Sadiya |REWRITING

Chapter Nineteen

TW: Bloodshed.

well blood spill caused by torture. Which means there's quite some blood that might disturb some of you here but oh well, that's what we here for, right? RIIIGHT?? I promise it's mild. Anyway, apologies in advance, skip if it makes you uncomfortable. So yeah, torture and bloodshed. Mild that is. Mild bloodshed caused by torture. You get it yea? Alright fine, you get it. *laughs nervously*

***

YEMEN.

"You will not have the throne. Why all this stress over something a wannabe as yourself will not have?"

"Because it is legitimately mine!"

She huffed, annoyance overpowering her next words. "Fantastical, yes. However, not delusional."

"I'd choose my next words carefully if I were you. Don't think I can't blow out that impudence out of you, child."

The excruciating moment with her uncle spewing threats about the suffocating area, made her develop the strong urge to barf hers in annoyance. Imani knew he was about raising no single finger (a debate she had with her inner self) forwhy, he was only using her as a lure for the clear feud he took upon himself to confer against the King.

Five painful hours had passed and if anything, she would be lying to assert indifference, perhaps quite scared as well. Nevertheless, she had faith that her family would find her, and that, was a high possibility. Not a probability. Hazim was Malik Ahmer's adoptive sib, one her father fostered alongside his own progenies. The man, being in his early thirties was the "favorite Ammu" amongst their uncles.

Hazim with a trembling hand, gripped the metal that could end her for life, the vex from her mask of indifference whereas deep down she was anything but, marred his undeniably attractive Asian features. The fluid lining his hairline, stiffly secreted. Satisfaction instead, washed over the fear constricting Imani like a lurking shadow in the secluded corner. That beaconed the darkness he lost himself in.

A faint thud influenced the strident silence of the night. Judging by his shakier than ever hands, he had not heard it. "My father would be disappointed," she said to the perturbed man coated in his sweat. "Stop this twaddle before it's too late, Am- Hazim." Imani caught up to the word she'd always known him as.

His laughter stabbed her ears repeatedly. It did not reach his eyes. Once more, the thud continued, and the burning flame of hope in her chest did nothing to slake. It was moments as such, she appreciated the Lord of the Seven Heavens, more, for Hazim's UHL. With a single word, her face fell. "No."

"Time's ticking," she singsonged. His dilated pupils mirrored her relaxed ones. "Tick-tock. Tick-tock." Another thud. If he'd heard it, he ignored. If.

"Quiet!" He gritted through his clenched teeth. He was terrified. She was satisfied. "Tick-tock. Tick-tock." Ignoring her captor's demand, her interjection came as a malicious whisper. Imani: 10, Hazim: 0. If he was trying to draw fear out of her, her father and brothers trained her to be unaffected by enemies' feels. Then, he was one.

"And in five," Imani sat back on the metal chair. "Four," she went on.

He placed a finger on the trigger – safety, off.

"Three," she crossed her arms across her chest, placing a leg on the other. A manspread was much needed, she needed food, sleep, comfort. However, in a few minutes, they'd come. "Two," The gun in his hold clicked, ammo, none. She laughed loudly; he went pale as sheet. Imani disinterestedly threw her gun to the side.

Heavy, yet, rushed footfalls trailed behind the shut door.

"One."

The door was banged open. But, before she could say more, a deafening shot resonated the room. Imani's face splattered with blood, curved up into a dark smirk.

Time up?

***

Jaw, clenched tight it could break. The sharp hazel orbs, pierced those of the man's beneath him. Amir Aariz fisted the armrests, breathing in the fear escaping the pores of his trembling victim. It clouded his senses as fury buttered down its guarded walls. The prince loathed suspense, not as much as he did having his questions hanging.

"As much as your life is of no use to me whatsoever, I'd give you the liberty of choosing," words coated with coldness, he continued. "Speak now, or you never will." It was no threat, but still a warning.

Whimpers graced Amir Aariz's hearing, he remained undaunted. "My sister, where is she?" His low steven sent chilling sensations down the spine of the unfortunate man. He flinched, knowing fully well his prince was anything, except calm. "I-I do not kn—"

"Don't say I never gave you the chance to choose." Amir Aariz stood rigid; hands tucked in pants' pockets. He swept his tongue over his lips. "I'll grant you another. A thumbkin, tongue tearer, or sledgehammer. Which?" The man cried.

"Y-Your H-Highness pl-please..."

"All?" He feigned ignorance. "Alright then. All, you shall get. Smart choice man, smart choice." Without being relayed a direct order, his personal guard, Faa'iz stepped forward and slapped a tape unto the drenched man's mouth. "But," the sinister smirk crept in, "for starters, let's do something. Hm?"

The other shook his head incessantly.

"Do not fret, man. We just going to have a little bit of fun before the real deal begins..."

Two days. It had been two days he last set eyes on his little sister. Two days of asking same question for the nth time. Two days of catching the shadowed face of one of the devil's minions' after a thorough reconnoitre. Thirty-two hours of discovering his uncle's perfidy. Twenty hours of having his despicable excuse of an uncle's minion under his captivity. And less than ten seconds before he'd relish in the vertex of fulfillment.

Blinded by fury with reddened vision, he swung a bunch of fives at the restricted young man. The muffled grunt hit Amir Aariz's ears, a lopsided grin took over the malicious smirk. "What? Want more?" He mocked. "Why not, man? Why not?" The man delivered a smack this time. His captive's head swung to the side, Faa'iz's tight grip pressed down his shoulders.

"Not enough." The prince grabbed his columella betwixt his gloved thumb and index finger, then twisted the flesh with all his might. The man screamed louder than he did, only fueling the rage burning in the pit of Amir's stomach. He pulled him by it, slamming the other side of his captive's face on his brassed knee, he splattered a nice amount of blood mixed with saliva.

He choked on his own tooth.

A two-finger gesture after, the loyal bodyguard harshly peeled the duct tape off the half-caste's mouth. His cries followed. "Man, p-please..." A trail of blood from his broken nose slid to his lips. "L-let me g-g-go." The pathetic sobs matched the tears gliding down his swollen cheeks.

"Too much loyalty, is it?" He turned to a rack displaying various tools and metals. "Tsk tsk. I guess you leave me no choice, dear c—"

"Aariz!"

The cell door was banged open. A familiar strictness edged his brother's tone. Amir Zayan's eyes widened, the younger sibling stiffened. "Brother," Amir Aariz gulped.

"Right this minute, leave him be, Aariz. That is our cousin, might you forgotten."