iman | hakim ziyech

.2

please okay if you havent already!

you are not mistaken, this if the outro from my other book manal. those of you who haven't read the book, you don't have to read it to understand this book :) but it'll give some more background !

—

[1509 words]

—

'where are you going?' manal asked as discretely as she could. iman turned around with a fake smile on her face. iman's hand suddenly went to her ear and removed one of her earrings, clasped it in her hands. she needed to sell the act.

'just... i forgot something there.' iman replied without any hesitation. she could see manal's inquisitive gaze, in her now white wedding dress. it was the official reception for the wedding.

'outside the hall?' she asked with a raised eyebrow.

'yeah. i dropped an earring.' she pointed to her bare ear, to prove her lie. she needed to get out of here fast, and get rid of fahed for good.

'okay then go ahead.' manal was weirded out by her behaviour but chose not to say anything. she didn't expect iman to get herself into trouble at this age, and at such a time.

as soon as manal looked away from iman, she ran off after her 'earring'. she went to the room where manal got her makeup done and quickly searched for her hijab and abaya. she had gotten his text telling her where to meet, and it wasn't that far. it was just the street behind the wedding venue, so she could definitely be back before anyone noticed she wasn't present.

still, she was scared. her hands were shaking as she searched for her belongings, and she steeled herself. she had to do this for achraf and manal. and herself, of course.

she wore the messiest hijab she'd ever worn, and looked around to see if anyone was paying attention, and with that she slipped out, her phone and one of her earrings in her hand. she almost walked out when she cursed, realising she was missing the important thing. she grabbed the cross body bag that had any and every money she had saved for her own finances through her job.

she looked back at the building she was exiting, and looked forward again. she cursed fahed again for putting her in this situation. she looked funny, running around in the abaya that didnt cover her elaborate dress from underneath. she didn't even bother taking off her heels, and just went for it.

'hey!' she heard someone shout behind her, and she didn't recognise the voice. she continued running until she felt the voice come closer than before.

'hey! why are you running?' she didn't care anymore and dropped her earring, using her hands to hold her dress up with her abaya soo it would be easier to run.

because right now, her stupidity decided that she needed to run.

'ya Allah please spare me today. just let this day pass and i'll never think of doing it again.' she continued muttering to herself praying that whoever was following her had forgotten about her or just lost track.

'you're late.' the man that was waiting for her learned against his stupid motorcycle, mocking the young woman. iman was feeling warm and sweaty, even if it was december. she hadn't ever needed to run like this. she almost sneered at him, but then steeled herself. after this, he would have nothing against her.

she looked around suddenly, familiarising herself with the place.

'scared?' her eyes hardened at his insinuation.

'here's what you want.' she tapped her bag, 'but i need the hard drive and the physical copies.' she was planning to burn them. she was still a good 10 metres away from where fahed stood. the fact that she had to be here of all days, pleading with this psycho, in a place far from her little home made her wish she wasn't so alone.