I groan as I feel someone pull my leg. I wiggle my leg trying to push them away.
"Let me sleep!" I whine.
"Inu come onnn!" I scowl as Safeer shouts. "It's time to go to school."
I wave him off and snuggle closer into my soft pillows.
A minute later, I feel my arm being pulled.
"Safeer get the hell out of my room!" I yell at my eleven year old brother.
"Insha! Language!" My mom scolds from outside my room, somewhere.
"Inu, get up! We're gonna be late for school and Papa will be late for work." Safeer informs.
I mentally scream and finally get up. I glare at him, pushing my hair back. "I'm up. See? Now get out."
He huffs and stomps out. I vaguely hear him complain about me to mom and I roll my eyes. That little piece of crap.
I pull myself up and go to the bathroom. After brushing my teeth, taking a quick shower and putting on clothes, I hurriedly wrap my hijab and head out with my bag slinging on my right arm.
I am not a permanent hijabi but I feel like I am getting there.
Sometimes I would just wrap my head with a loose scarf when going to college while other times I would properly wear it.
"Salaam Ma!" I greet my mother as I take a seat at the dining table. I pull my sleeve of the baby blue shirt that I wore, down and place my bag next to my chair. I paired the top with white skinny jeans and a beige colored hijab.
My mom sets the breakfast down on the table and takes her seat beside me.
"Where's Papa?" I ask looking around.
She glances at me before going back to applying jam on the bread. "He'll be down any minute."
On cue, I hear footsteps and Papa comes into view, all dressed in a black suit for his office. He's a lawyer.
"Salaam Papa." Safeer and I greet. He replies with a smile and sits down beside Safeer who is sitting opposite of me.
Mama passes me two slices of bread and I start munching on it. "Oh yeah," I start, "there's a party at Warda's house again. Can I go? It's on Saturday. " I look at both of them. "Will you guys be home?"
Dad swallows his bite and says, "No I won't be. There is a new case and I need to work on that."
"Oh." I reply. "What about you Mama?"
"I will be home. The students exams just finished so I'll be home marking their papers." My mother speaks up too.
"So that means I can go?" I look at them expectantly.
Dad pauses for a minute before nodding at last, "but don't be late." He narrows his eyes a little in a joking manner.
I grin.
•⚪•⚪•⚪•⚪•⚪•
"Salaam ladies!" I drape both of my arms over Manal, Noora, and Layla.
"Walaikum Assalam," they reply. Manal frowns at my hand around her shoulder, and moves out of it. I roll my eyes.
Noorie is once again, engrossed on her phone and I bump our shoulders. "Why do I always see you on your phone?"
Without looking up at me, she answers, "I'm just sending a friend yesterday's homework." She sighs. "People these days don't want to work hard. They just want the easy way out. How they're going to give their exams is beyond me."
"Why do you give it then? Unlike our Layla over here, you're great at saying no." Manal counters.
"Hey!" Layla protests with a frown.
I pat her shoulder sympathetically. "The truth hurts darling."
Noorie focuses her attention on Manal. "I would but she actually is a good friend of mine. And I'm not that rude. Unlike someone else." She coughs.
Manal scowls in anger while Layla grins and sticks her tongue out.
"I hate you." Manal mutters.
"Feeling's mutual Manny." She smirks. A nickname she introduced us to.
The bell rings and we scurry off to our classes.
•⚪•⚪•⚪•⚪•⚪•⚪•
We plop our asses on the bean bags which are situated in every corner of the library. Luckily on Friday we all have study hall together in the last period.
Of course, Noora uses this time to either do her school work or find a good novel and finish it.
Layla uses her phone, searching out memes one after another, and showing it to us and laughing.
Manal sometimes gets help from Noorie for the topics she doesn't understand or sneaks in junk food and enjoys it.
I either get a good novel like Noorie or bring a sketchbook and draw what comes in mind.
Drawing is something that I figured comes to me naturally and I love it. I like sketching different types of sceneries and sometimes when I am in the mood, I fill in the colors to make it come colorfully alive.
"So guys, we are going to the party tomorrow right?" Manal confirms.
"Yeah yeah."
"Yup."
"Uh… I guess?"
