Who We Were

Chapter 4

Ahad had not been expecting the pain and as soon as it had started it stopped. The Shark was laughing. It was cold. He couldn't see- two black splotches entered his vision and he quickly shook his head. He couldn't pass out now. 

Grunting, he lifted himself up and forced open his eyes. 

"We've got a tough one on our hands," The Shark sounded amused, "Now, let's get started." 

Two men came up behind Ahad and Mia and lifted them up into metal chairs. Ahad flinched when the cold metal dug into his thighs. He titled his head to look at Mia who nodded back at him. Her eyes weary. A tall man came up in front of them and set up a video camera on a tripod. 

"Let's send a nice little video back home shall we?" The Shark moved behind the tripod, "Fernand here will hold up your lines, you simply say them." 

The man hit record and Fernand held up the card but Ahad couldn't make it this easy for them. It went against everything he'd ever been taught. How could he simply comply? 

"Begin," The Shark roared and it felt like everyone in the room was holding their breath. What could he really do? Ahad wondered. He'd throw a fit, kill him- no he couldn't kill him. He needed him. Ahad was his little secret weapon. There would be more pain. And Ahad was sure he could handle it. 

"So you won't do it." The Shark smirked. "Of course you won't. Your kind are all the same, stubborn and good for nothing." 

"Go to hell," Ahad said again and was ready to take on whatever pain was coming his way. But what he wasn't ready for was The Shark to stride towards Mia. 

"Mia Noor." he said and Ahad instantly felt nauseous. So he knew Mia wasn't Alina. Of course he knew. "You weren't invited."  

Ahad watched as Mia looked past The Shark and drilled her eyes into the wall behind him, not breathing. 

"We're not kind to uninvited guests but for you," The Shark trailed a finger up her skirt, "I suppose we can make an exception." 

Ahad looked away, he hadn't thought about Mia. It had been stupid of him to not think of Mia. Ahad turned back to her looking right at him, her eyes screaming at him to not say a word. I can take care of myself, she'd said. 

The Shark's hands went to the back of her head and he pulled at her hair exposing her neck. "Yes, I think we can make an exception for you." Ahad felt like he was drowning. He couldn't do nothing, to hell with her and her taking care of herself. 

"Get off her," The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. "I'll do it, I'll make the damn video." 

"Stubborn, good for nothing and idiots when it comes to women," The Shark said as he got up and started to untie Mia's hands. "But you will pay for your stubbornness." 

As soon as her hands were free Mia took a swing at The Shark and hit him in the jaw, in an instant at least twelve rifles were loaded and pointed in her direction. Ahad struggled in his chair, cursing at her in his head. What was she thinking? They didn't need her, she'd be dead in a second. 

"Good arm," The Shark said, recovering from the blow, he gestured at the men to stand down. "I like a woman with a good arm." 

"I'm not scared of you." Mia spoke, Ahad heard the tremble in her voice.

"Oh you will be," The Shark said, he then grabbed both her wrists and dragged her to one of the doors on the left. "I will haunt your dreams for an eternity." 

"Stop!" Ahad's voice was strangled. This couldn't be happening, he couldn't just sit back and let The Shark do unspeakable things to Mia. Not to Mia. "I said I'll do it, she has nothing to do with this." 

"And I said you'll learn your lesson for defying me," The Shark replied, "So watch." 

Mia was pressed against the door as she struggled against the towering man, she managed to kick him in the legs and he managed to tear open her button down shirt exposing the black bra she wore under it. Something burned in Ahad, burned his throat, his head, his heart. 

"Stop! " Ahad struggled with his restraints, "I'll do it, I'll do anything." 

He watched as The Shark acted like he couldn't hear him and bit into Mia's neck, she moved her face up and squeezed her eyes shut. Ahad could see the tears squeezing out of them. He had never felt so helpless in his life. 

"I said I'll do anything, I'll give you anything." The Shark stopped. He turned away from Mia and she quickly covered herself up with her ripped shirt. 

"You will do exactly as I tell you." The Shark said slowly. 

"I will," Ahad nodded, he will have to. If it meant ensuring Mia's safety, he'll do anything.