The next morning, I awake thankfully alone. I glance over at his side of the bed and notice a crisp sheet of paper. I pluck it up between my fingers and read.To My Wife,Get ready for a shopping trip today in. for our upcoming honeymoon, the world over. I'm awaiting your presence downstairs in the dining room up till 11 am. If you're not downstairs by then, consider it a second strikeout and another round of punishment your way. Do not disobey, dollface.~Your sincere husband.Anger courses through me as I tear the note into pieces. Dastard thinks I'll suffer his criminality for long!I pilfer a glance over at the digital clock, 9:17 am. Leaping out of bed, I sprint over to the cavernous balcony windows with the dresser stool. Lifting the stool, I slam it against the window. I repeatedly do this for a couple of more minutes and yet to no avail.Finally, I give up after another minute, the steel stool didn't even mar the window glass in the slightest bit. What kind of glass was this a
Hazel POVI woke up with a very incisive pain that sparks continuously from the back of my head, shooting throughout my body. The entirety of my figure was trembling, chilled to the bones. I recognize I'm sprawled on my back in baba's restaurant's freezer, illuminated by fluorescent light.What the hell happened!?An agonized groan escapes me as I fumble to a seating position against a few crates of frozen chicken. My hand snaked its way up to touch the tender bruised area of my hijab-concealed head.How did I end up here? Who the hell hit me!?The last thing I remember was dialing baba's home phone and grandma picked up. Then I was bashed over the head mercilessly by some hard object by someone.I arise to my feet in a leap, my head spinning, and skid towards the freezer's door. As soon as I pull on the handle, I find it locked from the outside.Panic-stricken, I slam my palms against the cold metal surface. "Help!!!! Someone open this door!!!"Within a matter of seconds, I hear the
"I can't let anyone else have you." He shakes his head forlornly. "I'll commit genocide on a large scale, I'll fūck up everything for my uncle and relatives. I'll end up ruining other people's lives if another swine gets ahold of you. you have no idea how difficult it was for me to not set that restaurant on fire when I saw that piece of filth laying his fucking hands on you, you don't know what you do to me. kill me, Kashani, I want to die for you, sacrifice my worthless life for your freedom. do it, sweetheart.""No!!" I shout in renewed frustration. "I'm not killing you! Stop telling me to do that."Instead, he offers me a wistful hopeless smile as he frees my hand from the gun. He brings my hand to his mouth and lays a chaste kiss upon it before placing it on my chest. A complete sense of unease floods my mind as I stare wide-eyed at him."Goodbye, Kashani." With that, he aims the gun at his head."No!" I scream and before I know it, I smash my lips hard against his mouth, and his
It was beyond my imagination how bitter contrition could taste in every sense of the word until now, as soon as I had awakened from the bliss-induced syncope.Of how quickly apprehension percolates over my mind, gathering momentum like a whirlwind.Within seconds, tears brim the perimeter of my eyes and trickle over, hot and full of shame.I must have remained to stare dazedly up at the ceiling when beside me, a melodic tune obstructs me from my heavy train of thoughts.Gradually my head tilts and my gaze flits over to a smartphone and a note is laid on the pillow next to mine. The screen blinks with a text message.With shallow breaths, I make the move to sit up and my body rings with a dull echoing pain.A pain that starts between my legs and crawls its way over my entirety like a cobweb of deception.No Hazel, don't cry, stop crying. I couldn't submit to my tears anew, otherwise, I'd fall into a fit of wall-shattering cries.I'd dwindle into the murky depths of insanity which my m
As soon as the vehicle approaches Bilal's private boarding school, my eyes distend in alarm. "You-How did you know?! Only Rachael knew about Bilal's school!""Don't worry about details, princess. Wait here, remember I've locked the doors and windows, so stay put." He provides lightly and exits the jeep without further word.The vehicle was parked a few blocks away from the school, in a vacant lot. No one would be able to catch a glimpse of me reclining in it since the windows were tainted dark from the exterior. I wait with my hands fiddling the hem of my sleeves as I continue glancing around nervously.Several minutes later, I spot the demon approaching along with my little brother, who is happily licking an ice cream cone. In one hand he's dragging along a small suitcase. My heart swells with so much emotion as I eagerly await Bilal's arrival.As soon as the demon tugs open my door, I fling my arms around Bilal, crushing his boyish frame against me. "Billy!! Oh my God!""Hazel!" Bil
I awake from a slight jostling, it's dark and I hear the soft continuous humming of some sort of engine. Then I instantly remember that I was on a plane.I groggily shift my body but freeze when I realize someone else lay beside me. The weight of their arm is firmly yet gently draped over my waist and I feel their minty breath shallowly caressing my neck. It seemed like they were asleep.I turn my face in their direction and lift my hand to touch their face in the dark. My fingers splay over chiseled angular features, and my heart hammers in recognition.But before I can shove at him, he murmurs in his sleep. "Hazel... hmm...so pure..."My eyes widen in alarm and I attempt to lift his heavy arm away from my waist, yet this proves as a failure. He draws me closer to his hard chest while murmuring again in his sleep."Hazel... I need you..."My face flushes with heat as my mind processes his sleep talk. I wondered what kind of dream he had about me.I try pulling away from him, yet tha
"What is it?!" I shriek in repleted panic. Besides me, Bilal is just as frightened. The overpowering stench of smoke engulfs us quickly as the helicopter malfunctions."There is good news and bad news," Vladimir responds jaw clenched in apparent ire. He pours all of his strength and effort into veering the helicopter off-course away from the villa. "Which do you want to hear first?""This isn't time for such games!" I shriek again as the helicopter continues impairing."Are we crashing?!" Bilal questions with eyes wide as saucers."Not we. The helicopter will crash, that's the bad news. We've been targeted by an enemy RPG." Vladimir replies eyes narrowed in focus as he ascends the helicopter to higher heights. "It seems someone within our circles has tipped the enemy off in regard to our whereabouts.""RPG?!" Bilal gapes horrified. "Enemy?!""What the hell is RPG?!" I snap in ensuing terror."Military weapon!" Bilal promptly answers before desperately asking Vladimir. "What's the good
Dear Hazel Asalaam Alaikum, I hope you are safe and well. I'm writing to inform you that I'm admitted to a private cancer treatment hospital. I've discovered from one of my lawyers, that the wealth I've allocated to you has still not been touched. I had expected you'd find it beneficial once you had turned 19, but you haven't utilized any amount of it. Please no need to remain humble regarding the sustenance that Allah has rendered halal for you.The doctors say I've got an additional month left to live. I find it amusing, that these doctors can utter such words with firm conviction. After all, life and death are in Allah's hands.However, my condition is deteriorating. I'd like to see you and Rachael before I depart this world.Enclosed within this envelope are details and directions to the hospital center. I'm expecting you both soon, and if you choose not to visit me then it's alright, I would understand.Once I've completed reading, my eyes lock with Rachaels. Hers are just as gl