Chapter 27: "Lurking Dangers"

Y'all really don't comment unless I say it's goals lmho😂. Post your reactions as you read. Don't make me kill your favs as a revenge 😈

First draft: April 4th, 2021

"Pundookey Bachey?!"

Burak Kaka's voice made her pause. She cautiously peeked around the door to see an alert, ready to fight Green Coat with his eyes fixed on the door. Seeing her well, the Green Coat let out a breath. Salma just barely glanced the gun disappearing behind his back as she stepped out of the cubicle.

"Are you hurt?" he asked hastily. "Did you see him? Toryal sa sho?"

Salma took in a shaky breath, relieved to see the Green coat. She pointed at the door.

"He – he just went out of the corridor!" Salma stuttered.

"Piece of sh--" Burak Kaka gritted his teeth. "Anyways, come on! Let's get you out of here."

He put a secure hand on Salma's shoulder and led her out of the bathroom and down the corridor. Salma was oddly aware of one of his hands reaching for the gun behind his back. Salma shuddered. She did not want it to come to bullets flying around.

"What was he here for?" Salma asked, her voice weak. "Was he going to attack?"

Dutifully scanning the perimeter with his sharp eyes, he walked Salma out of the exit and to the bus.

"I doubt it," Burak Kaka replied. "He knows eyes follow you everywhere. He would not engage in a direct attack."

Zayn was waiting for her by the bus. He frowned when he saw Burak Kaka's towering figure.

"What happened?" he asked, concerned.

"I ran into Toryal," Salma replied, a faint tremble still raking her spine.

"What?!" Zayn's alarmed gaze went to and fro between her and the Green Coat. "Did he try to hurt you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Salma replied shakily. "He ran away when I knocked into him."

"He was probably here to for you," Burak kaka said, his sharp hazel-green eyes fixed on Zayn.

"Me?" Zayn asked.

"During the face off near the Summer Street Avenue, to protect your identity we pretended you were a third party we didn't know – probably FBI. Toryal must have seen through our lies. He's keeping an eye on you."

Salma turned to Zayn, guilt and panic clawing at her insides. He was getting dragged too deep into her mess.

"You need to disappear! Go to LA! Tell Alex to --"

"He'll be fine, Bachey!" Burak Kaka replied lazily. "Toryal wouldn't waste his time and resources to hurt him."

"But --"

"You guys go back home," Burak Kaka cut in. "I'm following right after you. I'll keep an eye on things and inform base to send someone to shadow Zayn later."

"Later?" Salma echoed the last word. "Why not now?"

"We're short on hands."

"Then you do it!"

"I'm protecting you."

"He's out for him, not me!"

"Bee," Zayn intervened. "It's alright. I'll call Alex. She'll help. Don't worry."

"Does Alex know about Toryal?" Salma asked, worried.

"Of course." Burak Kaka smirked at Zayn. "He's sold his soul to that devil lady."

"Burak Kaka!" Salma protested.

"She doesn't," Zayn replied. "I'll just tell her I have someone following me. She'll know what to do."

"Yeah , I believe that." Burak Kaka scoffed.

"Seriously?" Salma frowned at the Green Coat.

"I'm not kidding. He's unreliable," he replied and when Salma's expressions turned stonier, he added. "I can't shadow him, regardless. Someone outted me to the FBI. I have three pests on my tail so I have to act as they expect me to. Which is, to be your body guard."

Salma frowned.

"Someone outted you?" she asked out loud, glancing at Zayn who was looking between her and Burak Kaka, just as unnerved.

"Shady business," Burak Kaka replied, putting his shades on. "Not the first time either. It's annoying but nothing out of ordinary."

Nodding at them, he backed off. Salma thought she saw him give Zayn a taunting look.

"Wait!" Salma stopped the Green Coat. "I have to go to the university after the kids go home. I have a meeting with my professor."

"Alright," Burak Kaka replied with a shrug. "It doesn't matter where you go, I follow you."

