With his gun on Yusuf's head, Aaron ordered, "Now pour the water cans on the lower floors, you are coming with me". Yusuf tried to act tough and did not respond. With a jolt, Aaron grabbed him by his neck and brought his face so close to a burning wooden pillar that his skin started to sting, "my orders are to bring you, dead or alive does not matter!" "Ok-ok! Leave me I'll do what you say," pleaded Yusuf in broken English. Yusuf started to pour water cans on the stairs and the fire started to subside. "Hurry up," Aaron pushed Yusuf.
Aaron and Yusuf managed to get to the ground floor, using the can water to make way and pass through the hell fire. Sam stopped firing hearing Aaron's footsteps. He wanted to make sure his friend was fine. Aaron had burns here and there, his uniform was black and had holes at few places but overall, Aaron was fine as one can be holding a terrorist in a burning house, surrounded by more guns and more terrorists. Sarah looked into Aarons eyes, as they were the only visible part of his face. The hijab had worked his face was completely protected.
Aaron hit Yusuf's head with his pistol, "tell your friends to stop firing and lets us go!" Yusuf knew Aaron will not ask again; it was better to let this people go then die here with them like a fool. If he stays alive, he may get a chance again, Yusuf thought and then yelled, "Stop the firing" in the local dialect. Only Sarah understood what did he say. And the firing stopped, the alley became so quiet it would be hard to imagine that a few seconds ago bullets were flying haywire here. The only sound was of the burning wood in the house and on the Humvee.
But Aaron was still cautious, "What did he say," he asked from Sahar. "He Said, Stop the firing," Sahar replied. "No games?" Aaron confirmed. "No games," Sarah assured. Yusuf used some harsh words in the local dialect and stared at Sahar. Sahar kept quiet. Aaron asked, "What is he saying?" Sahar didn't say anything. Aaron knew he shouldn't prod further Yusuf have surely might have said something hurtful, something Sahar was unable to utter again from her tongue. Aaron pressed Yusuf against the Humvee and gave him a punch in his guts. "You don't even know, what I say, still you beat, why?" asked Yusuf almost crying with pain.
"Just imagine what will I do with you, when Sahar tells me, what exactly you said to her," warned Aaron. Yusuf laughed like a maniac he was, "You both seem too close, I'll make sure you both die together here in my alley." Aaron ignored him, this could be a technique where Yusuf makes him angry and gets better of his senses. Aaron remained stoic, he ignored Yusuf's crazy laugh and threats. Sam was still on his position alert, "how do we get out of here, we can't just walk to the base they are too many. We may not even cross this alley before they kill us?" Aaron looked hopefully at the alley's mouth, and said, "Our radio is damaged for a very long time. I think the backup will be here any moment. We just have to stay alive until they do."
"And how will we do that, Aaron?" Sam wondered a little too loudly. "For starters, Yusuf ask your men to throw their guns out of the windows." Yusuf yelled again in the local dialect and Sahar confirmed that Yusuf said what Aaron wanted him to say. One bye one ak-47s started from dropping all the windows one by one. Aaron was sure these terrorists might have more weapons on them but there was no way to know before actually checking all the buildings and they were a little short on the housekeeping staff today. But Aaron had substantially decreased their fire power for when the backup arrived and any new conflict shall rise.
Soon enough the backup team arrived. Aaron ordered them to check all the houses and take the terrorists and their weapons in custody. "We arrived as soon we realised your communication system went offline," said the leader of the backup team. "Yeah, that was not soon enough, we could be dead by now," complained Sam. The backup team leader said, "Your transport is ready, you should leave. We will take Yusuf and his men in custody and send them for further interrogation." Aaron let go Yusuf, he was handcuffed and laid on the ground by the other soldier.
Aaron, Sahar and Sam were walking towards a Humvee which was supposed to take them back to the base, when suddenly a window which had been closed all this while suddenly opened and a few grenades were thrown in the alley. Boom! Boom! Boom! Fire, smoke, dust and bricks flew everywhere. Aaron looked back to see what had just happened a few of his men were injured and Yusuf was free, and he had a gun in his hand. He pointed towards Sahar and pulled the trigger. Aaron quickly pushed Sahar to the ground and Sam shot down Yusuf by putting a bullet precisely in his evil head.
Few of the terrorist had gotten free and had engaged again with the soldiers, they knew Yusuf was gone and they will be dead soon too. But they did not wanted to go away in peace. "Let's go get in the car, it's not safe here" rushed Aaron. Sahar looked in Aaron eyes and said, "I think I'm hit." Aaron checked, there was a hole in Sahar's kurta and blood poured out from it. Amongst rising fire and bullets flying all around him, Aaron picks up Sahar and make a run for the Humvee. The terrorists try to target them. His team cover fire for him. Sahar lay unconscious with the bullet noise fading, but she could still here Aaron's voice "Sahar I won't let anything to you. I Promise."