Breaking Britain (Completed)

Chapter 35

35
Saturday 5th January 2030
22:15

            Waliyah Jaffer directed her children through the maze of streets and alleys. The darkness was their friend. They hid when they saw people coming in the opposite direction or cars passing by. No one could be trusted any more. Waliyah's only choice was to seek out her brother, who lived two miles away.

            They turned down Tulida drive and stood in shock as they watched three detached houses in flames. There were people on the streets watching. Waliyah couldn't tell if they were the ones that caused the fire, or neighbors who had come out to assist the people involved in the fire.

            'Let's go back', she said, taking hold of Hussain's hand.

            'But Ummah', Rasher pleaded, 'they can help us'

            Waliyah bent down to her daughter, 'I'm not so sure they would, little one'.

            'But Ummah?'

            'No Rasher, you must do exactly what I say. Our lives could depend on it'

            'It's okay Rasher. I know another way', Hussain added, taking hold of her and lifting her into his arms, even though he was still carrying their bag on his other shoulder.

            Hussain followed Waliyah, as they backed up. There was a wooded area opposite the houses and Waliyah directed them into the darkness. Rasher started whimpering as the blackness enveloped them.

           They continued on in silence, being cautious about where they were treading. Eventually Hussain had to put his sister down, she was far too heavy to carry long distances.

            Rasher stopped moaning and followed her brother, squeezing his hand as tightly as she could. The wooded area ran out and they stepped back onto the pavement. It was quiet as they turned down the next street. Hussain knew the area, but not the names of the roads. They came to a row of semi-detached houses. Waliyah could see through one of the house windows, the television on the news channel and wondered whether the three houses on fire would have made the news. Most likely it was a minor incident, with everything else that was happening.

           They had made it halfway and Waliyah's thoughts went back to her husband, who had possibly sacrificed himself for his family. She hoped there was a possibility he would meet up with them later, but in truth she knew this not to be true. She slowed in her thoughts allowing Hussain and Rasher ahead.

            None of them noticed a man come out from an alley opposite carrying an axe and a hammer in either hand. He ran up silently in his all blacks and swung the hammer back. Waliyah sensed him before seeing him. The hammer came round in an arch and slammed into her temple before she had time to react. She blacked out immediately and fell heavily to the pavement.

             The sound of their mum hitting the pavement was enough to turn Hussain and Rasher's attention. Hussain stood motionless for a second in recognition of the man that had confronted his father.

             Joseph York lifted the axe, watching the children from the corner of his eye.

            Hussain released his sister's hand and sprang forward to reduce the distance between himself and his mother, but his reactions were too slow, he could do nothing to prevent the axe from coming down on his mothers neck.

             The rage that built up in Hussain was incredible, but he could see others coming out of the alley armed with tools and knives. If he implemented revenge he would be resigned to the fact that both him and his sister would both die.

              He hit the breaks, turned, ran to his sister, grabbed her by the waist, lifting her from the ground and ran as fast as his legs could carry him.

              Joseph tugged at the axe, but it was stuck, he pulled again, feeling it loosen. The others had caught up to him.

              'Over there. They're headed that way', he said pointing in the direction of Hussain, he could barely make him out in the dim lighting.

               Joseph gave the axe one more tug and it came free. He smiled as his followers gave chase.