Chapter 7
Escape
I prayed to be apart from you.
Yet when it was granted, my tongue could not stop calling your name.
I begged for escape only to be captured.
And then I screamed for you to come release me.
As though, you are all I have ever known.
"What do you mean she's gone!" The fury within him could not be contained.
Laila was missing. She had not returned.
Maryam ran to him in panic, shouting of the kidnap. Others joined, speaking of strange men who had taken her.
"When they rode off, we spotted Laila laying over the camel. We tried to chase them but they were too far gone-" Maryam broke into sobs as she recalled the events.
"Who let her go?" Usman asked menacingly.
Maryam bowed in shame. Hassan came to her side, placing his hand on her back. He looked towards his leader, who was clenching his fists.
"Usman," he called.
As though the man had been pushed, Usman took hold of his sword and marched towards his horse.
He couldn't be stopped. Hearing and seeing nothing.
But Laila.
The horse almost flew across the camp and into the sweltering heat, leaving behind an alarmed crowd.
"The desert is relentless and he leaves with nothing but a horse and sword." Hassan signalled for his own weapon.
He called the loyalist out, watching as they immediately jumped onto their horses. His wife looked at him with tear stricken eyes.
"Be safe," she whispered as he caressed her cheek.
"If God wills." He promised.
They would find her.
-
Her body moved back and forth, heart pounding when not recognising her surroundings.
"Help."
Nausea overcame her. She thirsted for water, her mouth dry from the sand.
"She's awake." The kidnapper eyed his prisoner, amused as she attempted to sit.
"W-where am I?" Laila weakly asked.
They laughed, one suddenly caressing her back as she felt disgust rise up her body.
"Do not touch me!" Laila shouted, kicking her legs to avoid his lurking fingers. They only sniggered in return, abruptly stopping the camel to force her to the ground.
The sand was hot beneath her, burning her hands as she was hoisted onto her feet. Before she could even feel grateful, the scarf she wore was ripped away, exposing her to the relentless sun.
Laila froze, her eyes wide when their vile gazes fell upon her.
"We picked a good one," the man praised, taking hold of her jaw to inspect. Laila shuddered, shaking herself to remove his touch.
Before he could stop her, Laila brought her knee up and hit him in his most sensitive area. He squealed, falling to his knees and dropping his hands to tend to his injury.
Laila used this opportunity to grab the dagger on his side. He managed to tightly hold her wrist which forced her to briefly lose her hold.
Laila struggled, summoning the remaining strength in her body, she threw a fist at his jaw.
He fell back as Laila reached for the dagger again only to be pulled by her hair. Screeching, she stumbled backwards, holding her own head to stop the pain.
"Something will have to be done about your wild behaviour," the sound of the other man's voice was like a snake sliding up her back, she swallowed the bile rising up her throat, forcing herself to speak.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked.
He laughed and dropped her hair to grab both her hands instead. Bringing her to the back of the camel, he tied her hands to a stray rope.
"Because you belong to us now."
"Let me at that bitch!" Laila glared as her victim screamed for retribution.
"Calm yourself, she cannot be injured if we want to sell her for a good price."
Sell?
"Are you okay?" a tiny voice asked from behind. Laila turned to see an even more fragile figure standing with little energy. Her eyes seemed exhausted as she licked her dry lips.
Laila could only offer a smile of reassurance.
"What is your name?" she asked.
"Hafsa" The girl replied.
"I am Laila."
It was tranquil for a moment before the camel suddenly moved and they were pulled forward.
"Come on ladies, carry your weight," their kidnapper ordered, a grin appearing on his face as the girls stood straight.
His finest catch yet, the man thought.
"May a thousand curses be upon you!" Laila cried out as he laughed.
Indifferent to emotion, a man whose heart had already turned to stone. She could do nothing to stop him with words.
It felt like decades as they walked through the desert, not able to even hold a conversation with each other in case their captors were to find out.
Laila could only offer comfort to Hafsa who had less energy than her. Her feet seemed to now be dragging on the floor as opposed to stepping.
"Could you stop! Can you not see she is exhausted!" Laila finally shouted, unable to keep quiet for any longer.
The camels began to slow as the men turned on their vehicles and stared at the weakened figures before them.
"You say you would like to sell us. In what condition? Who would buy anyone close to death?" She did not lower her gaze as she stared into their eyes, challenging them to say she was wrong.
The sky turned darker as the night began to creep in, only strengthening her stance. The younger one sighed and stopped the camel he was riding, finally allowing Hafsa to fall to the ground.
Laila immediately kneeled to her, stroking her forehead and offering words of compassion.
"Get her up, we will camp here tonight," the man said. She glared at him, holding Hafsa by the shoulders as something was thrown towards them.
"Drink," he commanded. Laila grabbed the camel skin and brought it towards Hafsa's lips.
"Thank you," The girl was grateful as her thirst was finally quenched. Laila shook her head, feeling tears in her eyes as she wondered how to escape.
It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
"Do not cry." Hafsa comforted, sitting up before looking towards the men who were making up a tent. She urged Laila closer, wanting to share a secret.
There was hope in her eyes as she pointed towards a dagger hidden in her clothes, stolen from when Laila had dropped it.
Surprise blessed Laila's face as she realised there may be a way out.
They would escape.
"Bring them here" the older man suddenly said, spiking fear in both their hearts.
"No. We cannot touch" the other said, looking towards them.
The man grinned, "but they can touch us.", he was sinister in his words. Laila wrapped her arms around Hafsa.
