Lost

Chapter 27: What Could Go Wrong?

Salma's P.O.V

Salma sat huddled by the rock, bawling her eyes out. She kept asking for forgiveness for her severe lapse of judgment, while at the same time, she willed herself to get a grip before Zayn would notice her sorry state. Salma did not want him to ask her anymore question. She knew it was inevitable, and dreaded Zayn would bring her impulsive behavior up, but she just hoped that when he did, she would be ready for the worse. That if he taunted her with it, she would be strong enough to bear the brunt.

After praying, Salma stayed on her rock.The ritual had calmed her down significantly. Although fragile, she wanted to keep the composure she had managed to built. Fishing her phone out, she started reading all the texts she had received upon getting service on the road.

*James: Sallabae! Hw r da Monkeys??!! found any1 of dm hangin upside dwn ;D?

Salma's throat constricted upon reading the text. Thinking of how she found Zayn, if she could, she would have replied with a 'Yes!'

*Dean: Just told James AG10 is a better player than him, he's giving me hell for it :P. Pray that I'm still alive when you come back.

*Dean: Sally, please be safe :(. We are so worried. If for nothing else, then comeback for Asim's sake. The kid is getting killed by James's brutal attacks.

*James: Miss uuuuu :'(! Com bck alredy!

"Miss you too, James!" Salma blinked back tears. "I miss you so much!"

She opened a few more texts from the brothers, Asim and Sarah. All of them saying they missed her, and prayed that she was fine. Asim's texts, the ones he sent after the accident occurred, showed just how much pain he had gone through. It was heartbreaking to read her little brother's texts, he was not even sure she would ever get to read. Not able to read anymore without breaking down again, Salma turned her attention to the voicemails. She checked the first one.

"Sally, it's me, Will!" William's distressed voice filled her ears, making her heart skip a beat."It's important! Listen, go back to your hideout! Like now! I know you are still on the phone with Asim. I don't know what the two of you are up to, but Sally please, as soon as you hear this, go back to your hideout!"

Crying at the urgency in his tone, Salma heard the next one.

"Salma, leave and run! Don't stay outside after it's dark!" William practically screamed. "There are criminals out there in the forest that operate after it's dark. Stay somewhere safe. Please Sally! Listen to me. Go back!"

Salma was stunned after William's frantic voicemail ended. The silence was ringing in her ears. Mechanically, she opened the last voicemail.

"Oh My Allah! Salma, I totally forgot! You should not be out right now. It's getting dark. Go to the shelter and stay there!" Asim paused for breath. "Heck, I'm so sorry! I hope you are not too late already. Please go back! Will just called, he's going ballistic. Be safe!"

Putting her phone away, Salma put her head in her hands. They knew. They knew, and they tried to warn her but she thought it was just Asim doing what she had asked him to do. Hoping they were not worrying over it too much, Salma wished she had a way to get back to them, to let them know she was fine. Traumatized, attacked and messed up, but fine.

How she wished she would have check the voicemails ages ago. Maybe she could have avoided all of the mess? Maybe she would have gotten back to them, to tell them she got their message and that she was going to be fine? Maybe, just maybe, Zayn wouldn't have been stranded in the forest, and she would not have needed to go after him after it was dark? Maybe -