"And him too." Salma pointed at Zayn, then before Burak Kaka could reply, she added to Zayn. "You're coming to the campus with me."

Zayn chuckled. "Yes, Ma'am!"

Salma let out a breath. At least for the time being, the both of them would have a Green Coat tailing them. Maybe someone would arrive to Zayn's side by the time they head home from the university.

"Come on," Zayn muttered, urging her to get on the bus.

***

First draft: March 31st, 2021

Salma kept trying to get a word out from the Green Coats to see if Zayn had gotten someone to watch over him. Her father said no, uncle dawood said no, Spogmae said no, and of course, Burak Kaka was very pleased to say no. Of course, she did not ask directly. Such nosiness might be taken as a nuisance and result in her getting a scolding, but the indirect approach was all pointing to a no.

"So, what is the plan?" Salma had asked. "He's around. We know now for certain that he's around and he's tailing me and Zayn."

The answer had been the usual.

"Everything is taken care of. You're safe."

"And Zayn?" she would ask.

"He's alright," was the usual reply.

Anymore questions has been deflected, diverted and ignored. Meaning? Mind your own business. Salma let out a deep frustrated breath, rubbing the area between her eyebrows tiredly.

An incoming text altered her.

*All clear. You can go home.*

It was an automated text alert, issued by some computer script upon her father's prompting but Salma still felt the need to snarl at it.

"What about Zayn, you beeping animal!"

The animal of course refused to reply. Muttering under her breath, Salma got up from the bench and started walking towards her car. She kept a lookout for Zayn – a familiar action with a completely unfamiliar motive. This time she was hoping she would see him to ask if he had gotten in touch with Alex.

Maybe she should get his number the next time --?

"Nah!" Salma quickly dismissed the idea as she unlocked her car. "Whatever!"

She took a seat behind the wheel and looked into the rearview mirror just out of habit. A face in the mirror smiled.

The strangled scream that left her lips was not her own. Her soul shot skywards, leaving the shell-shocked thing frozen on spot.

"I mean, this is not our first meeting, but okay," she replied pleasantly, cocking her head to the side. "Same to you, I guess."

Salma continued staring at rearview mirror. She swallowed.

"S-spogmae?" Salma managed like a complete idiot.

"I'm sure that's me," came the amused reply. "Does the mirror tell you anything different?"

Salma drew in a deep, shaky breath.

What in the world were they?

"I wasn't expecting you," Salma replied, trying to get her bearings back.

Where did she throw her keys again? Oh yeah, she was holding them in a death grip trying to get them tattooed on her palm.

"Disappointed to see me?" Spogmae asked.

"Just surprised," Salma replied.

Surprised, meh! Her head cackled.You got the soul babies shocked out of you! "

"I though Burak Kaka would be here." Salma ignored her snarky subconscious.

"He was but I had another assignment here and since you are free, Commander told me to take you to register a slot for you for training."

Oh yeah! The training. Salma huffed moodily, starting the car. Her father had decided that after the Summer Street Avenue fiasco, Salma needed to be schooled on how to choke people without ripping her wrists out. He did not exactly say that but Salma figured that would not be a bad lesson to learn.

"I was hoping it would not come to this," her father had said somberly, "but I'm afraid I was wrong. The way they are behaving, perhaps I should have trained you and your brother early on when you two were still young."

And then as if he was worried that he had scared her, he had added.

"It's just precautionary, of course! You won't need it. I'll make sure of that but it's a good skill to learn."

Salma was looking forward to her lessons, but the idea of skipping on a few hours naptime was not something that excited her too much. Also, she was certain the Green Coats would not give her a free drag to her car like Sarah did when she was knackered in the ring.

"Another assignment?" Salma asked as she pulled the car out of the lot. "You're not protecting Zayn?"

"No. Why?"

"Why not?" Salma gestured with her hand. "I ran into Toryal earlier, he's keeping an eye on Zayn."

"Keeping an eye isn't a threat."

"But—"

"He's fine. Half the FBI is watching over him since he's a valuable informant. If anything, Toryal will have a problem keeping an eye on him without running into trouble. It's really tough getting in touch with him without getting on the FBI radar."

