the private detective she hired to watch Marley. He said the man who tried to kill Santana was hired by Marley. Tina couldn't believe it. She had been right. Marley had something to do with what happened to Santana! But as soon as Tina had received the call, something happened.
She was at a five-star restaurant then, having family dinner. She excused herself outside to answer the detective's call and the next thing she knew someone covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and the smell of it did something to her senses and she passed out. When she woke up she was already tied in a chair here in this bungalow that was totally secluded. The place was akin to an abandoned stock room. It only had three chairs and one table, and there were no other door except the entrance and the bathroom's door. It was just plain square with two windows.
"My men discovered your hired detective the moment he started looking for Marley Hudson which records are all erased now. I thought -wished- you would stop there, Tina, but no. You made him follow Harmony Hudson instead. So I thought why not help him discover that I'm the one behind what happened to Santana? I let him deliver you the news, and then I had my men to capture you."
"You've been playing with me all along," Tina spat.
Marley straightened and turned her back on the girl. "You've got that right. It's fun playing with you, honestly, and now the game's over for you, Tina."
"What are you planning?" Tina never once thought that Marley could be this sinister. She was far from the Harmony, Tina had meet in school, but she knew there was still a chance to change Marley's mind. If only she knew how.
"Don't worry; you'll be around while it all happens. You'll witness it all. You'll witness how evil your precious friend, Santana, is!" Marley walked to the direction of the door.
"Marley!"
"What's wrong? Afraid to be left alone?" Marley mocked. "Soon, Tina… soon you wouldn't be alone here."
~.~
Brittany was playing with Laurenzo on the bed when her fist-sized iPadXV vibrated. Thinking is was Santana, she immediately grabbed it from the bedside table and was disappointed that it wasn't who she expected.
The message was from Harmony.
She tapped the screen and read the message while keeping an eye on her child.
Hi, Brittany. Dinner at my place. Sounds great? (:
Brittany pondered for a while. No matter how much she hated to leave Laurenzo behind, somehow it was good to talk to someone new. She's been with Quinn for a long time; she'd surely need someone else to talk to other than the girl. It wouldn't hurt, right?
"Quinn, come over here," Brittany spoke to her wristwatch and three minutes later Quinn arrived.
"Yes?"
"Can you watch over Laurenzo for a while? I'm going somewhere."
~.~
It never occurred to Tina that the 'soon' Marley was talking about would be later that night. She was surprised to see two men carrying a limp body into the room and tied into the chair next to her. It was Brittany.
"Marley! What did you do to her?!" Tina demanded.
Marley shrugged. "What? I did nothing. I just invited her over for dinner, and made her drink the drink I prepared for her. This is what she gets for trusting me so much."
"I thought you want Santana? Why are you dragging Brittany into this?"
Marley looked down at her. "I'm using her as a bait, idiot."
"You don't have to do this, Marley. Take my life if you want, and let Brittany go -let Santana go. I'm going to pay for whatever Santana did to you!" Tina ducked her head and started sobbing.
This was her fault she's in this situation right now. She might not have anything to do with what happened to Marley and Santana before but she involved herself in this. She wouldn't mind dying for Santana, anyway. No one would be affected if she died instead of Santana. Santana already has her own family, they would need her. But Tina doesn't. She could sacrifice.
Marley was touched. Tina really loved Santana to sacrifice her life. She almost felt bad of involving Tina in this. No one was supposed to be involved but Santana. It was supposed to be between her and Santana only. Why had it come to this?
She shook her head. She should really stop listening to Tina, her kindness and soft heart was melting Marley.
"Don't you think she's not worthy of your loyalty and your life? You don't know what she took from me. She's more evil than me." Her voice had gone soft.
"I don't know what she took from you, Marley, but maybe you misinterpret it, maybe she didn't mean it."
"She took a life, Tina, and I'll take her life in exchange."
"Take mine!"
"Easy," Marley cooed. "No one's gonna die… but Santana. I'm not gonna involve innocents in this."
"You've already got Brittany and I involved!" Tina cried.
Marley watched as Tina's tears pelted her lap. The way Tina talked to her, looked at her, was offensive. That wasn't the way she talked to Marley before. The two of them were the closest in their group, and Tina was always kind and soft to her. It struck Marley in the chest to see Tina like this. She wasn't the bad guy here. Tina misunderstood it all.
This was too much, her conscience was telling her. She doesn't have any hatred towards Tina and Brittany. Santana was supposed to be the one in their position.
