The Genie's Curse

Chapter 22

"Is anyone around to take care of you?" he asked, a remorseful look on his face.

"What?"

"Is anyone around to take care of you Tsuru?" He repeated, "You're a kid... I get that you might want to go home...I'll let you go after I get some things sorted."

The question was so bizarre she couldn't believe what she was hearing, "Um I don't get what you mean."

"What I mean is, if I let you go, can anyone take care of you?" He made himself clear.

"Yes... my brother and family should still be around." Saying it out loud makes it feels like she had run away from home when in reality she had been taken.

"You're a good person Tsuru, too good." He paused looking at her clueless expression, "Besides you're still barely a kid.... you don't deserve this." Bilal took in a deep breath and looked at Tsuru noticing her fixated on him, "Tsuru, I'll set you fre-" his words cut off by the piercing of skin before his body collapsed to the floor. The lamp flying from his pocket across the room.

His chest impaled by a spear, exactly like the ones she had seen from the guards. The blood dark and dripping of him quickly, he was bleeding out.

"Bilal!" Blood decorated the floor staining the carpet as the man's eyes darkened. She had leaned down to inspect him, trying to shake him awake, "Wake up! Come on, just..."

She couldn't save him even if he wished for it. Looking up the place was empty, who had attacked him, why didn't she see anyone?

Shaking him did nothing, feeling a hand pull her back, "Tsuru, stop screaming!" By the time she turned to face the voice, there was nothing but green smoke left behind. No owner of the voice or hand left behind.

"Keme!" The name ringed through her head, it all added up.

He killed Bilal in order to attain his human life, and Tsuru couldn't go back home without the man finishing his wishes... his words in vain, no matter anymore. Her nails dug into her skin as she was sucked back in the lamp holding herself, unable to do anything about Bilal.

She looked throughout at the open her lamp having the perfect view of Bilal's lifeless body. And that's when she saw it, it was like he was the living dead standing up with the wound gone. No one would believe he was impaled seconds ago.

She believed he was going to get her out forgetting that was no longer Bilal. He only grabbed her lamp and threw it out the window. The last thing she saw was his guilty expression.

Just like that memories faded, along it has taken the hope in them

Tsuru had seen the wonders the prestigious mall had to offer and was perplexed at it. She spent hours going from one store to the next and questioning what everything was. But the time went quickly and before she realized it she was on a plane, looking out the window like a little kid would.

Staring at the clouds while Keme sat beside her. Watching her smiling to himself, when seeing her lips curl up at the sight.

"What do you think?" His question drew her gaze away from the window.

"It's beautiful, looks like I could jump into them." Her fingers graced the window, "Mortals have really gone far in such little time. Am I really still on the same planet?"

He chuckled, "Well on that note, they've actually made it to the moon. Few other ones and... wouldn't you just want to go?"

Tsuru's eyes almost popped out, "Go... isn't that just a bit much?" she said, "What's it like? Have you gone there?"

"No, haven't had the chance to go. And it's an interesting place from what I've read..." he froze on his sentence looking over at the flight attendant passing by.

Seeing as they were talking louder disturbing other passengers, "But if you wanna go I'm totally up for it."

She chuckled and shook her head, "I'd rather stay on earth."

He shrugged and cleared his throat, "As you already know we're going to Egypt, I have reasons to believe Keir might be there. But if he isn't I still have leads and Allon has a few also."

"How sure are you?"

"Sure enough to get us there." he said, "when we land it's just a couple hours by car... after that we should find him."

Allon appeared out of nowhere giving Tsuru a tap on the shoulder, "How are you holding up?"

It took her off guard to see him, "Eh... nervous, worried, little scared too. Let's just hope this flying thing lands soon."

He gave her a gentle smile, "It's a few hours till we land, so enjoy the ride. Maybe catch up to things, get used to these times."

"Hmm." Pondering on his words she slowly looked over at Keme, "I'll try."

Keme and Allon shared a look glaring at each other. But small turbulence breaking their trance, "I should get back. I'll see you later Tsuru." Allon left with Keme still glaring daggers at his back. Like he would burn two holes into his back just as he walked away.

"So I have the honor to tell you the wonders of the last three hundred years."

She took his pause as a chance to silence him, "I don't want to hear them from you, sorry Keme."

"What? Why not? Is it the way I explain it? What's wrong with it?"

His bombardment of questions was met with a straight forward response, "I don't like your view of things, from what i heard... You love it here. What I mean is... you see this all like a child's tale, while I see it as a nightmare."