Finding Muna: A Palestinian Novel

Chapter Forty

Fortunately for them, the link wasn't a trap and they were able to fully communicate with Asma and explain everything to her. They also gave her their location and after several minutes they ended the conversation with hopes that they would be rescued soon.

Although they both tried to keep calm after what had happened, it was incredibly hard to do so especially with the warning they'd received from the occupiers. They were afraid they would be dead before they would ever have the chance to be rescued. And Lamees blamed herself for endangering their lives more than it was already endangered.

Lamees heard April's stomach growl and it was only then she realized it had been quite a while since they last had food, the stress and excessive worry about the recent event made her forget about her hunger. Lamees suddenly felt weak and heavy headed so she laid on her side in attempt to sleep, terrified of what might be coming next.

The conversation with Asma kept replaying in her mind and she prayed from the depth of her heart that they would be rescued, she really feared death, especially now that it seemed like death was aiming directly at them, she would go any length to protect her life.

As she thought about her fate, she couldn't help but wonder about the fate of the other civilians, they didn't have anyone that would try to save their lives, and even the leaders of the world were turning a blind eye to the matter.

She heaved a deep sigh as she tossed around on the mat, ignoring the pain she got from the mat as it left imprints on her skin. Her thoughts wandered to her friend, their third and she wondered what could have happened to her. She tried not to think too much about it so she wouldn't be bothered by hallucinations or severe headache.

Her eyes stung with tears which she tried to blink away, she glanced to her side to see that April was not there, she had probably gone to find them something to eat. April's absence scared her more, she feared April would not return to her and she also feared April returning to find her dead body.

She sat up and anxiously started to look around in fear, she had a nagging feeling that someone was watching her. But she had no choice than to wait for April to return to her.

Meanwhile Asma was getting anxious only two hours after she spoke to Lamees and April, she was aware there was no time left and she only thought of ways to rescue them within six hours. Although they had made some progress, her mind still wasn't at rest because she knew how ruthless the occupiers were, and how ruthless they'd become if they somehow find out about the anonymous conversation they had.

The conversation was automatically deleted as soon as they closed the chat to avoid any tracing, but Asma kept the vital information with her to help them find the girls. She bit her lower lip nervously as she stared at the soldier on her screen, she reread the summary about him again and again and without thinking too much, she paid him the money, 'maybe this one will be genuine' – she thought.

She huffed in frustration as she grabbed the telephone and type in some digits, the receiver picked the call almost immediately and she relayed the matter to him, "Mr. Jamal, I have sent him the money. However I do not trust him and I don't want to take risks, what should I do?" she asked and she heard him sigh tiredly.

"How many have you done so far?" he asked.

"Umm... I have done three people."

"Alright, and that is how much each?"

"Each of them insisted on collecting ten thousand dollars on each of them, I'm afraid we're losing a lot of money Mr. Jamal," Asma said and bit her lower lip in worry.

"Their lives are much more important, that is why we budgeted above two hundred thousand," he paused and Asma heard him sigh yet again, "Contact the research team to find two more soldiers and pay them."