Fatat Al Jasus

Arrival

The middle-eastern state of Soal.

The first word that came in my mind as soon as I saw this place from the plane's window was- 'Dry'. This place screamed- "I need moisturizer!!!"  

But Soal has moisturizer and it has a lot of it deep in the underground. Petroleum- Soal's main source of income. 

My phone started ringing as soon as I stood in the line of immigration. I confusedly looked at dad who was standing behind me. Dad looked at me and said, "Taylor pick up your phone."

But I do not have the sim of this country yet.

I reluctantly pulled out my phone.

"Hello?" I said with a hint of confusion in my tone.

"Hello, Miss Knight. I am Eshkim and I will be your trainer here in Soal. And as I know that you will be curious to know how did you get a call on your phone just after arriving in a new country, then Mr. Frazzer has done it. Thank you, bye and see you tomorrow." He said this all in one breath in the middle-eastern accent and then cut the call. 

I was still holding the phone on my ear, startled by what just happened.

"Excuse me miss, it's your turn." the immigration officer in the booth called me. 

I came back to reality, kept the phone in my pocket, and proceeded towards the immigration officer.

Well, I guess now I have to get used to surprises.

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I woke up at 6 o'clock in the evening and saw that everyone in the house are dead-asleep. My head pounded slightly. I went to the messed up dining room and chugged down a bottle of water. I look around to observe the details of the room. It's one of my habits, whenever I go to a new place I observe it's architectural details. 

Our flat in on the seventh floor of a building. All the flats of this building are occupied by Orlandian Army officers. The Orland Military Contingent has made a contract with a number of real estate owners for letting only Orlandian officers rent flats in a particular building and restricting anyone else from renting any flat of that building. It is done so that we can live like a community.

I looked outside the window.

Colorless.

Almost every building that I see from this height is sand-colored. I reach out to open the window when suddenly the doorbell rings.

Who could come at this odd time? 

I tiptoed to the door. My spy instincts are telling me that whoever is there outside is bad news. I looked through the peephole, a man with curly black hair and a well-built physique is holding an envelope and observing the surrounding with boredom, waiting for the door to be opened.

I looked around to find something to defend myself in case of an attack when my eyes landed on the anti cutter kept beside the cartons for unpacking. I take it and hide it in the sleeve of my right hand in a way that I can swiftly pull it out on time. 

I carefully twisted the knob and opened the door.

A pair of hazel colored eyes looked at me. He arched his right eyebrow and his lips formed a mild smirk. 

"Hello, agent Knight."