Raven

14

Itwas two in the morning when in an unidentified forest area, the sound ofcrunching of the hardened snow broke the eerie silence of the night. The sound was produced by someonedragging themself on the forest floor along with which a sound of heavy and somewhat unevenbreathing dominated the surrounding. In the depth of the forest, the noise was coming from aman who with a broken-bleeding leg seemed to be limping away from something.

It was a clear night; the stars had come out with the moon making the air extremely cold andbitter; snow covering the floor had hardened making it difficult for the man to move quickly. Ashe moved forward the clear quilt of white snow turned into a shade of crimson, creatingstrangely beautiful patterns. The light of the moon broke free from the canopy of trees,spreading its light on the man's visage --- he was deathly pale with deep blue lips showing theeffects of severe blood loss, his face had multiple cuts on it and his right eye was busted. In hisright hand he was holding his left wrist which was twisted in a way that his bone was visible. Hisleg was badly injured and the constant contact with the snow showed signs of gangrene. Hewas moving as fast as his injured body would allow him to, his face showed how terrified hewas, there was no sign of pain on his face, just fear. He kept looking back as if to check ifsomeone was following him, yet he didn't stop for a moment.

Not knowing for how long he had been walking, almost on verge of collapse, filled withhopelessness, "will I die in this terrible place all alone?" He grabbed a tree for support as he sawwhat looked like the exit of the dreadful forest. A burst of hope developed in his heart, "I am safenow! I will survive now!" A smile formed on his blue lips, his broken eyes shined as he draggedhis body in a frenzied manner towards the direction with a new found anticipation. His suddenchange in movement made him lose balance and he fell down on the ground making him cry out loudly in pain yet it still didn't deter him. Putting all his weight on his right hand, he arched his leg and started to get up, doing this he failed to realize that someone from behind was coming towards him.

The person was dressed in all black merging perfectly with the surrounding darkness, themoonlight fell on his face revealing nothing but a black mask which covered his whole faceexcept his eyes and his head was covered with the hood of his jacket. He walked towards thepitiful man with a baseball bat in one hand and the other was in his pocket; the man still failed to notice him and was still trying to get up on his feet. The man finally stood up and started tomove towards his destination when his visitor coughed to get his attention. The injured manfroze with fear, his body refused to turn and accept that danger was just behind him. Thestranger asked the man "Going somewhere?" on receiving silence instead of a reply thestranger again asked, "Come on, now you know how I feel about the silent treatment don't you?We had so much fun together Bashir, I believe that I deserve a response". 'Bashir' was silenttoo scared to utter a single word, tears started to flow down his face as he turned around tomeet the eyes of the monster who was responsible for his condition, "Please" he begged,"Please let me go. Please don't kill me! Please I_---_".

With a thud Bashir's body fell to the floor even before he could complete his sentence, the rightside of his skull was bleeding and showed sever signs of concussion; the man had hit him withbat, the force had cracked his head open. Squatting down, the man with a mask looked at hismasterpiece, noticing that his art was still breathing he raised the bat again and hit him till hishead no longer resembled a human skull, but a lump of blood, bones and flesh mixed with snowand dirt. The sounds of hyena reached his ears; probably the smell of the blood trail attractedthem, "Pity! That I would have to leave you here like this to become food for my friends. I hadbig plans for you but you had to take the bait and run you pathetic piece of shit!" The manscreamed kicking the body in anger he hit it once more with the bloody bat before throwing itaway from him. After calming himself down he realized that it would take maybe 10 minutes forthe hyena to reach the place so he picked up the bat and started moving towards the exit of theforest which opened on the main road. A car was parked a little further from where he just was,placing the bat on the backseat he started the ignition and drove back, as he crossed the areahe could hear the hungry growls of Bashir's new friends. He drove away with a smile on his faceas he recapitulated how the hope from Bashir's eyes dimmed and how his eyes kept looking atthe exit till the end, victory was so close for him yet it was taken away forcefully. The scene wastoo beautiful just like a rare piece of art..."I can't believe I am doing this." I adjusted my outfit consisting of a long sweater and a pair ofjeans. I turned towards my phone and looked towards Hina who I was video calling, "So how doI look?"

"Yeah neither can I; move a little towards left I can't see you properly - yeah perfect, stop moving - so what was I saying yes if I hadn't seen the screenshots I would have assumed you were pulling a prank on me. You look hot man red is definitely your color" I gave a pointed look to Hina who kept blabbering about how she thinks I will scare the guy or will bail on him.

"I am feeling very anxious, maybe I should cancel the plan I don't think I am ready."

"For God's sake Liza will you stop being so dramatic it's just a casual meeting, ghar nahi aaraha hai woh rishta laikai*. And how many times will you postpone it haven't you already donethat. Grow up man!"

"Acha Daant nahi na*, I will go. Try to show some sympathy man you're supposed to be myfriend."

"You deserve no sympathy. Your brain backfires sympathy, anyways when are you meeting theguy?

"Tomorrow"

"Liza please try not to over-think and think of it as a fun experience. No, I want to hear no moreexcuses you are going that final."

"Ok ok... Gosh!"

"I have to go downstairs now I will text you later. Bye!"

"Yea see you later. Take care." Disconnecting the call I threw my phone on the bed, my mindwent in an auto pilot mode directing my thoughts to the conversation I had with Dawood fourweeks backs. Though I had initially agreed to meet him on 27 December I took a rain checkclaiming I had some work but in reality I just chickened out. Day before yesterday he suggestedthat we meet again as he wanted to share with Camus's "the stranger" I agreed and this time hesuggested a date just four days away. I feel so embarrassed when I remember his response tomy query about such a early date, "so that you don't get busy again this time."

Turning towards the mirror I observed myself once more, well what could go wrong right? It isjust a meeting liza just a friendly meeting.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

ghar nahi aa raha hai woh rishta laikai: He is not coming to your house with a marriage proposal.

Acha Daant nahi na: Alright don't scold me.

Editing: @MubashirAmin24

Thank you for checking out my work.

Don't Forget to vote and Comment