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CHAPTER SIXTY —

It had been four days since Mila ran away, and Marisol was exhausted. The past few days had been a whirlwind of dealing with the press, talking to the police, and desperately trying to find her sister. She hadn't taken her medication for her bipolar disorder and hadn't been to karate practice. Now, she sat in the police station, her hair up in a messy bun, the faded blue streaks barely visible, and dark circles under her eyes.

Officer Sparks walked towards her, and Marisol stood up, hope flickering in her eyes. "Anything?" she asked, her voice shaky.

"Not exactly," Officer Sparks replied, shaking his head. "We have an idea that they fled the country. But you do know once we find them, your sister will be in juvenile detention for the remainder of her teenage years, right?"

Marisol nodded, her expression weary. "Yeah, I know... but she's my sister, and I love her dearly," she said softly.

Officer Sparks noticed the exhaustion etched on her face. "Okay, well, Miss Cervantes, go on home. You've been in and out of here for the last four days. Go home and get some sleep. Take care of yourself, hun," he advised.

Marisol nodded and made her way to the parking garage. Her steps were unsteady, her vision slightly blurry. This was probably the worst manic episode she had experienced. She got into her car and adjusted her rearview mirror, only to see Kreese sitting in the backseat.

Marisol screamed and threw a punch, but Kreese blocked it effortlessly. "Cervantes, we should probably talk," he said calmly.

Marisol glared at him. "Why should I talk to you? Aren't the police after you?" she retorted.

Kreese chuckled. "Oh, I'm not that easy to catch. I just came to check on Miyagi-Do's best student at the moment," he said, his tone mocking.

Marisol's glare intensified. "Why are you here? The last time I actually spoke to you was at Coyote Creek," she snapped back.

"I'm here to give you an offer," he said, his eyes glinting with a predatory look.

"What would that be?" she asked, her voice dripping with skepticism.

"Cobra Kai will be at the Sekai Taikai. Join us. You will be able to show your full potential," he told her.

Marisol clenched her jaw. "No. Get out of my car, you old man," she snapped, though there was a hint of reluctance in her voice.

Kreese noticed her hesitation and smirked. "The offer still stands. You know where to find me," he said before winking and slipping out of her car.

Marisol sat there for a moment, trembling with a mix of anger and fear. She leaned her head back against the headrest, trying to gather her thoughts. The past few days had been a blur of anxiety and sleepless nights, and this encounter with Kreese only added to her stress. She needed to get home, take her medication, and try to rest.

As she drove home, her mind raced. She thought about Mila and their childhood, about how their lives had taken such different paths. She remembered the note Mila had left, filled with resentment and a desire to escape Marisol's shadow. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized how much she had failed to see her sister's pain.

Finally, she reached home. As she walked up the path to the house, she noticed that the lights were on, and the front door was slightly ajar. She walked inside, and Natasha immediately came to her side, concern etched on her face.

"Marisol, are you okay?" Natasha asked, guiding her to the couch.

Marisol nodded weakly. "I just... I need to rest," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Just then, George walked into the room, his phone pressed to his ear. His expression was one of intense focus, and as he saw Marisol, he held up a hand to indicate she should wait.

"Yes, thank you. We'll be there soon," George said into the phone before hanging up.

"Dad?" Marisol's voice was tinged with a mix of hope and fear.

George turned to her, his expression softening. "Marisol, they found Mila," he said gently.

Marisol's eyes widened. "What? Where is she? Is she okay?" she asked in a rush, her heart pounding.

George sighed and sat down beside her. "She was found in the Bahamas. Apparently, she was tied up and left alone. But she's safe now, and they're bringing her back as we speak."

Marisol's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears. "Oh my God... What about Mom?"

George shook his head. "Katherine wasn't with her. We don't know where she is yet, but the authorities are on it."

Marisol exhaled shakily, relief and worry mingling in her chest. Natasha hugged her tightly, and Marisol leaned into the comfort, feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time in days.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," Natasha said softly, helping Marisol to her feet. "You need rest."

Marisol nodded, feeling the weight of exhaustion finally catch up with her. She followed Natasha upstairs, her steps heavy. Once in her room, she took her medication, knowing it was essential to stabilize her mood. As she lay down, her mind was still buzzing with thoughts of Mila, but there was a sense of relief knowing her sister was safe.

Lying in the dark, Marisol felt a mixture of emotions. The relief of knowing Mila was safe was immense, but the fear of what would come next loomed over her. She closed her eyes, trying to push away the anxiety and focus on the fact that her sister would soon be home.

