Like Emeralds (NOT RECOMMENDED)

= Chapter 11=

Five hours later, my patience was wearing thin and my bladder felt like it was gonna explode any minute.

"Jameela I am so, so sorry," Nadia whispered, her head resting on her knees.

Aliah looked upset, and kept taking sideward glances at my emerald ring.

She knelt beside Nadia and rubbed her back. "Its not your fault," ahe soothed. "He would've done it anyway,"

Nadia looked surprised at her sudden act of kindness, and gave an appreciative smile.

The tingles down my spine had stopped, and now the fear was gone the reality of it ending had hit me. Leaving deep marks and scratches in my once bright life.

My heart felt heavy, like someone had dropped a jagged stone in me, and it just rested. My shoulders weighed down and ached with stress, and beads of sweat dripped steadily of my nose.

I slid down the wall and sat down on the cold hard group, staring up at the rusty air vent.

Flashes of my parents came back, of their wedding anniversaries and special code talk. The happy days when Mariah would take me to Madrassah and me and Alana would spend hours just snuggling on the sofa, me spooning sticky rice pudding in her mouth.

Of Ahmed, my first nerf gun, and the best prank played in entire history. Of when he would take me to see the street art for projects, and buy me french fries and Mcflurrys.

The good days.

Aliah looked over and smiled sympathetically, she followed my gaze and her eyes widened a second before she squealed with joy.

"Jameela, you genius,"

Nadia started jumping up and down be for I realised what was so genius about me.

"The air vent," I laughed. "Of course!"

Suddenly Aliah stopped. "But its got to have some sort of trap,"

Nadia's smile faded. And the spark of hope fizzled out.

"What, why? "

"I know my brother," she said grimly. "But its worth a try,"

I took a deep breath. "I'll go first,"

"What? No, no, no!"

"Shut up Nadia, it's the only way, now help me up!"

The girls exchanged weary glances. "Jameela....,"

Suddenly irritated I stomped my foot. "I am positive, now come on!"

They grabbed my knees and lifted me up. I looked at the small latch, read bismillah and touched it.

Shots and fizzes shot up my nerves causing me to scream in pain. I collapsed on top of Aliah and Nadia, arm numb I shook it to get the blood to flow properly again.

"Electric, arm," I panted.

Aliah hissed and bared her teeth. " I knew it, well, now thats over, lets go, but be careful there might be more,"

"Go where exactly? " Nadia put her hands on her hips.

"Lets open the vent,"

"And get electrocuted? No thanks!"

"Look, my brother would have set this trap so it only works once, and whoever in this room it was against wouldn't do It again because they would think it'd happen again, the trap needs to be re armed for it to work, okay now we have five minutes to get out before the guards realise,"

I got to my feet shakily and they lifted me into the air once more. I opened the latch and the vent swung open.

Sighing in relief I used my muscles to push myself up and got on my hands and knees.

"Come on up"

After a few second of shuffling, the vent was shut and we were crawling along the dirty dusty vent.

"Thanks Nadia," Aliah sighed.

"Why?"

"Because I was really hungry and now your fat butt is in my face I've completely lost my appetite,"

"You're welcome,"

Oh the perks.