We look at Layla.
"Geez, fine fine."
Manal claps her hands together. "Perfect."
"Yeah so make sure Manal you have to go to Layla's house and Insha you have to come to mine. We'll pick both of you from there then."
The only ones who can drive and have a car are Manal and Noora. And almost all the time Noora is the one to pick us and drop us. Manal has to go to Layla's house because she is very far from both my and Noora's house. So the nearest is Layla for her. On the other hand, Noora and I are quite near, like, a walking distance near. Layla is considerably near. Not too near, but not too far.
I am the one who always goes to Noora's because there are certain steps in makeup which I, for the life of me, can't do but Noora does. So she fixes me up with her makeup tools like always.
Hence, the arrangement.
"What are y'all wearing?" Layla asks. This is the most Layla type question because we know the reason behind this. She doesn't want to be the odd one out by wearing a completely different type of outfit or be the center of attention.
"I haven't really decided yet. I need to check my closet. Don't even remember what I have." I state, trying to remember every clothing that I own. I fail. I have a crappy memory.
"Oh." Layla sags.
"Don't worry Layls. We'll each send a picture on our group tomorrow early in the morning." Manal assures her.
"Yeah, I do have in mind one, but I'll just send you the picture to make it clear." Noora tells her.
Layla nods, relieved.
Just like that, we each continue with what we do. Chatting, laughing and teasing in between every often.
•⚪•⚪•⚪•⚪•⚪•
I sigh as I finish wrapping my mauve scarf loosely around my head and neck. My part of makeup was complete with a little foundation, concealer, mascara and a nude colored lipstick.
All Noorie had to do was apply the eye liner, a little bit of eye shadow if she deemed right, bronzer and the highlighter. I knew how to apply highlighter but I also didn't. Kind of complicated.
As much as I love doing makeup, I am not that great at it, which is sad. But, good thing Noorie is to my rescue everytime. Even Manal is great at her own makeup which is almost every time a not-to-mess-with-me intimidating look.
Layla, on the contrary, likes to go simple with only a little bit of gloss and mascara. And she looks beautiful.
I look at my outfit in the mirror. White jeans and a plum colored shirt that reached a little above my knees. Giving myself a nod, I sling my purse on my arm and walk out the door.
"Mama," I call out as I descend the stairs, "I'm going!"
She comes into view and smiles.
Mama kisses the top of my forehead. "Make sure to stay safe. Call me once you reach. Or text me. Just remember to do either of them."
I nod and giving her a quick hug, step out the door, reciting a quick prayer.
On my way to Noora's house, my phone dings, indicating a text message. I quickly take a look.
Manny:
hey loser, grab some snacks, will ya? I forgot it on my way to Laylie's.
I blink at our group chat. The audacity of these people.
Me:
i hate you.
Manny:
:P
Noorie:
get your legs moving, lazy ass. don't wanna be late.
Me:
screw you
Majnu:
friendship goals
I huff and change my direction. I take a completely different route to the only fairly near store. Once I arrive, I hurriedly skim through the aisle and grab the snacks needed. I also buy ample amounts of chocolate chip biscuits. Those are the deal. After the checkout, I, once again, start my journey to Noora's house.
Not even halfway there, I stop in my tracks. This is a construction site. How, when? What am I gonna do now?
I inwardly groan. My legs hurt. No way am I going back the whole freaking way from where I came. I would collapse before I reached there.
I'm gonna kill Manal.
My mind clicks and I vaguely remember a different route- a quicker route- to Noora's neighborhood. I remember Noora telling me about that in the beginning.
Today is the day to check that out.
I turn on my heels and walk down towards what I remember is the correct way.
This is gonna be easy.
Fifteen minutes later
This was not easy.
I think it's safe to say now, that I'm lost. Lost alone. Nowhere to go. Nowhere to sit. All alone.
My heart hasn't stopped beating like crazy and looking around me to the eerie and scary surroundings. Narrow alleyways lead down to who knows where at every corner I turn.
There's not a single person in sight.
I clutch my purse and the plastic bag close to my heart.
A ding goes off and I jump. Seconds later do I realize, it's my phone. I facepalm.
How the hell did I forget about my phone?