In the quiet of the night, Marisol finally succumbed to sleep, her mind a tumult of worry and hope. She had no idea what the next day would bring, but she knew she needed to be strong for Mila. Her sister was out there, somewhere, and Marisol wouldn't rest until she brought her home.

Marisol, George, and Natasha were all in the living room when the call came. George answered, his face tense as he listened. Marisol and Natasha watched him, their hearts pounding in their chests. George's expression shifted to one of relief mixed with concern as he hung up the phone.

"That was the police," he said, looking at Marisol and Natasha. "Mila is at the station. We need to go now."

Marisol's heart raced as they hurried to the car. The drive to the police station was a blur of anxiety and hope. When they arrived, they rushed inside, where an officer directed them to a waiting area.

After a few minutes, Officer Sparks appeared, his expression serious. "Mr. Cervantes, Miss Cervantes, Mrs. Cervantes," he greeted them. "Mila is here, but I need to inform you that she's being transferred to Sulmar Detention Center."

Marisol's heart sank. "Sulmar? But why?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Given the nature of her actions—helping her mother escape from prison—she's facing serious charges," Officer Sparks explained. "Her trial will be in two months. For now, she needs to be processed, but you'll be able to visit her in a few days."

George clenched his jaw, trying to maintain his composure. "Can we see her now? Just for a moment?" he asked.

Officer Sparks shook his head apologetically. "I'm afraid not. The transfer process is already underway."

Marisol felt tears welling up in her eyes. "But she's just a kid," she whispered, feeling a wave of helplessness wash over her.

"I understand, Miss Cervantes," Officer Sparks said gently. "This is a difficult situation, but we'll ensure she's treated fairly."

George placed a comforting hand on Marisol's shoulder. "We'll visit her as soon as we can," he promised. "We'll get through this together."

Marisol nodded, wiping away her tears. Natasha hugged her tightly, offering silent support. The drive back home was quiet, each of them lost in their thoughts. Marisol's mind raced with worry about Mila and what the next few months would hold.

When they arrived home, Marisol immediately went to her room and collapsed onto her bed. She felt overwhelmed by everything that had happened—the breakup with Eli, the press, the police, and now Mila's transfer to a detention center. She knew she needed to be strong, but the weight of it all was crushing.

Hours passed, and Marisol lay there, staring at the ceiling. Natasha knocked softly on her door and entered, sitting beside her on the bed. "How are you holding up?" she asked gently.

Marisol sighed, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't know, Nat. I just feel so... powerless."

Natasha nodded, her expression sympathetic. "It's a lot to deal with, I know. But remember, you're not alone in this. We're all here for you."

Marisol turned to face Natasha. "I'm scared for Mila. I just want her to be okay."

"She's strong, just like you," Natasha said. "And we'll do everything we can to support her. But you need to take care of yourself too, Marisol. Have you taken your medication today?"

Marisol hesitated, then shook her head. "No, I haven't. I've been so caught up in everything..."

Natasha gave her a gentle smile. "Let's get you back on track, okay? Take your medication, get some rest, and we'll visit Mila as soon as we can."

Marisol nodded mechanically, but the thought of taking her medication felt overwhelming. After Natasha left the room, Marisol stared at the bottle of pills on her nightstand. Her mind was a whirlwind of anxiety and despair. She felt disconnected from reality, and the idea of taking her medication seemed pointless in the midst of the chaos.

Instead, she buried her face in her pillow, trying to block out the overwhelming emotions. She knew she was spiraling, but the weight of everything was too much to bear. She felt a deep sense of guilt for not being able to keep her family together, for not being able to help Mila before things got this bad.

As the hours passed, Marisol's thoughts grew darker. She couldn't escape the feeling of being trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake up. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Mila's frightened face, and her mother's angry, manipulative smile.

The next morning, Marisol dragged herself out of bed, feeling more exhausted than ever. Her mind was foggy, and she struggled to focus on anything. She avoided Natasha and George, not wanting them to see how badly she was struggling.

Marisol spent the day in a haze, her thoughts consumed by worry for Mila and fear for the future. She couldn't bring herself to eat, and the idea of taking her medication felt like an insurmountable task. She felt like she was drowning, unable to catch her breath.

Marisol lay in her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, the events of the past few days swirling in her mind. She felt detached, almost numb, as if she was floating above her own body. Suddenly, the realization of what day it was hit her like a ton of bricks. Today was the day she was supposed to go to Miyagi-Do to fight Tory and Sam for the title of Team Girl captain.

Groaning, she sluggishly dragged herself out of bed. Her mind was still a foggy mess, and she struggled to focus on the tasks at hand. She grabbed her keys and walked outside, feeling the oppressive weight of everything that had happened pressing down on her shoulders. The drive to Miyagi-Do felt like a blur, her thoughts jumbled and incoherent.

