Ahlam (Dreams)

20 - Reveal

Yazid

It felt like time had stopped and everything was frozen. I saw the guards rush out while the servants checked the house for Cyra. How she have been kidnapped, she was just here right now or did she run away?

I rushed up the stairs and I saw Niyyas, looking terrified. The look in his eyes told me one thing i was certain about, he knew the reason why this was happening.

I decided to go to his room before asking him, hoping to find a clue.

I had barely searched his room when I found what I had been looking for. On his table were letters from someone, threatening my dear Cyra's life. Anger boiled within me and I went back to him, he was still on the floor, just staring into space. I took him by the collar and brought him downstairs.

On seeing me, Aunt Alba's eyes widened and Saffiyah and Zakiyyah both stood up.

I threw him on the chair "Where is she huh? I know you know"

Saffiyah was about to open her mouth but I stopped her "Before you judge me, read these letters I found in his room. Someone had been threatening him and he didn't say anything about it. And who is Aliyah?

Niyyas just broke into tears and Sufyan placed his hand on his shoulder "Niyyas tell us, what's going on?"

Niyyas finally raised his head "This all started a long time ago, when I was 15. I had a best friend, Veeda and we knew each other inside out. She was 2 years older than me but it didn't matter. One day she was getting married so she broke up with her boyfriend..."

He took a deep breath, which irritated me before he continued "Her boyfriend begged me for help. I was naive and I accepted his request. I told Veeda I wanted to meet her at a hut in the night, as per her boyfriend's plan. He came instead but I never knew he was going to do what he did."

"What did he do?" Saffiyah asked, her eyes held fear and hoping that it wasn't what she was thinking

"He raped her, and he didn't do it alone. He kept her hidden for 2 days and her wedding day passed. Her family got mocked and then later she was found to be pregnant. She was forced to marry her boyfriend and her parents disowned her on the wedding day. Her days went by in horror and torture, and then she vowed to never let me get married"

"You ask who is Aliyah? I was to get married at 21, to a girl I loved with all my heart, my moon. But a day before the wedding she went missing and her body was discovered 4 days later by a fisherman boat. "

A gasp escaped Zakiyyah's mouth "Subhanallah"

Uncle Qais's eyes widened and I saw the anger in them, exactly what I wanted. He stood up and came to us. Giving Niyyas a slap.

His eyes were red "You're the cause of this, if anything happens to my Hani, I'll kill you"

Niyyas didn't budge but only looked up "I accept." He turned to Sufyan "I know where Veeda would have taken her. Al-Thaniyy, not too far from the the mosque. I saw the pattern in her letters."

I wanted to question him but Sufyan and Tariq were  already getting their swords. I shot him a glare before getting my sword. I'm going to kill that Veeda woman and put an end to this, I thought to myself.

As Sufyan and Tariq ran as fast as they could there, I tailed behind them, making sure that Tariq didn't notice me.

They reached there and looked around. with a silent opening of the door, I saw the two of them enter. 

"Young boys with the minds of men. They are growing up so fast" I said with a sly grin as I followed up behind them and entered. I saw them hiding behind some boxes and after tracing their line of sight, anger simmered within me.

Cyra was tied up, just closing her eyes. She was unconscious and then I noticed something that they probably hadn't, she had a cut on her head and it was bleeding. A woman was sitting there, talking to her unconscious state with a tone laced with hate.

Suddenly Tariq and Sufyan burst out from where they were and Sufyan struck Veeda with the end of his sword, making her fall to her knees. Tariq hastened to loosen the ropes on Cyra and that's when I noticed his right foot had a rope around it, it was a trap.

I came out and pushed Tariq away, right in time for a knife to come out of nowhere. I dodged it but it hit my neck very badly. Tariq looked at the blood on his hands and then at me. I turned to Sufyan and gasped "Brother..."

I didn't have time for any of this. Veeda's pained groan echoed across the room "That was meant to disable Niyyas before I take her life in front of him. I paused, disable as in stun him or was there poison on the knife?

I got the answer to my question rather quickly. The injury stung and I yelped. Tariq touched the spot "Yazid, the area around it is turning green" with panic in his voice.

I fell to my knees, groaning. Sufyan angrily hit Veeda with his sword and her head bled out. He ran to me and they both carried me up. "No Tariq go for your sister, someone has to carry her"

Tariq nodded and ran to continue losing the ropes on Cyra. I stared at her, looking so lifeless and helpless, but I wasn't in a situation to wish I could trade my current position with her. I saw the poison's greenness on my fingers and I started bleeding out of my fingertips. Once thing was certain,I had little time left.

After what seemed like forever, we were back at the mansion. My mom Alba stared at me in shock and Saffiyah ran to us "Yazid why are you green?"

Uncle Qais came out and saw me. Our gazes met and I could see the shock in his eyes. Without a second thought, he yelled, "Where is Asim, get him here now!!"

Several servants hastened and I looked over at my finger, more blood was flowing out now and my head was ringing. My vision became blurry and all I could do was stare at Tariq and Sufyan's terrified faces.

I raised my bleeding hand and placed it on Tariq's head "Even tho you were my cousin, you have been no less than a brother to me Tariq, my star"

With much effort I turned my head to Sufyan and did the same "I've always wanted to tell you I was your brother, you distanced me away but everything is going to be fine now"

I turned to Niyyas "Take care of Cyra for me, ok Niyyas?"

He stared at me and then shouted "Asim, where are you?"

Asim was wearing his robe and came rushing down the stairs "How did he get poisoned?"

I smirked "I was being brave, amazing right? I'll die a hero"

Saffiyah placed a hand on my lips "You won't, brother. Stop saying these things"

I chuckled "Why deny the inevitable? I've lost too much blood"

Asim got something from his counter and poured it into my mouth. It tasted like black seed oil with a bunch of other ingredients.

"That should help, Yazid stay with me, try to remain conscious"

My smirk grew wider and I shifted my line to Niyyas once more "Niyyas you'll take of her for me. Treat her well, I know she can be 'different' but accept her the way she is. You know the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "I enjoin you to treat women well, for the woman was created from a rib and the most curved part of the rib is its highest point. If you try to straighten it, you will break it. If you leave it as it is, it will remain bent."

With all the remaining strength I had, I turned to face my parents, Qais, and Alba "Abi and Ummi, I know I mean a lot to you, but take this as a burden lifted from you"

At last, my gaze flickered to Cyra, her unconscious state. My heart felt like it had been torn into pieces.

"I hated women, I'm a bad person. I have so many sins."

Tariq shook his head "Don't say these things now"

Everything gradually became black and I lost control of my senses and movement. Sufyan called my name repeatedly and I heard Asim say "His pulse is becoming faint"

The last thing I saw was Saffiyah bursting into tears on the floor and Zakiyyah comforting her. I felt a sharp pain in my chest and then... I blacked out.