𝘼𝙧𝙮𝙡𝙞𝙚 (𝙄𝙢𝙡𝙞𝙚 & 𝘼𝙧𝙮𝙖𝙣)

Chapter Twenty

The village was in a very rough state and my heart fell.

I hoped nothing happened to her. I tried to be optimistic, but the deeper we went, the more I began to lose hope.

It took us almost an hour to locate imlie's home and when we reached her house, no one was at home.

My heart sank and I whispered her name. 'Imlie'. I felt Aditya stare back at me with disgust, but I was too distraught to say anything.

God, please bring my imlie back to me safely. I prayed silently.

Aditya decided to go search for Imlie but I told him to wait till morning.

It too dark already, and we couldn't use our phones, which were are our only source of light because the battery was almost flat.

'I will make a fire then.' Aditya stated.

'So, where do you get the wood and fire?' I asked him.

'I suggest we stay in the house and set out early tomorrow morning.' I say.

We were still debating on what to do when I heard the voice I had been longing to hear for two days.

Imlie's Pov 

'Hurry up mum,' I called out to her and covered my mouth almost immediately.

'Don't shout imlie, we don't want unnecessary attention.' She said and I nodded even though I knew she couldn't see me.

'I heard movements a few seconds ago and that's why I wanted us to get home quickly.' I said.

I held my mum's hand and we walked quietly, tiptoeing back to our house.

We took a turn and I stopped abruptly. I saw a faint light with two shadows standing.

'Imlie, why did you stop?'

I shushed my mum and pointed it out for her to see. She let out a gasp.

'Imlie, let's go back.' My mum said and turned back dragging me with her.

'Where do we go mum?' I asked and looked around. I was searching for an object to defend us.

'It's not safe for us out there at all, they are just two men. I can knock them out.' I told her.

I found a huge stick lying a few centimetres away from me and slowly picked it up. I moved closer to the house, I could hear them talking in hush tones.

It sounded like they were arguing. I told my mum to hide behind the tree while I proceeded inside the house.

I was a few meters away from the front door when it burst open, and two men emerged.

The man who first came out turned to face the other one and started talking.

I recognised the voice, but I must be hallucinating because there was no way he could be here.

I decided to risk it and call out. 'Aditya, is that you?'

'Imlie,' he called out and started moving towards me with his arms wide open.

'I thought I had lost you,' he said and increased his pace.

He moved a little, and I could see the other person's face in the dim light.

'Aryan?' I called out and ran towards his direction.

Aditya picked up his pace but I didn't know who he was running to.

Aryan turned away from me but that didn't stop me.

Did he think I was going to hug Aditya? I got to where he was standing and hugged him from the back.

I felt him stiffen and he broke the hug, turned around and pulled me into his arms.

I hugged him back, and all my fears disappeared. The sudden realisation hit me, he was my safe space.

He placed a kiss on my forehead, and I broke the hug reluctantly, my arms were still around him.

'Are you okay?' He asked, brushing my hair to the side and cupping my face in his arms.

'Yes, but I need to go get my mum first.' I turned away from Aryan, but our fingers were still intertwined, so he pulled me back.

'Let's go together imlie, I don't want to lose sight of you even for a second.' Aryan said.

I smiled, and my mum's voice rang out, I got startled and pulled my hands away from Aryan.

"There is no need for that. I'm already here, and I can see we've got company."

Author's note:

Please vote and leave a comment.