Sticks and Stones

Chapter one - Bassam

Al-Adab Election day

I was roughly awoken by my mother early in the morning. Her big eyes sunken with worry. I was enjoying my huge bed in my massive room. As royalty, I am not supposed to be awoken in this manner.

"Mother!"

"Bassam you have to get up" she was frantically throwing things in my box.

I turned around and sat up staring at her.

"What are you doing mother?"

"Get out of this bed right now Bassam. I am talking to you!" She pushed me out of my bed and then that's when I heard explosive sounds and the palace began to shake.

"Mother?" I looked at her frantically and she hurried towards me, tears in her eyes.

"Mother what is happening?"

"I love you Bassam" she was crying now and touching my face as if trying to memorise it

"Mama!"

"You will go with your uncle, my brother. There is a plane waiting for you and your sister to leave this place forever" she continued to pack my things and I carried my box of valuables and placed it together with my belongings.

"Mother" I was crying like a baby and bawling. I didn't know which one was scarier, leaving my hometown or the fact that my mother was crying or the other fact that bombs were flying everywhere.

My uncle ran in carrying my little sister in his arms.

"We have to go!"

My little sister, Halima, was asleep. How can she be sleeping at this time?

My mother kissed my forehead and my cheeks and held me a little longer.

"I love you. I will always love you and you will always be a Rashid" she gave me one last kiss and released my hands and gave them to my Uncle.

"Take care of them Jamal"

"I will" he said and began to proceed to the door, dragging me along.

She ran the opposite direction and was caught by some men wearing black robes. I didn't see much as my uncle was hurrying with great speed.

"Bassam do not look back!"

I turned my head away from my mother to look at him and then I heard her scream. It was eerily painful to hear. And I could still hear it even when we got on the plane.

The only reason why any of these can happen is if they were rebels attacking us. My father, Hassan Rashid had told me a lot about rebels and that they haven't attacked in a decade. As a leader you make more enemies than allies.

"Why is she still asleep, when all of this is going on?" I asked as I shoved my sister who was sleeping peacefully.

"Bassam stop!" My uncle pushed me away. "We gave her something to put her to sleep. She is not to know. It will be terrible for her"

I gave her one last look and realised the sense in what he was saying. I could hear my mother screaming again and I broke down.

"Uncle why is this happening?"

"Bassam" he laid his hand in my shoulder.

"Tell me the rebel who did this and I will have him hanged!"

"There isn't much you can do. It was your father's brother"

"Uncle Ahmed?" My father's own brother betrayed him? How was this possible?

"You are only 18, when you have trained and matured, you will come back and take over. For now Ahmed thinks you are dead"

"My mother?"

My uncle shook his head sadly and put his face in his palm. I forced in the tears that were begging to come out and it stung my eyes.

"Where are we going?"

"United States of America"

I stared out the airplane window and my tears blinded me from the view.

                                 

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Author's note

Hey guys. Quick fact. All the places in this book are clearly fictional. Al-Adab and other places I might eventually come up with. Don't know anything about Arabic countries so I'll be creating my own. Just hope no one would find offence in it. Vote and enjoy!