To Be Or Not To Be

Chapter 18

Islas POV

As the man's hand traveled down from my face to my neck and then lower, my heart pounded in my chest, each touch sending waves of terror through me. I felt like a trapped animal, helpless against his cruel intentions.

When he pressed the gun against my right breast, a cold shiver ran down my spine. His mocking laughter echoed in the alley, sending chills down my spine. I could feel the weight of the weapon pressing against my flesh, a sickening reminder of the danger I was in.

"You were just studying biology right? Is this where your heart is?" he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "Oh, silly me."

My breath caught in my throat as he moved the gun to my left breast, pressing it harshly against my nipple"here seems about right". Pain shot through me, sharp and intense, as he exerted pressure against my tender flesh. I felt like I was drowning in fear, unable to escape the suffocating grip of terror. 

With each passing moment, my legs grew weaker, unable to support the weight of my trembling body. I could feel myself starting to collapse, my vision swimming as darkness threatened to overtake me. The alley spun around me, a dizzying whirl of shadows and fear.

I fought to stay conscious, to stay strong in the face of this nightmare. But as the man's cruel laughter echoed in my ears, I knew that I was losing the battle. My legs gave out beneath me, and I sank to the ground, helpless and vulnerable, at the mercy of my assailant.

My mind raced with thoughts of escape, of survival, but each attempt was met with the crushing weight of fear. I felt like I was suffocating, drowning in a sea of terror, unable to find a way out.

As the man loomed over me, his presence a suffocating weight in the darkness, I closed my eyes and prayed for help. I prayed for someone to hear my cries, to come to my rescue and save me from this nightmare.

But as the seconds stretched into eternity, and the man's laughter filled the air, I knew that help might not come. I was alone, trapped in the darkness, with no one to hear my screams.

Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to find the strength to fight back. But with each passing moment, the darkness closed in around me, threatening to consume me whole. And as the man's cruel laughter echoed in the silence, I knew that I was running out of time. 

As the darkness threatened to consume me, and my consciousness began to slip away, I summoned every ounce of strength I had left to utter a prayer, a desperate plea for mercy in the face of unspeakable terror.

"Allahumma rahmataka arju," I whispered hoarsely, my voice barely a whisper in the stillness of the alley. "Fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata 'aynin. Wa aslih li sha'ni kullahu, la ilaha ila anta."

Tears streamed down my face as I clung to those words, seeking solace in the mercy of my Creator. In that moment of utter despair, I placed my trust in Allah, praying for His guidance and protection in the face of unimaginable darkness.

And as the darkness closed in around me, and my consciousness began to fade, I felt a sense of peace wash over me, a calmness in the midst of chaos. In that moment, I knew that I was not alone, that Allah was with me, guiding me through the darkest of nights.

Alis POV

As I finished my prayer and returned to the front of the café, a sense of unease settled over me like a heavy blanket. Isla's absence was glaring, her usual spot vacant save for the remnants of her presence strewn across the table. Her closed laptop and abandoned backpack seemed to mock the empty chair, sending a chill down my spine.