When she arrived, she saw Tory storm out, slamming the door behind her before getting into her car and driving off in a huff. Marisol's mind was too foggy to care or wonder what had happened. She pushed the gate open and walked inside, immediately drawing the attention of everyone present.

"Marisol! Oh my God!" Sam exclaimed, rushing over to hug her. But as she pulled back, she took in the state Marisol was in and her expression shifted to one of concern. Sam was the only person Marisol had confided in about Mila being on the run, and she hadn't told anyone else.

Marisol locked eyes with Eli, who frowned and looked down at his feet. The sight of him stirred up a complicated mix of emotions within her. "Are we gonna do this or what?" she snapped, trying to walk past Sam. But Sam stopped her and glanced over at her parents, silently pleading for help.

"No... you stay here," Sam said firmly, her voice laced with worry.

Marisol nodded, looking down at her feet, feeling a mix of anger and despair. Everyone was staring at her, and the pressure of their gazes felt suffocating. Suddenly, she began to hear voices in her head—Kreese's sinister tone, her mother's harsh words, and Mila's pained cries.

"You know where to find me," Kreese's voice echoed ominously.

"This is all your fault!" Katherine shouted, her voice filled with venom.

"I wish you were dead!" Mila's voice cut through the noise, each word stabbing at Marisol's heart.

The voices kept repeating, getting louder and more relentless. Marisol grabbed her hair and ran her hands through it, trying to block out the cacophony. "STOP IT!" she shouted, her voice breaking.

Eli, worried for her, walked over cautiously. "Marisol? Are you okay?" he asked gently.

Sam, who had gone inside briefly, returned with her parents. "Marisol, go home. You're not going to the Sekai Taikai. You need to rest and take care of yourself," Daniel said, his voice firm but compassionate.

Eli reached out to rub her back, trying to offer comfort, but Marisol shoved him away. "No! I need this! Mila—Mila's in juvie! She would want me to do this for her!" she shouted, her voice cracking with desperation.

Robby stepped forward, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion. "What?" he asked, looking between Marisol and Eli.

Sam exchanged a worried look with Eli. "Go home, Mars. You're manic. Take your meds," she said softly, her voice full of concern.

Marisol burst into tears, the weight of everything crashing down on her. She turned and ran out of the dojo, getting into her car angrily. She pounded the steering wheel, her sobs echoing in the enclosed space. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and she felt like she was being torn apart from the inside.

As she drove away, she knew she needed to get her life back on track, but the path forward seemed impossibly daunting. The voices of Kreese, her mother, and Mila still echoed in her mind, and she felt utterly lost. She needed help, but she didn't know how to ask for it.

The day of the Sekai Taikai had arrived, a day Marisol had both dreaded and eagerly awaited. She had made her decision. She found Kreese and, in a move that shocked everyone who knew her, she rejoined Cobra Kai. She wasn't alone in her choice—Tory was there with her, driven by her own motivations.

In the locker room, Marisol and Tory stood side by side, each grappling with their own doubts and fears. They wore Cobra Kai gis, their expressions a mix of determination and trepidation.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Marisol breathed out, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart.

Tory gave her a knowing look. "Me too... but this is for Mila and my mom, okay?" she said, her voice firm but compassionate.

Marisol nodded, drawing strength from Tory's resolve. The announcement for their turn to enter the arena echoed through the hall. Marisol took a deep breath and straightened her gi.

They walked out together, their steps in sync as they entered the bright lights and roaring crowd of the Sekai Taikai. Marisol's heart pounded even louder in her ears. As she scanned the crowd, her eyes locked with Eli's. His face was a mixture of shock and hurt, and she could see the same emotions mirrored in Sam's eyes. The pain in their expressions was almost unbearable, and Marisol quickly looked away, focusing on the ground to avoid the guilt that threatened to overwhelm her.

The arena was a cacophony of noise, but inside her head, it was eerily silent. She tried to block out everything except the fight ahead. She reminded herself of why she was doing this—for Mila, who was now facing the consequences of her actions in juvie, and for her own sense of agency, tired of being overshadowed by others. She had to prove to herself and everyone else that she could make her own choices, even if they were difficult and painful.

Tory nudged her gently, pulling her out of her thoughts. "We've got this," she said with a determined nod.

Marisol nodded back, swallowing hard. She knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but she was ready to face it. She had made her choice, and now she had to live with it, no matter the consequences.

ASH SPEAKS!

wellll i'll see you guys again in november...