RUN

chapter one

moving slowly..i make sure i watch my breathing hoping they cant hear me...the air vent is as hot as a sauna and my hair keeps sticking to my face. i can feel my heart beating within my chest,the rhythm more intense than the usual gentle beat.

"go watch the back door..make sure she doesn't get out" i hear one of the men say
i move carefully...i can see a light at the end of the vent... i hope they're stupid enough to forget to watch this side of the building
i can hear them searching the room i just left... i hear irfan stalling them...
I'm almost there... i turn when i hear a gunshot

                            
                                ~

"alena! alena! get your lazy ass out of that bed right now"

Arrggghhhhh..not again...i try to shield my eyes from the rays of sunlight coming in through the windows
"you really need to stop waking me up like that aida." i say practically shooting daggers at my friend

"maybe if you'd stop sleeping late and try to wake up earlier things would be better."she says giving me the same look. 

sitting up,
i notice the sad look on her face so i pat the space beside me on the bed,
"mariah I don't want to get married to that man" she says staring ahead lost in thought.

" i know my love" i say matching her expression.

we fall into a comfortable silence each with the same thoughts

"I'm not going to let that dirty old man touch me" she whispers breaking the silence

" you know you cant do that, that's like a death sentence."

" i dont care, I'd rather die"she says with her lips trembling..i know she's holding back tears

"oh hun,come here" i extend my arms towards her.".." and dont ever say that,i cant stay here without you and you know it"

" you're lucky y'know...your dad isn't forcing you into getting married and you're already 20"she says sniffling.

I know I'm lucky but then i guess my dad just respects some of my decisions but i dont admit that to her, instead I hold her tighter, giving the best comfort i can offer.

I love this girl so much and it hurts to see her get forced into a marriage but then that's the reality of things. i cant imagine being in her shoes. I'd probably go crazy

"so when are you going back?" aida asks, breaking my train of thoughts.

I'm in my final year in Michigan state University  in ann arbor. How i got my dad to agree to let me study there is still a mystery to everyone.

" i dunno,dad asked me to stay another week"i answer with a shrug.

" what if he says you're transferring back here?".

i look at her and smack her on the head laughing. she joins in too but is interrupted by someone calling her name.

The door bursts open to reveal sophia. she beams when she sees us both.

sophia is the third of our little group. we've known each other right from childhood. Her dad and mine work in the same company and she, like us,hates the whole situation of things.

she tosses her himar aside revealing her top and shorts and jumps on the bed to hug us both.

"so aida, having wedding nerves already?" she asks with a pitiful look.

" like you care" aida retorts, clearly getting jealous and annoyed.

Sophia got married at the age of 19 and even thou she might not have liked the whole idea,she considers herself lucky for getting married to a young man.

"c'mon aida,you know i care. I'm not happy about it too but marriage can be fun y'know,  especially on the first night"she says winking, obviously trying to clear the air of some tension

"you are so disgusting" i say hitting her with a pillow and laughing...aida joins in the laughter but its short lived.

"my first night is going to be hell"

i knew exactly what she meant.. she's as petite as can be and the man is huge with a belly the size of a whale.

"you dont have a choice aida. unlike mariah here"Sophia says pointing at me.

" hey dont throw me in her face,its not my fault my dad has a heart"

They both nod, agreeing.
Their dads are the worst..i honestly never liked them.. they were always so bossy whenever they came around

i look to aida with pity"hey,you have to get ready. they're calling the prayers already".

sighing,she gets up and makes her way to the door but stops and turn around. I can see she's trying so hard not to cry.

"i love you guys so much"..

we rush to gather her in our arms and reassure her that everything will be fine.

With one last look she's out the door.

                             ~

so hey guys this is my first book and ive been writing it for a while now and I've finally had the guts to publish it

i hope you enjoy it..i promise to make the next chapter longer

❤️❤️❤️🤗