She wasn't really as evil as Tina thought she was. She only hated Santana, no one else. God knows how much she wanted to free Tina and Brittany, but she had to keep them to get Santana because she knew the girl didn't trust her.
"I wouldn't prolong this anymore, Tina. I'll prove to you that I'm not the bad guy here," with that, she stomped out of the room.
~.~
"What's up, Quinn?" Santana spoke to her wristwatch, a little groggy for her sleep was just disturbed. She just actually fell asleep because she found it hard to sleep without Brittany beside her.
"It's about Brittany." Santana could hear Laurenzo crying over the line.
"What about Brittany?"
"She left before seven, and she hasn't gone back yet."
Santana rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock on her bedside table. "What? It's eleven already."
"Yeah, that's why I'm freaking out. Laurenzo doesn't wanna stop crying."
"Where did she go?" Santana felt something bad at the pit of her stomach.
"She didn't tell me."
"Okay, I'll just go there."
"No, Santana, I think it's best for you to look for Brittany instead. I'm not really feeling good."
"Why?"
"I tried contacting her on her wristwatch and tablet but I couldn't reach her. I'm scared something bad happened to her." It was evident on her voice.
"Okay. Okay." Santana stood up from the bed, totally awake now, and walked into her walk-in closet. "I'll look for her. Do you think you can make Laurenzo stop crying?"
"Yeah, I can take care of him."
"Thanks."
"Santana?"
"Yes?"
"Take care."
"I will. Thank you." Santana pressed the end call button and changed her clothes.
Only when she was already on her car had she started thinking. Where should I look for her? She tried contacting Brittany's wristwatch and tablet but, same as with what Quinn said, nothing, she couldn't reach her.
She bit her lower lip. Where could she have gone?
Santana maneuvered her car into the alleyways where she almost died twice. The place was creepy at night, but not so creepy when she was at the sky. She looked down and could easily see the alleyways. The streets were empty, not even a single soul could be seen.
She started feeling chills.
Please, please, please tell me she's safe.
Her wristwatch suddenly beeped and it startled her. She was so focused on looking out of the car's window and into the streets that a little sound easily startled her. She accepted the call.
"Looking for Brittany? Better get here fast before it's too late. And remember: don't bring anyone else."
There could only be one girl who has that malicious voice.
A message then came in to her iPadVX.
Santana changed gears and dashed through the night, heading to only one destination.
~.~
Santana parked her car down on an empty grass field. To say that she's fuming was an understatement. Harmony might be Marley but she didn't really trust her right now. Somehow, at the pit of her stomach, she knew Harmony has something against her. If she did something to Brittany, Santana wasn't sure what she'd do to Harmony, whether she's Marley or not.
She slammed the car's door close and ran to house not far away. She slammed the door hard with her fist.
"Harmony! Harmony, come out!"
She was about to knock again when someone with muscled arms suddenly strangled her from behind and covered her mouth and nose with a white handkerchief. She tried to struggle free, but the moment she smelled the tingly, nauseating smell, she passed out.
~.~
1am. Two hours since she called Santana. One hour since she started being unable to contact Santana.
What really is happening?
Quinn continued rocking Laurenzo in her arms. He finally stopped crying and was now sleeping. She couldn't help but think of the bad things that could happen to Santana and Brittany. What else could she think? Both of the girls were nowhere to be found. She couldn't reach Santana's wristwatch and no one was answering her tablet.
She dialed Rachel's number on her own wristwatch. "Rache?"
"Yes, Quinn?" She sounded hoarse, probably because she just woke up.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your sleep but can you get over here? I'm really scared."
Rachel didn't need details and immediately answered, "I'll be there."
She eventually arrived fifteen minutes later, looking alarmed. She hugged Quinn longingly with Laurenzo in between them. "What happened?"
"Both Brittany and Santana are missing and I'm not feeling good with it."
Rachel hugged her again. "Don't be scared. If they're in danger, Santana could get them out of it."
"I really hope so."
They sat on the bed for a long time, waiting for their gadgets to beep or ring or something. They were both anxious and were hoping that nothing bad happened to the two girls.
"Should we alarm the police or something?" Rachel asked.
"It hasn't been twenty four hours yet."
Rachel sighed and took Laurenzo from Quinn. She knew the girl was already tired and she would gladly watch Laurenzo for a while for the girl. Quinn rested her head on Rachel's shoulder.
"Take a rest. I'll wake you up when someone calls or something happens," Rachel softly said.
"How could you be so calm?"
"I'm not, but I have faith in Santana. She love Brittany so much and if they're in danger, she'd do everything to get them out of it… or Brittany at least."