"Is that how Burak Kaka got exposed to the FBI?"

"No, someone outted him."

"Who?"

"Nevermind," Spogmae replied. "So, how much do you know about martial arts?"

Salma eyed the Green Coat from the corner of her eye but did not press the matter. She was back to being a tough, no-mess lady. Salma did not feel like crossing her unnecessarily. So, she started telling her about what she knew.

"The basics," she began. "Sarah's been training me."

***

First draft: December 21, 2020

During the morning coffee ritual, Zayn had seemed distracted and disturbed. Although he had accompanied Salma on her way to her class, he had stayed quiet. A small frown knotted his brow and his downcast eyes were dead serious. Salma wondered if the run-in with Toryal and the threats it exposed him to, were weighing on his mind.

"I'll see you around, Bee." He had nodded, before leaving. And it was only then that Salma had realized, they had walked together in silence all the way to her class.

Salma shook her head, turning back to the empty can she had been playing with. Him walking her to the class was not the important thing here, she told herself. What was important was what was on his mind.

Maybe Burak Kaka's complete disregard for Zayn's life and the nonchalance with which he dealt with the potential threats Toryal posed to his well being made Zayn realize, he was just a toy soldier conveniently placed to act as a shield for Salma.

Salma turned to look at him talking to Claire under the canopy at the far end of the grounds.

Would he really be discarded once his purpose was served? Salma thought, feeling an uncomfortable knot twisting her gut. Could Toryal be right about her father using him as a pawn?

"You're relaxing around him," Sarah said as Salma kept watching Zayn. He seemed to be arguing with his sister. Their body language was tense and they appeared frustrated.

Salma took in a deep breath and released it slowly, tearing her gaze away from the siblings.

"I think it's because I know what to expect," Salma replied, turning to Sarah, who was sitting on the bench across from her. "He keeps to his limits and every meeting is planned so I get time to prepare. I no longer feel like I have to watch over my shoulder all the time."

"That makes sense," Sarah replied.

The two girls turned their gaze to the dark haired man. Just then Zayn looked over and their eyes met in the passing. Salma tensed up when she saw him mutter something to Claire and started walking towards her.

"Uh oh," Sarah muttered. "Maybe you spoke too soon."

"Can I make a run for it?" Salma asked Sarah, getting restless.

"Unless you want to look like a complete idiot . . ?"

Zayn reached them just then.

"I need to talk to you, please." he asked the expected question.

Normally, Salma would have refused, but something about his serious expression made her hesitate. She glanced at Sarah – who was busy studying her nails - taking a moment to consider his request.

"Okay." She finally nodded. "Let's go."

"Wait," Sarah spoke up, getting to her feet. "I have some place to be."

Salma took in a deep breath, partly annoyed that Sarah had left, and partly relieved that they were going to talk in a more public environment.

Sitting down across from her, Zayn attempted, what Salma figured, was supposed to be a smile. She nodded, but he did not began, making her muscles tense.

"Is something wrong?" Salma asked tentatively.

He dropped his phone that he's been holding in a death grip and rubbed a hand over his face.

"Yeah," he replied. "Sorry to bother you."

"It's alright," Salma reassured, getting worried.

"I need your advice."

"Okay . . ."

"This might come out as offensive or insensitive, but I really don't know how to word it," Zayn began sounding frustrated, Salma nodded in understanding, feeling her gut clench. If he announced he was done, she did not know how she would take it. "You've known me for over a year now, but I sometimes feel like you understood me better than some that I have known all my life. You've seen my controlling side. You've told me off for being an overbearing jackass. And you've also taken me to the cleaners for . . ." Zayn cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well, over-stepping my boundaries."

"I have." Salma simply nodded, not sure where this was going.

