S.O.S Scenes

A Promise

That night had been the last straw for Adira. How could they all just stand by and let those people die? How could she help them if they won't even help themselves, if they've given up already? They had already lost the fight. Why should she continue to help them?

Once everyone else had fallen asleep, she pack the few things she brought with her into a small bag. There was a ship leaving in less than an hour and she needed to be on it, or she would be stuck there for another week. She flung the bag over her shoulder and stared at Ammon for a brief moment. He was the only person other than Mahaf that she had grown to tolerate, and it was only because he hadn't given up.

She slowly headed for the door, trying not to make a sound. As she reached for the latch, someone made a small whimpering sound behind her. She looked back to see Mahaf with tears streaming down his face. Something inside Adira kicked in. She dropped her bag and went over to the young boy.

"What's wrong Mahaf? Is everything okay?" She asked sympathetically as she knelt in front of him. He shook his head.

"I-I had a bad dream." He told her quietly, his voice cracking. Her chest tightened. She pushed his hair out of his face and cradled his face.

"It's okay now, it's over. Whatever it was can't hurt you now." She comforted. He shook his head again.

"Yes it can. It took my mama and my brother. It's killing people right now. I'm scared." He cried. She quickly pulled him into her arms, wincing every time he sobbed heavily. He was so young, but already knew so much fear and suffering.

"It's okay, I've got you. You're safe," she pulled away so that she could stare into his eyes, "you're so brave little one. I'll get your mother and brother back, I promise. But, we can't do anything if we're tired. Let's get you back to sleep, okay?"

"I can't sleep, I'll see the ghosts again." He mumbled. She sighed softly as she thought back to every time she had every had a bad dream. How was Nizam or Rafid help her?

"How about I make you some tea and you can tell me about your dream? My father always told me that talking about it makes it go away." She said. The little boy nodded and the two went to the kitchen. She set the water over the fire and sat in front of the boy.

"So, what did you dream about?"

Mahaf took a deep breath and told his dream shakily. "The night they took my mama. It was late, we were already in bed by then. But some men came in and woke us all up. My brother tried to fight them off but the man with the jackal face hurt him bad. They took my mama and left me there alone with my brother. He didn't make it through the night."

"The man with a jackal face?" She asked.

"Set. Guess you are not as familiar with our gods as you may have thought." Ammon said from the doorway. Adira looked down and poured Mahaf and herself tea.

"Talking about my dream made me feel better. Will you tell me about your dream?" Mahaf said. Adira tilted her head.

"What are you talking about?"

"The one that keeps you awake like mine does. I know you have one or you would be asleep." He said with childlike innocence. Ammon looked at the bag Adira had left on the floor.

"I'll tell you another time, you need to get to sleep." She said. He frowned but listened to her, leaving Ammon alone with Adira. Once he saw that Mahaf was in bed, Ammon sat across from Adira.

"Where were you going?" He asked. She sighed and looked away from his gaze.

"There was a ship leaving for Morocco. I won't make it now."

"Well, you made that kid a promise, and I intend on helping you keep it." He told her. She looked up to him.

"Excuse me? I don't need your-"

"There is so much you don't know about the House. I can help you if you just," he took her hands in his, "let me."

She huffed out a breath. He knew almost everything there is to know about the House of Set:  that's why they hired him. After hearing the stories, she surprised he hadn't left Egypt all together.

"Fine, but we do this my way."

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Kinda crappy but needed to get it out