In the Heart of Darkness

Chapter 19: Threat

Zara's heart pounded in her chest, her mind clouded with fear and worry as she knelt beside Ibrahim, her hands trembling as she pressed against the wound on his chest. Blood seeped through his shirt, dark and heavy, the metallic scent filling the air. She couldn't stop the panic rising in her throat, the sight of him so vulnerable shaking her to the core.

"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you call me when this happened?" Zara's voice cracked with desperation as she looked into Ibrahim's eyes, pleading for an answer. The fear of losing him clung to her, tightening its grip around her heart.

Ibrahim's eyes fluttered open, his usually sharp gaze now clouded with pain. His voice came out in a labored whisper, the effort to speak evident in every breath he took. "Didn't... want you to worry."

Zara's hands pressed harder against his wound, her tears threatening to spill over. "You're an idiot," she whispered, her voice breaking. "You could have died, Ibrahim."

A weak, pained smile tugged at the corners of Ibrahim's lips. "But I didn't... did I?"

Nancy rushed back into the room, her face pale with fear as she handed Zara a pile of towels. "Here, use these. We need to stop the bleeding before the arrival of the doctor."

Zara quickly pressed the towels against Ibrahim's wound, but the blood kept coming, warm and relentless. Her hands shook as she held onto him, her fingers laced through his, refusing to let go. Her mind raced with frantic thoughts, each one more terrifying than the last.

What if I lose him?

The silence in the room was suffocating as they waited for the doctor. Zara's heart pounded, the rhythmic thud of her pulse drowning out every other sound. She kept her eyes locked on Ibrahim, willing him to stay awake, to stay with her. The moments stretched into agonizing minutes, the fear clawing at her insides.

When the doctor finally burst into the room, his expression serious, Zara's breath caught in her throat. "We need to stabilize him immediately," he said, assessing the situation with professional urgency. "Let me take over."

Zara moved back, her hands covered in blood, her heart still racing as the doctor worked quickly. She stood to the side, watching helplessly as the doctor treated Ibrahim's wound. Every movement felt like an eternity, the tension in the room unbearable.

Ibrahim's breathing grew shallow, his eyes fluttering as he began to lose consciousness. Zara's grip tightened on his hand, her voice a soft, desperate whisper. "Stay with me, Ibrahim. Please."

For a moment, his eyes opened. He intensely looked at her beautiful grey eyes and red face with a tenderness that made her heart twist. "I'm not going anywhere," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Tears welled in Zara's eyes as she held onto him, her heart aching. You better not, she thought. Not now. Not after everything.

Hours passed like a blur. The doctor worked tirelessly, and finally, after what felt like an eternity, he turned to Zara with a nod of reassurance. "Sir is stable now. He is very lucky that the bullet barely dodged his heart vein. But madam, he needs rest. No more stress for tonight."

Zara nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "Thank you," she whispered, barely able to form the words.

The doctor left, and the room was suddenly quiet. Too quiet. Zara sat beside Ibrahim, her hand still clutching his as he lay unconscious on the bed. Nancy hovered nearby, her worry palpable in the air.

Zara's mind was in chaos. The sight of Ibrahim so weak, so fragile, had shaken her deeply. She had spent weeks trying to make sense of her growing feelings for him, of the confusing distance that had stretched between them. But now, seeing him like this, all those doubts disappeared, replaced by a terrifying certainty-she couldn't lose him.