I quickly take it out. Ten minutes ago, I was still confident so I had messaged my friends that I would be there soon.
But obviously that didn't work out.
Noora:
where the hell are you Insha?
Me:
I am lost, Noorie. I don't have any idea where I am.
Noora:
Tf? you idiot, I told you to take the normal route.
okay leave that, I'm in my car. tell me something about the location.
Me:
I have no idea Noorie. there are only creepy alleyways here. one or two houses but they look haunted. what in the heck is this place?
Noora:
you stupid moron. you're describing half of the city. anything useful?
I glare at the screen.
Me:
I'll send you pictures of it. figure it out.
I open my camera and walk around taking a few pictures and sending them. In the midst of this, I hear some voices.
Thud thud thud.
I slowly walk towards the sounds, with my phone still out in front of me.
I realize the sounds are coming from one of the alleyways and carefully I take a peak.
I flinch back and the screen of my phone bumps into my chest.
My eyes widen in horror and my heart feels like it's gonna come out any second. My whole body freezes up and I am unable to move.
In front of me, is a group of men, surrounding two bruised up guys. One look at those poor people, I feel the urge to vomit.
I watch in terror, as one by one the group throws hard punches on them.
I can't see properly see two of the people in the group as they are way back in the dark, but the others' faces are out in the open.
I stop breathing as one of them takes out a knife. A very sharp, glinting knife.
I cover my mouth with my hands as I witness what they do with it. One by one, the fingers are cut. And then, the repeated stabs. In the abdomens, the chest, the stomach, the arms, the legs.
I feel the vomit in my throat.
My eyes well up. My fingers shake.
Then, as if what they all did wasn't good enough, they pull out guns.
In a blink, the guns are pointed at the two, and a bullet goes straight between their eyes.
I feel sick.
The blood oozes out. I let out a small gasp when I saw it wasn't only blood that oozed out.
I freeze all over again.
No.
Their heads snap up to the sound the moment I throw myself against the wall.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
I feel the immense fear taking control over my body. Without thinking about anything else, I start running. I hear the rushed footsteps near me and I feel the time of my death even nearer. Tears fall from my eyes.
I push myself to run more fast, as my aching legs could take. My feet collide with a rock, and I fall to the ground.
With my face wet with tears, I quickly pull myself up and notice a small garden. Without a second thought, I throw myself in one of the huge bushes. A few branches scrap my face and arms and I try not to wince.
Please, go away. Please.
I pray to Allah they go away.
I don't want to die.
My eyes widen suddenly and I look at my phone in my hand, few drops of my tears spill on it. I quickly put it on silent. Then I take notice, the whole thing that happened, the whole damn torture that took place, it was now recorded.
On my phone.
Holy shit.
I duck more into the bushes, making my legs rest in painful positions, when I hear them. I try to push away the images of what I saw out of my mind and try to focus on not being one of their victims.
"Where'd she go?" A frustrated voice yells.
They know it was a girl.
"The hell am I supposed to know."
"We need to find that chick. She can't get away."
"She won't." Another voice adds. I furrow my eyebrows at that voice. It sounded vaguely familiar.
No, I shake my head. Why would any one of their voices sound familiar?
I hear the footsteps retreating and I hold my breath. Staying still for a minute or two, I wait until no noise is heard.
Slowly, I come out of the bushes. I look around, afraid to breathe.
My phone vibrates.
Noorie:
I'm here. Just come quickly right where you took this picture.
She attaches one of the pictures I sent her.
Thank Allah, it was the opposite direction to where those men went.
Even though my legs feel like they are gonna fall off and my knees are most likely scraped - I can feel the little sting on both of them - and so are my elbows, I bolt out of here to where Noorie waits.
I try to not waste any more time because those guys could still be here and now, it's not only me, but Noorie is here too.
I say a silent prayer when I find her car parked to the side. I immediately run and get in.
When I look at her, she gasps and her eyes widen in shock and concern.
"Insha! What happened to you?" She yells.
I shake my head. "We don't have time for this, we have to leave now!" I say with urgency. My eyes flick out the windows for any movement. "Noora, drive!"
Thankfully she starts the engine and drive away, away from the inhumane behavior I just witnessed.