Lesser Evil

10| The Villain

Fuck you. That was what I wanted to say. But instead I said, "Okay."

"I'll have someone pick her up in three hours and give you your money." Money. Money that I wasn't sure if I wanted anymore.

"Okay." I said again. Really, I wasn't capable of saying anything else. My chest felt tight, my throat was closing off with passing second.

If Fariz thought I was being weird then he could deal with it.

"You have to do it, don't you?" Ayat's voice pulled me out of my trance. I glanced at her from the side of my eye and gave a single nod, turning my attention back to my phone that lit up with a text that had the address of the place where I had to drop her off today. Drop her off and never see her again. That thought was horrible.

"He's a dangerous man, princess. Now that he's set his eyes on you," I fucking hated that he'd even seen her, "The chances of you escaping his hold are slim."

She nodded in understanding. "I know, and it's okay. Who will I even go to if he lets me go? My father is dead." I also hated how she had completely lost the will to live now.

"Princess—"

She shook her head, giving me a small smile that was so, so rare, and probably the last one I'd ever get from her. "Maybe I'll go to my father quic—"

"Don't say things like that."

If the thought of her in his hands hurt, the thought of her death hurt more than the pain of burning alive.

I was doomed and knew that and I would happily accept it. This girl... This girl had my heart, no matter how dark it had turned.

She side-eyed me but didn't comment on what I said. "When do we have to go?"

"Three hours." Last three hours with her. I clenched my eyes shut, hoping to soothe the burn in my chest.

She only hummed in response, looking away to look out the window that we sat in front of. I could bet that running away was the last thing on her mind right now.

"If I ask you for something, would you give it to me?" She asked, still not facing me.

Anything. "Depends on what it is." I shrugged casually though my heart raced in anticipation of what it was that she was going to ask for.

"Two things actually."

"Go ahead."

"Tell me something about yourself that no one else knows."

That was an easy question, even if I didn't know why she wanted to know. "My real name. The only people who knew were my parents but... My name is Shahzad."

She stared at me for a moment too long before nodding. "The second thing... Try to give up your drug addiction."

That was something I wasn't too sure about. But for her...

"Do it for yourself, Shahzad. You're slowly killing yourself like this." If it had been anyone else, I would have asked them if there's anything worth living for in this world. I knew I wasn't and would never be a good enough man for Ayat, but I was willing to do this.

"Okay." I said quietly but with determination.

I looked out the window once again, watching the flowers that didn't look so dull anymore.

———

"I'm sorry." I apologized to her for what had to be the hundredth time in the past fifteen minutes.

Like every other time, she shook her head and murmured an 'it's okay.'

We sat in my deadbeat car as I drove us to the location, not even half as relieved to get rid of her as I thought I would be when all of this first started. My hands itched under my leather gloves to reach to my side and snatch away the duct tape that held her wrists together.

Through the rearview mirror, I caught Ayat glancing at me for the third time. "What?" I finally asked, my voice free of any bite.

"It's just that—how can you even see the road, Shaz?" I almost laughed but managed to stifle it at her tone.

"I can see just fine, princess." She must be talking about my hood that was lowered, and the mask that covered half my face. I couldn't risk these people seeing my face.

We passed buildings, trees, grass, pavements, and houses with indecision bubbling through me throughout the drive until it felt like it was going to tip over and flow out.

Would I be able to live with myself if I gave her to the one man who was capable of anything? Who would break the spirit in her that had compelled her to try to escape time and time again? Who would sell her to another man who would do unspeakable things to her?

As I pushed down on the brakes of the car, skidding to a stop right in the middle of the empty ground, I knew what I had to do.

I got out of the car, inhaling and exhaling deeply before I got to Ayat's door, opened it for her and helped her out. She stumbled, nearly falling. That's when I noticed how badly her legs were trembling. How much she was trembling.

I raised an eyebrow at her in silent question. "I'm fine. It's the cold." Lies. But I didn't say a word about it.

Whoever was supposed to come and take her from me wasn't here yet.

She backed away until she hit the car. Her shoulders slumped as she kept her eyes trained on her shoes. The shoes she'd worn on the first day. She was wearing her own clothes.

"I'm scared." She whispered, barely loud enough for me to catch onto. But I did and it plunged straight through my heart.

I stepped closer to her until our toes were touching, and tipped her chin up so she looked at me, unshed tears visible in her eyes. "I know, princess. And trust me, I'm going to get you out of here."

She looked at me confused but the sparkle of hope in her eyes was unmistakable. "Why? You said this man was dangerous... Am I worth enough to make an enemy out of him?  And you said he'll get to me anyway—"

"Shh, you talk too much." I refrained from putting a finger to her lips when I said that. "And, yes, you are worth it. I will get you out of here, Fariz be damned."