Burn the truth (ENG)

Prologue

July 2018

The sun shone brightly on my back as we were walking in the park. Slowly I felt small drops of sweat form on my back and thank goodness for the black shirt that hid the sweat stains.

My lips took on a discontented shape as I felt cramps in my calves.  "Samira, I'm sweating like crazy from the heat and my legs are cramping. Can we go home?"

Samira's tail swung as she walked at a comfortable pace. Her cheeks had a red glow, but otherwise she looked fine.

She rolled her eyes.  "Pff, Zara. You whine too much. Just a little while longer. The doctor said that at least half an hour of walking a day is very good for the baby."  She rubbed her swollen belly with a broad smile.

I let out a deep sigh and looked around. Children were playing, young people were sunbathing and the elderly sitting on the benches chatting with each other.

When I saw someone jogging by with a bottle of water in hand, I realized how thirsty I was. I squeezed the empty water bottle in frustration.

When Samira suddenly stood in front of my room an hour ago, dressed in sports clothes and two bottles of water in hand, I could have kicked myself.  "We're going for a walk!" she announced enthusiastically and pulled me out of the house.

I didn't even have time to change.

I shook my head. "I'd just take it easy, Samira. The baby could arrive any minute." I smiled briefly at her belly. "Have you come up with a name for her yet?"

Samira chuckled. "Mira."

I nodded with satisfaction. "That's a beautiful name. Original too. You certainly came up with that, because my brother has no creativity in him."

Samira laughed. "Faid is so bad at coming up with names. He came up with the weirdest names."

I tapped my shoulder against hers with a smile. "I'll give him points for setting up the baby room."

Faid has put so much time in the baby room which has led to a beautiful end result. He works long hours in his hotel and the time he has left is spent in the baby's room.

Samira nodded in agreement. "You're right. I just can't wait for Mira to come into the world."

Samira had always wanted a child and it took her and Faid years to conceive. The enthusiasm she now experiences because of her first baby is of course understandable.

I can do nothing but worry about her. I'm afraid her happiness will be taken from her without mercy.

We walked out of the park and into a tunnel. The lights were dim and there was no one to be seen.  Empty beer bottles lay on the floor and used cigarettes had been punched in the foot.

Though it was a wide and short tunnel, an eerie feeling invaded.

I accelerated my pace and pulled Samira out of the tunnel with me.

As soon as we were out of the tunnel, I let out a sigh of relief.

Samira hooked our arms together and looked at me amused. "Relax, Zara. There's no one around. Enjoy the weather and relax."

"Samira, I think it's wise to go home. I feel unsafe." I rolled my right shoulder slightly from the tension. "Where are we anyway? I've never been here before."

"They're renovating here. There," she pointed to a building with no glass and roof.  "-comes a shopping center, surrounded by beautiful houses."

I took my phone out of my vest pocket. 6:34 PM appeared on the screen.