BANE

CHAPTER FIVE

"Going somewhere?the voice stopped her on her tracks . She didn't expect him to be up so early . He was usually a late sleeper ; he could sleep till afternoon if he had nothing better to do .

"Just taking a walk." She tried not to act as jumpy as she felt . Their argument the previous laid there forgotten.

"Can I come along?" He saw her shook her head and he wondered if she was still mad at him. Maybe he overreacted.

"I need time alone." All he managed was an Oh since that's the first time she rejected his offer to walk with her . He probably should give her some space. He knew her well,the moment he tries to push her,she would explode.

"Have fun then." She walked fast,he watched her through the kitchen window . she looked like she is going for a run,he chuckled at his own jokes . Somehow ,dry jokes from one doesn't seem like dry jokes at all.

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Banan walked until she was out of sight before she slowed down and made a phone call. Someone had called her the previous night and told her not to tell anyone. He could help her,he said.

"Hello," her voice begun to shake as the caller picked up on the other line . She knew it was a bad idea but she couldn't help but call.

"Meet?" She wasn't sure of she wanted to meet the caller . The caller's voice sounded mechanical to her . He claimed he had a proposal to make ,something that could change her life.

She ignored the warning voice in her head and agreed. After cramming the address,she begun to think of ways to get away from Zaid without him suspecting anything . She knew exactly what to do.

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"Morning." Sabiha wanted to slap the cheerfulness out of her . Her bruises seemed to have faded a bit . But her stupid smiles and chirpy voice was pissing Sabiha off.

"Do you read?" It was then she noticed the books in Naomi's hands . But as usual, she made no attempt to reply . The last thing she would do is befriend her captors."Well,I guess I would drop them here then. If you don't mind." She dropper the books beside her . " I see you don't eat much." The girl gave her a flat look,shutting her up for a while.

She wondered what she was like before she was imprisoned there . If she smiled as more as she frowned now? If she talked a lot ,or naturally talked a little. If she had left a lot of loved ones behind .

"You may find it hard to believe but I understand how you feel. Maybe our situations are a bit different .But trust me,you will need your strength ." She didn't know what that woman was playing at,but she wanted no part in it. Trust her? That's the last thing she would do.

She expected no reply anyway ,so she wasn't really disappointed . She couldnt blame the girl for how she acted . And she confused her all the more. Maybe she should just stick to cooking and cleaning. It seemed that was what she did best anyway.

Sabiha picked up the old books after Naomi left . She had nothing better to do anyway . She opened one and started ,half her thoughts on what had occurred earlier.

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After the previous day's episode ,Ibrahim became colder than usual ,as if that was even possible . He barely replied Mubarak greetings when he came out for breakfast .

" The kids had called earlier,they said they found something that belonged to their friend . looks like your theory is true after all ."

He grunted something that sounded suspiciously like 'good' and went back to shoving spoons of cereals into his mouth .

It was weird putting a name on the girl after what he witnessed . it was hard seeing her as just another human being who went missing .

Mubarak didn't say anything after that,he seemed to have understood that there is no point . He finished his meal and got up to dress for work.

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Zaid was taking a nap on the couch when she walked in cautiously and picked up the car key gingerly on the small stood beside him.

She had been acting cold since morning,so that he wouldn't find it weird that she disappeared without a word . He would simply pin it on their fight the previous day.

She wondered why the caller insisted on meeting her in Cleveland road. If was a deserted place even for a secret meeting . it seemed like her curiosity kicked common sense out of the window ,because she was still going to meet him.

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She parked in front of the building ,but refused to get out if the car . She had pocketed a small knife in case of emergency . After a couple of minutes ,she called the number and a man emerged from the building .

His eyes was devoid of emotion when it met hers . He knocked on her window and she reluctantly rolled it down.

"Hey," he said in a deep voice ." Are you Banan?"

"Yes,sir. " she swallowed ,next time would try to listen to her brain more often. She wondered why she even called him sir ,he looked more like a thug.

"Follow me then." She could have stepped on the accelerator and drove home . But she opened the car door and got out . her curiosity propelled her to put one leg on front of the other and enter the building .

A chilly feeling washed over her as she stepped into the building . it was surprisingly large on the inside . She saw a man seating under an oak tree in the large courtyard .

He waved to her like an old friend when their eyes met . he seemed to be in his early twenties ,well groomed and elegant. He walked over and pulled a seat for her opposite him.

"Hello," he flashed her a charming smile as she sat down. He wore a dark blue suit .

"Hi," she cleared her throat .

"I know you are wondering why I called you here?" You don't say, she thought ."I have a proposal to make ." she wanted to ask him,why all the secrecy but instead she nodded her head. Her voice was playing cruel jokes on her .

"You haven't said anything .." He said teasingly .

"I am listening ." she managed to say.

"Glad you found your voice. I want you to trust me,this issue requires trust."

"Trust? I just met you. " she seemed to be getting bolder by the minute.

"Oh forgive my poor manners . I totally forgot to introduce myself . My name is Fadil." He flashed her another smile.

"It looks like you already know who I am ." her statement seemed to make him laugh.

" You are quite right about that. I do know a lot about you." As if that wasn't creepy or anything.

She was about to reply when her phone ringtone cut her off . It was Zaid calling her . She hated lying to him ,but so far she really had no choice . she was at a friend's place she said.

"Really annoying having such a controlling twin right?" Fadil said as soon as she dropped her phone. He said it in the same light tune . But there was something condescending about it.

"My brother is not controlling ." she defended a bit angrily . She disliked people that act all high and mighty as if they know everything about you after just one conversation.

"If you say so." He shrugged ,which riled her up more .

"Excuse me but I have to go now. Sorry ,for taking so much of your time ." she rose to leave .

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Oh Banan,what have you gotten yourself into ?

Warning: next chapter will be quite short.