Deadly Stalker

Chapter XXIV: Revelations II

When I woke up, I found myself back in the air plane. Though it was landing time, most of the people were fast asleep. I looked beside myself and found Zaid's seat empty. My heart beats rose as I panicked looking down the aisle wishing to spot him somewhere in between.

Someone patted my hand but I quick to respond. The man sitting beside had a smile on his face, the kind of smile that makes you gag your mouth due to the obvious fakeness in it.

"Don't worry dear, I think I saw him going into the washroom." His use of endearment made me sick in the stomach. No one except my family and close friends uses endearments.

I keep looking back at the direction the man had pointed and soon I saw Zaid coming out of the washroom. Relief washed through my body and I let out an involuntary sigh as the man beside me just chuckled. I looked at him skeptically until Zaid had been seated. At that I turned to face him.

"Where were  you? I panicked when I saw your seat empty!"

"You were sleeping so I thought not to disturb you." He replied. If it was some normal situation, my heart would have skipped a beat but we all know for that to happen we need a completely normal situation.

"I have to tell you something!" I said urgently, hoping he would catch the urgency in my voice.

"What? Did you see someone? Did someone tell you anything?" He replied in the same urgent time I had used.

"Yes, no and yes. I'll tell you later about that. Listen to this first. The man beside me seems creepy to me." I whispered the last part, incase he hears it.

"What are you talking about?"

And I told him about the little incident that happened when he was absent. He laughed it off saying that I don't have to doubt each and every person around me.
I wasn't doubting, that person was just giving off these creepy vibes that I had to doubt him. But of course I never told my point of view to him instead I sulked like I should have before. I still have to know what he meant by his little revelation back at the airport.

A large crowd had gathered near the luggage collection area so I didn't bother to come forward. Standing by the luggage trolley, I watched as people left the airport, some happy and some sad, some with their families and some alone. From the time when I was small, I never liked coming back from a vacation. Leaving a place after staying for few days there really leaves you sad. My school friend always used to say, being on a vacation is like dating. You enjoy your time during it and when the time comes to leave, it leaves a mark in your life. And after that you always remember it with a sad smile.

"Zara." Zaid waved his hand before my eyes and I was back from my day dreaming. The group standing in front of me had already left, the airport was less crowded now. Booking a taxi was another time consuming work. By the time we were settled, I was drenched in my own sweat and my legs were probably swollen.

The ride to the hotel went by in a blur as I slept through it, my neck in an awkward position on Zaid's shoulder. So all in all, when I finally finally reached the hotel room, my whole body was throbbing in pain. I could just curl up on bed and lie there forever.

"You freshen up first, I'll go after you." Unable to reply I just nodded my head.

"Zara? You look so bad! Are you all alright?" And at once he was by my side.

"I'm just tired." I replied with my voice barely audible.

"You look more bad than that. You are completely exhausted. Go freshen up now and till then I'll  order  something to eat."

I nodded my head again and within seconds, I was by my suitcase searching for something comfortable to wear. Bathing was another time consuming affair as it required movements of hands which were completely numb. My face had become pale and my hands were mostly blue. Must have been because of the cold water.

Gulping down hot coffee burned my throat and I regretted it that instant. After that I never touched the cup until it was ice cold.

"What's next?" I asked. I wished he complete whatever he was going to say back at the airport.

"Sleep for you and work for me." Zaid replied.

"Why sleep for me? I am not that tired anymore." I said hoping he would cancel all his work and my wish to come true.

"Have you looked at the mirror? You look like a sleep deprived person that hasn't been slept for days."

That hurt really bad. Yes, sleep for me was nothing but complete rest before but now I'm afraid of sleeping because of the nightmares. I got nightmares before but not the kind that gave you goosebumps while just thinking about it. So now with all those bags under my eyes anyone can say I'm a sleep deprived person. It's not my fault at all. It's just that why me of all these people?

"Okay. I'll sleep. Wake me up when you come back." If I even sleep for a minute. I said the last part in my mind. There's no need for another thought to run in my already crowded brain.

I lay in my bed for about ten minutes before someone knocked on the door. There wasn't any peephole for me to check if some unknown person was outside. I just opened the door slowly. Zaid's face came into my view and I visibly relaxed.

"You scared me."

"I forgot my bag here." He replied not even glancing at me once.

If that's what you want. Fine. Ignore me.

I went inside the covers once again and turned my back to him. He was still searching for some papers. Pretending to sleep, I sensed that he was just inches away from my face. I tossed to my right side and pulled the covers over my face. I heard him sigh before his footsteps retreated.
***

I woke up screaming the life out me. Tears blurred my vision and I waited for the same protective arm around me that consoled for nightmares likes this. I waited for the voice that whispered sweet nothings in my ears until I had calmed down. I waited for him to come and tell me that everything will be fine. But no one came. It was only me and my sobs in this big room. I rocked myself back and forth, calming down. But the more I thought about the absence of him at this moment the more tears stung my eyes. At that moment, I realized that even the person closest to you cannot always be your anchor. Sometimes in life we face moments where we have to be our own anchor and right our demons.

It was now time to be my own anchor, fight my own demons and win this battle.

Minutes passed by and by the time Zaid came back I was back to normal, more than normal. I was pissed at him and everyone else. At that moment I wanted to clear all misunderstandings and judgements. When the door clicked open, I was ready to burst out. But at end moment I decided to let him have a moment.

"Did you finish your work?" I asked as sweetly as possible.

He mumbled something but that was the last thing on my mind.

"You said something about Eman not your real sister. What did you mean by that?" I asked matching his eye stare. He looked at me for a moment, analyzing my question maybe, but I didn't falter.

"Eman is not my real sister. My mother died while giving birth to Ali. At that time I was five years old. I don't remember her very well but Dad had a picture with him which he lost it somehow. Later when I was twelve, he married Eman's mom, my stepmother. And up to date she has been nothing but cruel to us, but I always thought of her as my mother."

This didn't go as expected. I never expected this.

Why do this feel like I forced him to say this?

But nothing could be done, this had to be completed.

****

Am I the only one that thinks this is dragging on? Honest reviews needed please. Help me here!