Constantinople's Cherry

III - 35. Mahkum anne

Look who decided to surprise her readers and give a double chapter again ?

I also didn't want to uphold the terrible suspense of last chapter too long, not fair. So here it is :)

....

Serkan watched Arev stroke a little girl's hair through the thick blanket, most of the children slept throught the night.

He shifted, sighing, the restlessness hadn't left his chest, he stared at the farm in the horizon.

"Do you want water ?" Arev asked.

Serkan turned to him. "Uh ? No thanks."

"Tea ? We still have some." Arev offered, Serkan shook his head.

"What's wrong, why do you look so upset, we will get away easily in the morning, I am sure." Arev reassured.

"I don't know. My chest is hurting really bad, it's heavy." Serkan inhaled.

Arev watched him. "I felt like that too when Réhane was taken, and I didn't knew where she was." He let out.

Serkan looked at him. "Maybe, it's heartache ? Are you missing your woman, what was her name already...?" Arev pushed.

"Eda. No, I don't miss her." Serkan grumbled on a lie, hiding his eyes. "Even her thought is a nuisance to me." He let out with ressentement.

"Don't be like that Serkan, you loved her once. Keep her as a good memory, rather than a bitter regret." Arev searched his face.

"Not everyone is as optimist as you." Serkan sighed.

Arev inhaled, he knew his friend was lying, he was lovesick with this woman, and heartbroken. The hurt was just too raw and big.

Serkan shut his eyes, and when sleep came to him, it was filled with nightmares again.

"Serkan !" Eda cried out.

Serkan had to look around the darkness, disoriented, to make out from where it came.

Behind him, and he could see light, shadows of orange on the wall, fire, not too far away.

Eda's entire face was covered in sweat, tears streaking on her cheeks and blood on her body.

The sight was so gut wrenching that Serkan didn't even push her away like he usually did in dreams.

She approached him, with the same blanket in her arms, the blanket that always was covered in blood.

She handed it to him. "Lütfen." She sobbed and Serkan felt the weight of the blanket in his arms.

"Lütfen." She repeated, crying, her eyes begging.

Serkan could not comprehend, and before he could react, the flames behind her grew, and swallowed her like a spiralling tornado.

He woke with a gasp, the feeling of dread even worst than before. What were these dreams telling him ? Was it really just his subconscious ?

His heart ached in his chest, not in his wildest thoughts would he have imagined the truth.

....