"I know someone who's . . . doing such things," Zayn continued. "And worse but people fear him. His victims aren't standing up to him. I have done all I can to reassure them, but --"

Zayn's jaw clenched. He took a moment to swallow whatever anger and frustration that he was feeling and Salma felt her muscles relax. Louisa, she realized. He was here to talk about the junior and her problems with Derek. Not about Toryal, or how he was no longer up for putting his life on the line anymore. A huge weight lifted off of Salma's shoulders.

Guilt pinched her gut for being pleased that it was someone else's suffering being discussed, but Salma could not help it. She discreetly let out the breath that she was holding, easing her subconscious by the reminder that she was not pleased that they were hurting, she was just relieved Zayn was not stressing out because of her.

"I don't know what else to do. It's starting to get unpleasant. I'm scared that man won't stop and these ladies refuse to come out against him. I can't watch them suffer, and him get away. It's just --"

"Leave them be," Salma said softly.

Zayn paused, watching her with a frown etched on his forehead. Salma did not meet his gaze. She knew he was worried about Louisa but she did not want him to know she knew. Louisa had recently found out that Derek had uploaded compromising videos of her on a private server for his pack of perverted hounds. She had confronted him about it and things were getting really ugly, really fast. The girl who had attacked Louisa in the alley was there on behalf of Derek to threaten her into silence. Salma was disgusted to find out that girl was Derek's fiancé – of sorts.

Realizing the kind of fires she was playing with, Sarah had advised the junior into getting help. After three days of thinking, Louisa had agreed to let Sarah talk to Zayn about it, but she refused to report him, or seek any legal assistance. The mere idea was giving the usually grinning junior panic attacks. Whichever way Derek had threatened her, she was too scarred to think straight or pick the kind of battle that she needed, to defeat him. Salma and Sarah decided to lay off the subject. Salma had hoped Zayn would be able to pull some strings like last time, and at least provide some protection to the terrified junior, until she was ready to take the beast head on.

"But Bee --"

"It's not your place, Zayn. I understand where you're coming from, but you came to me for a reason. I'm telling you, leave them be."

Zayn swallowed, feeling conflicted. He had clearly not expected her to tell him to back off. He was hoping she would advise him on how to approach the matter to convince the victims otherwise.

"No one can understand their struggle but themselves. It'll take time for them to heal enough to fight back. You don't know what they've been through mentally. How he has chained, blackmailed and tormented them. Or what they fear they'll face. The best anyone can do at this stage is to provide support. Stay on the sidelines. Catch them should they fall. But don't shove them to take a step forward. That shove may cause more pain."

Zayn remained quiet, wondering how much of her words held true for herself, and what she had been through.

"How does it stop then?" he asked, his eyes downcast and the lines between his brow deepening.

"It takes one to step forward, and then it takes all," Salma replied. "Let them heal. One of them would be out for his blood soon."

"Can't wait." Zayn sighed.

"Be nice to the victims." Salma said. "A victim is already fighting many battles. They don't need to be pressured, judged or made to feel like they have to prove their strength to anyone. Just understand and empathize with their situation."

***

First draft: January 9th, 2021

"I understand --" Zayn suddenly stiffened upon seeing someone behind Salma. "Excuse me for a minute!"

He shuffled onto his feet and dashed.

"Okay then. . ." Salma shrugged, muttering to no one in particular.

"Louisa!"

Zayn's voice made her turn around.

"Lou, wait!" He skidded to a halt in front of the junior. She pushed past him. "Louisa! Come on, Lou!"

The scene was all too familiar. Salma smiled sadly as Zayn tried to stop Louisa. The junior wasn't having any of it.

"I'm sorry. I overstepped my --" Zayn grabbed her arm.

"I don't want to hear it. You can --"

She cursed, making Salma's eyebrow shoot to the heavens.

"--right off!"

"Okay, I'll do that but --"

"Now!" She demanded.

"Yes, Ma'am." Zayn threw his hands up in surrender, backing off.

"She's good." Salma chuckled.

Better than you, might I add? Her snarky subconscious added.

Salma's face fell.

"Just stay safe," Zayn told her. "He's dangerous."

"I think I know that better than anyone!" Louisa snapped, glaring at him.

