Back Then

Chapter 9

We were both creeped out by the uncanny surroundings but my heart was flooded with enthusiasm and it was spilling all through my skin .  In a completely baffled  state with a bareness of fright , Ahad  looked into my eyes but - anything for Ross , so yes .

While I ignored my painful headache to get myself mesmerised and thrilled by everything going on , Ahad became a burden since he was a lot terrified for entering this forbidden mansion . Couldn't figure out what he was scared of ... rats or mosquitoes !

Out of nowhere , we saw a lady in blue skirt and knitted shirt , her posture was everything , my lungs literally started aching since I'm horrible at explaining things especially to strangers , especially to older bossy women .

"Tell me plain , what do you want ?" Lady was as straight as sun , her voice was harsh and firing, in a terrifying way , her jet black eyes were staring directly into my soul .

" Her brother has been missing...since past week ..." 

Ahad 's shaky voice couldn't help me stay fierce while the lady just nodded her head , smirking with her thin pink upper lips .

" I know someone would come for lawyer "  I was frantically shook  , we stood still, very fixed .

Lady completed the line , our growing curiosity was striking all through our veins , I could literally feel my face turning black out of fear and anxiousness. Ahad rolled his eyes  , there was a visible layer of fear and sensibility on his face  . Yes , someone has already charted my plans and I was just a pawn . 

Two mask men arrived as we were still staring at the lady .  There were gun slung over their shoulders , I could feel my strength fading into air as they came close . I gathered all my severely depleting courage just to give a faint smile of cowardice at the end .

One of the mask men asked
" what food do you want " , that too with a mysterious politeness.

What in the mitochondria is happening!
I thought they were already out to deport or kill us but -

" uh uh... anything sir " Ahad completed while his voice was already breaking , as he noticed the guns , he was going crazy .

It was a long royal hallway with a brown continuous tidy carpet , the doors which opened where all wooden and polished unlike the surrounding which were not maintained for long time , lights inside were yellow and persisting while my brain was already cumulated with all the drumbeats , were flickering like hell . We walked in , the doorway led us to a dining a really long table with white marbles laid on top . We took a seat while one of the mask men gave us a glass of water .

" sparkling water Mam , may  I bring some delicacies ?"

Mask men asked the lady , she ordered them to bring us pizza , apple pie and coffee .  I could say this was the most confusing  and curious thing I have ever experienced.  However we get a free apple pie and pizzas   , I liked it already .

" No people reach here for nothing
You know what I mean - "

Lady said while she was already walking away from us .

I did  know
but -
does that mean Ross did something wrong ?
I had nothing gained other than few pounds , anxiety and confusion because no one not even the investigation team could get a speck of information about Ross , but would love to believe he is somewhere safe .

We were deliberately enjoying our meal  and it was already too sunny outside . Men in masks were increasing in numbers as we finished food , from two it raised to ten or twelve .

We were brought near a stares where they stopped telling us they could never go beyond and no one other than Kathy mam and his special visitors like you have permission granted . 

It was terrifically strange , is he an infamous version of Willy Wonka ?

" oh , so we are meeting them ? Like now ? "
The voice quivering while I opened my mouth was beyond ideal .

" yes mam " , said one of them , they handed  two bottles of water and disappeared  one by one .

The apparent infinity of the wooden stairs gave me intangible prick . Ahad followed me as I went compressing my intuitions, which were alarming me already . Anything for Ross, I reminded myself.

I would have to climb forever .

The stairs led us to a really beautiful hall with carpets , black and heavy , yellow soft lights and faux flowers waving an unpleasant welcome ,  the only thing I could see was a blackish heavy looking door at the end of the hall and now I know the precise reason why we were supplied with water , the exhaustion after all was horribly real .

How to be fierce while your heart is dying to thrive ?

I don't know but I needed an immediate solution even if it won't help me out of this .

Is this right ?

I don't know

Is this wrong ?

Anything for Ross and such questions shouldn't be popping through my cerebral cells at that point .

Ahad followed me and in my sight appeared a curtain few feets away which seemed equally ravishing and haunting at the same time,

"Babe, can we stop here for 5 minutes , I'm all done"

" No , no , no , I'm restless , just keep moving "

Ahad stood behind and all I could hear was a singular mystifying clap .

" What ? Ahad ? Just keep moving " , that face didn't look any more interesting . Some unanticipated fear wrecked into my inner core .

" why "

" Do you know one thing I love about you the most ? "

" My bad , did you mean anything? "

" Sands , I'm not sorry
Your brother totally deserved it .
You are too real for this bad game ."

I could feel the booming of my Roman Empire .
So it was all a lie ?

" Why would you say that ?"
I asked while my tearful eyes and frightened heart which couldn't handle the heaviness of pain was shattering into pieces . Ahad wasn't Ahad , the friendship wasn't friendship and my love wasn't a love .

He looked all into my eyes and the sight of burning fire in his eyes terrified my nerve cells than ever .

" My vengeful heart couldn't evolve that much
And ,
Falling for you was a fault from my side .
You are good and ,
Love is powerful ,
but there are much powerful things out there ."