Black Shadow and Amina were passing through harsh desert sand, Amina said to Black Shadow as looking at him, "My heart had stopped beating for a moment when I saw my parents were killed. My wounds are so deep it will not heal."
Black Shadow looked at her back, she had devastation all over her face, she needed some reassurance of life as she was living life of zombie perhaps losing all her loved one. So, he replied- "Desert plants have adapted ways to survive in arid regions with little water. They have physical and behavioral traits that help them survive in the heat and drought. You also need to adapt your-self. You cannot get your parents back but you have to try to get your sisters back."
They both approached near to a small bazaar, is a bustling, narrow street lined with tightly packed stalls under a canopy of fabric awnings, where local vendors energetically hawk a vibrant array of goods including spices, textiles, fresh produce, handcrafted jewelry, and traditional souvenirs, all amidst a lively atmosphere of bartering, chatter, and the enticing aromas of street food.
Amina came close to as local merchant. She said, "Greetings!"
"Greetings"- The merchant replied at her.
"Excuse me, can you please tell me where is Al Masmak Fortress."-
The merchant nodded his around and showed directions to Amina. They both followed his directions. They had to travel more than a miles to the north from the city. Finally, they came close to a fortress. It looks so amazing. It's the Al Masmak Fortress.
The Al Masmak fortress is made out of clay or mud like bricks, it looks very enchanting. It is square shaped Fortress. It looks strong and beautiful.
"How will we enter this fortress?"- Black shadows asks Amina.
"Does you know any secret passage or any one for help?"
Amina said, "Well, listen carefully, this fortress is controlled by the House of Rasheed. We will have to wait beside the Palm tree located nearest to the fortress. Let's wait there, until its little quiet and dark."
The fortress is heavily guarded by the guards of Hakim. It's the Ibex army, they have weapons with them. They can see more than 50 Ibex army guarding the fortress from the naked eye. So, they both had to wait till it got dark. After sunset, the place got darker and looked bit different.
"We have somebody who will help us to get in?"- Black Shadow asks Amina.
Amina signaled to him to be quiet. Then she made a signal by whistle. It felt like a bird's call. A small boy came close to them.
"Jihan, how are you?"- Amina askes the little boy giving him a tight hug.
"I am fine, how are you?"- Jihan replied at her.
"I am fine, Jihan."
"Where is Fatema and Master, they will be very upset if they see me like this. Fatema will beat me."- The little boy asks
"Are you ok? You look pale. And Don't worry, dear, Fatema or Master is not here.
The little boy looked happy. A small boy probably 8-10 years old, with old clothes, he looked very poor and skinny.
"Amina apa, who is this?"
Amina smiled at the Black Shadow. She said, "he is my friend, he is a guardian angel, came here to help us."
The eyes of the small boy glitched. Probably with some unknown faith, as their good days are near. Amina followed the boy with Black Shadow. The passed through a very small door behind a big palm tree. The door is so small that even the Black Shadow had hard time to enter. They came to the other side of the house, this side is very small. There was a woman.
"Hello, Amina, why did you came here?"- the women looked dazzled.
"Fatema will murder us if she finds out" -The women was fuming as her eyes widen in fear.
"Don't worry, Mom. Look, Amina brought a friend. He will help us."- Jihan said to her mother.
"No one can help us, no one can survive or escape from Hakim."- The woman replied at her boy.
Amina replied softly- "Don't you worry, we just need to meet Anwar Zuad. We will talk with him, then we will disappear."
"Ok, but first you need to freshen up, both of you. You have made a long journey, Eat dinner with us and then take some rest. I will make all the arrangement by midnight."-The women said to Amina.
The house looked small, very small indeed. There are nothing much in the house. The Black shadow took a bath in the hot water. After that the Black Shadow was really surprised. Jihan and his mother looked very poor and looked like they are passing through nightmares. But they have made quiet an arrangement- Fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, meat, milk and even honey. Everything was so delicious and fresh. Amina thanked Jihan's mom and gave some gold pieces from her bag.
"How did you get those?"-The women wondered.
"Thanks. Thanks a lot Amina, you are so kind." – She added.
After the dinner the Black Shadow were told to sleep in a bed. The bed it too tiny for his size. Probably it could be Jishan's bed. But he was feeling very sleepy, as his eyes eventually closed, Black Shadow saw a strange dream, in the dream he saw the little boy Jihan is playing with his mother. Then her father arrives Jihan, ran towards him, his father took him in his lap and says my son do you know how much I love you!
Then he saw a place where Jihan's father is facing the Ibex army. Jihan's father was stealing something of someone very powerful, but Jihan's father got caught, and Jihan and her mother are escaping, he could see tears coming out of this little boy. Then he woke up.
He came out of his room and saw the little boy sleeping with her mother. Black Shadow again goes bed to sleep soon he fall asleep.