Seven Terrible Nights

Ch. 10 "Where Are They?"

Josef

I have a lot of questions in my head, and I can't find answers. The doctor doubts me after I told him my friends' numbers, which don't even exist. I saw him earlier today, looking at me with a suspicious look. I know deep down that he'll call the police very soon.

I have to escape...

On the same day, I escaped. There was a patient who was next to me; he was disabled, too. On his discharge from the hospital today, I told him about my buddies and that the doctor thought I was guilty. Fortunately, he understood my situation and offered me his clothes, his crutch, and discharge papers so that no one would recognize me. I sincerely thanked him and assured him that I would return once I had the answers to my queries. He told me not to worry about him and wished me luck. He was a good guy. I wish him a speedy recovery.

Thank God, no one recognized me. I gave the paper to the nurse, who was talking on the phone and didn't even look at my face. She sealed the paper and signaled for me to go. My destination was Peter's house. I was really worried and wanted to check on at least one of them. I didn't have any money; I wondered why, but then I remembered that I escaped with someone else's name, so they didn't give me anything. Then I stopped a taxi and told him Peter's address and that I didn't have money. He asked me, "So you want me to give you a free ride?"

"Please..?"

He threw the cigarette he was holding at me and laughed so hard that he yelled, "In your dreams, Loser."
I sighed a big sigh and was determined to go on my one leg. It wasn't that hard with the help of the cane, but it was really far. Every time I got tired, I thought of my friends, and that gave me some will.

I walked for fifty minutes, and then I was finally in front of Peter's house. I knocked on the door excitedly, and his mom opened the door right away, but she asked me, "Who are you?"

I was shocked. How doesn't she know me? Is she sick? So I told her politely, "I am Josef, ma'am; don't you remember me?"

She looked at me as she tried to remember, and then she told me, "Are you a poor person? Do you need money?"

I was surprised again and answered her, "No, I'm not. Ma'am, I'm Josef, Peter's friend."

She was surprised for a while, and then she said, "There's no one who's called Peter here; you may have been mistaken." And I was surprised for the third time! Me? Mistaken?? I can swear, she's his mother! So I looked at her, and the shock was on my face, and I told her, "Peter is your son, and he lives here; is that possible? You can't remember him, too?"

She yelled at me, saying, "Do you think that I'm crazy? I don't even have kids! Now, you little brat, get out of here before I call the police!" She slammed the door in my face after yelling at me indignantly for the first time.
I was really surprised. How could she forget her son? And how could she forget me? I was visiting them a lot, and she loved me like her real son. What happened to her?

I told myself to calm down, and I convinced myself that it might really not be her; I even doubted myself. And I thought, "Maybe it's not the address," and decided to visit Mazen because he lives nearby Peter, so he may know anything.

I went to Mazen's house, and I checked the house number a lot of times. I was hesitating before knocking on the door, but I did, and no one opened. So I knocked again and rang the bell, and still no one opened. I checked the address again. "Yes, that's it." I was sure. So I rang the bell and knocked again; someone opened this time. I didn't recognize him, and he yelled at me, "Who the hell are you?" and I was like, Hey! That's Mazen's father! But why is he so fat..? He used to be slim.

And I said, "Excuse me, can I see Mazen for a while?" and he said, "Who are you talking about? There is no Mazen here; let me see your shoulder width and get out of here."

Then he slammed the door, and I didn't even get a chance to speak. There were a lot of questions and a lot of thoughts in my head. How can I describe this? Ah, there was a bee in my bonnet. It was already midnight. I remembered my home address; it wasn't that far, so I rested a little, stood up, and started to walk with my cane.

My only wish was that the address was right and that my brain was still working in my head. When I arrived, I saw a lot of street dogs. There were about ten dogs looking at me and ready to run after me, so I said, "Guys, let's talk like gentlemen; I'm really tired and I've already lost my leg; can't you sympathize with me?"

They were still looking at me and ready to chase after me, and then they started to run towards me. I gave up and thought if I made myself look like a dead poor person, they'd go, but a weird old man came to help me. He danced in a weird way; I thought he was scaring them or something, but the dogs turned to dust...I opened my eyes really wide. I can't believe what just happened! I fell to the ground, and he looked right in my eyes; he had a tall white beard, green shiny eyes, and he was very thin. I thought he was going to kill me or turn me to dust too, but he disappeared. Who's he? I thought that he was a jinn for a second, but why did he help me? Was he human at all?

I hit my head with my hand, and I told myself that it could be a mirage because of the darkness. I wasn't convinced, but I tried to believe because my brain was already filled with a lot of questions. Then I thanked Allah that I left my keys under the carpet, and then I entered my home, changed my clothes, and fell on the bed. I was looking at the ceiling while thinking of everything that had happened since the moment I woke up in the hospital. I had a strong headache and fell asleep right away because of the tiredness.

To wake up the next morning...

to be continued...