"Do you not fear Allah?" She asked, hoping for humanity but receiving only sin.
"You will repay me for what you did before," he replied, growing impatient.
Without warning, he stood and began walking towards Laila, an evil surrounding him that could not be overlooked.
She was helpless as he approached. Not knowing what else to do, Laila put herself in front of Hafsa whilst trying to protect her.
"Please!" she pleaded. He was only a step away before the other man suddenly grabbed his shoulder, stopping him.
There was a vacant look in his eyes as he shook his head.
"Enough." The authority in his tone stopped everyone in their tracks.
"Do not touch them." He ordered, his grip growing stronger as the man in front of them slightly knelt.
"Fine Khalil." he retreated, glaring towards both parties before storming away.
Laila glanced at her supposed saviour, gratefulness in her eyes. He rejected it.
"Do not get confused, I am no kinder than him." Khalil untied them from the camel and dragged them towards the open tent.
They fell upon some cushions before he tied their hands and feet together again, not giving them a chance to enjoy a second of freedom.
"We are too far gone to be god fearing now," he said after moments of silence, looking down on Laila.
"No one is ever too far gone," she replied. His eyes met hers, an unknown emotion passed between them before he rejected further interference.
"Laila. I saw you fight." Hafsa whispered after he was gone. Laila nodded her head, taking a deep breath as she thought of what to do.
"I was taught from a younger age." The memories of her and Abdul spending afternoons battling each other seem so far away now.
Those days could never return.
"Where are you from?" She asked, curious of how someone so pretty could fight like the warriors she had only heard of.
"I am-" her sentence stopped as she realised even she did know where she was from anymore.
Did she belong to the Al-Shujae or to the Al-Muharibun?
"Never mind me, where are you from? How did you get kidnapped?" The worry in her voice was evident.
Hafsa's face dropped as she tried to stifle a cry.
"I was given away by my uncle." Laila gasped in shock. It wasn't possible, no one would do that to their own niece.
"He raised me after my parents passed away, but I was always a burden to him. He went against the law of the land and sold me into slavery" Hafsa turned away from Laila as tears ran down her cheeks. The memories still haunted her.
"Did they..."
"No, they did not touch me. They just tied me to this camel and said we were going to the city of gold."
The city of gold?
"I was not alone. They took me to a village where so many more girls were tied up and to be sold for slavery," her confession caused such hatred that Laila never thought she could possess.
She stroked Hafsa's cheek. "We will get out of here."
A fire had already been started besides the camp, bringing heat and light where there was none. Hafsa moved closer to Laila as their captors took a seat beside them.
A plate of dates were passed over and Laila eyed it before picking one up for her friend. Hafsa wasted no time to eat before she started to feel dizzy with exhaustion.
"Sleep. You will need the energy" Laila said, allowing Hafsa's head to rest on her shoulders.
The night deepened as Laila feigned sleep. Despite her own eyes closing from tiredness, she stayed alert. Listening for the sound of manly laughter to stop before daring to make a move.
The quietness of the desert was both a blessing and curse.
She lightly shook Hafsa who was fast asleep.
The girl blinked in surprise before smiling up at her.
"The dagger?" Laila whispered. Hafsa signalled towards her waist where the knife was still secured.
With her hands tied, Laila attempted to reach the weapon, grabbing it with ease before indicating for Hafsa to bring her hands forward. She hesitated before following through, watching the blade cut through the rope.
Imitating Laila's actions, Hafsa also cut Laila's ropes.
Upon her hands being released, she stretched out and quickly glanced at the sleeping men. Laila put a finger to her mouth, indicating for her partner to stay quiet.
She silently stood, cautious. They tip-toed towards the camels, praying that the animals would stay quiet.
A movement caused them to freeze.
Laila hurried as she helped Hafsa onto one of the camels.
"Wait here" she said as Hafsa wildly shook her head.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, afraid. A spark lit in Laila's eyes as she turned towards the tent and the sleeping men.
"Teach them a lesson," was all she said before grabbing a stray wooden stick and lighting it with the open fire. She bought it towards the tent and watched as the flame consumed the material.
The fire in her eyes matched the fire which lit the dark desert. Not even a second later, screams were heard as Laila turned and ran towards the camels.
She was steps away before a hand took hold of her dress as she attempted to escape. Laila pulled the material, hoping her strength was enough to release the tight hold. Without hesitation, she turned to fend off the attacker only to see one of her kidnappers' smirk back at her.
Summoning the little strength she had, Laila kicked him, watching as he staggered back, searching for something to hold.
"Wait!" Khalil shouted, stopping her before she could escape. Her feet refused to move forward as his next words caught her in the throat.
"I am letting you go. But make no mistake, I will see you again" he said, voice filled with something which made her skin crawl. Laila shook her head, forcing herself to step away from him as she heard Hafsa calling for her.
"Where will you see me again?" Her curiosity defeated the fear. He smirked, showing his teeth as her other capturer approached them, a knife in his hand.
Before he could strike her, the weapon was taken from him and in a swift movement, the man's neck was sliced by his supposed own partner.
Bile rose up her throat as he fell into a heap on the sand. Laila's breath quickened, running towards the camel that was waiting.
"In the city of gold Amirah" Khalil's voice echoed in her ears as she frightfully looked around, searching for the man who had now disappeared.
"Laila!" Hafsa quickly approached, worried that her friend had been killed. Laila breathed out upon seeing her.
"Let's go!" she shouted, pulling the ropes of the camel as they ran forward into the dark of the night.