Zayn stopped backtracking.

"And yet you planned on meeting him." Zayn threw his hands in disbelief. "Alone?"

"I had back up?"

"Who?"

"You!" Louisa replied

"Without me knowing?!" Zayn asked incredulously.

Louisa didn't reply. She was busy craning her neck to get a good look at someone passing by. Zayn looked over his shoulder. He smirked, looking between Louisa's wandering eyes and the curly, redheaded junior.

"Mhm!" He tried to suppress his smile. "So you like that ferret?"

"Mind your own business!" she snapped, to which Zayn laughed. She frowned. "What did you call him?"

"A ferret."

Louisa giggled.

"A cute lil ferret," she gushed.

"Right, quite like yourself, but male."

Salma chuckled as Louisa's smile slipped. She jumped Zayn.

"Harris! You little --"

"Alright, alright! Stop knocking my head off my shoulders!" Zayn cried in surrender as she tried to headlock him.

"You yield?"

Zayn sighed, standing at an odd angle as Louisa's slender arms still coiled around his head.

"Yes Ma'am."

Zayn shifted to give her a hug.

"I'm sorry, Lou," he said, holding her in his arms. She slapped him upside the head.

Zayn winced.

"You still stink!" Louisa reminded him, then met Salma's gaze as she was going to pull away from his hug. "Is that Salma?!"

"What?" Zayn looked up. "Oh yeah --"

"Okay, she decides what to do with you," She announced, dragging Zayn along as she walked towards Salma.

Salma blinked. The junior was spontaneous to say the least.

"What?!" Zayn cried bewildered, trying to push her off. "No, no, no - Lou, stop!"

"Hey Salma!" she cried, pushing Zayn on the bench next to her. Salma moved away. An arm coiled around his neck in a feigned naked choke-hold. Zayn let out a resigned sigh and rolled his eyes.

"Do I snap his neck?" She smiled a manic smile. "Or do you want him?"

Salma squeaked, scooting away as Louisa forcefully pushed Zayn towards her.

"Lou, stop!" Zayn scolded, pulling away. "You're crossing a line!"

Louisa let go. Salma took in a deep breath, trying to tame her thundering heart. This junior was crazy.

"What?" She asked, putting a hand on her hip. Her eyes went to and fro between a glaring Zayn and a visibly rattled Salma. "Aren't you guys like going out or something?"

Zayn and Salma shared a quick, uneasy glance.

"No!" Zayn shouted, much to Salma's surprise.

"Oh?" Louisa smiled slyly. She slapped her hands on the table and got in Salma's face. The devilish smile still playing on her lips. "You turned him down, didn't you?"

When Salma blinked, the hyperactive junior cackled like a crazy, possessed witch.

"Man! You know he likes you, right? Wait, do you even know he likes you? Every time he sees you, his eyes go all hearties, and heart goes 'thump-thump-thump' and -- Whoa! Harris, let go!"

Zayn grabbed her by the collar pulled her away from Salma.

"Shut up!"

"Wait, I gotta tell her--" She struggled against him.

Zayn covered her mouth and turned to a dumbstruck Salma.

"Sorry, she's got a lose screw." He tapped his temple, as Louisa struggled against the gag. She pushed his hand away.

"I don't!" Louisa yelled as Zayn grabbed her waist and started dragging her backwards. "He loves you! He actually does! Don't break his heart."

"Lou, be quiet!" Zayn chastised.

"He's a complete shitbag but he's a good person!" Louisa yelled at the top of her lungs for the entire student body to hear. "His heart isbsmnbnlbm--"

"Right," Salma finally found her voice as she watched Zayn gag Louisa to stop her from embarrassing them more. "So that happened."

Author's Note:

Louisa be you Losties here lol😅! Such an adorable lil pest🥰. Anyway, no cliffhanger this time. I thought I'd let you catch a break.

Do you guys agree with Salma's advice to Zayn? Also, what do you think are the Green Coats up to around Zayn?

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Lots of Love.

J.