For the Empire (BWWM/HISTORICAL)

Lost

Jaliyah

I coughed as the fog seemed to clog my throat and sting my eyes. 

"Devon!" i shouted lowly hoping no one could hear me. We had run long and hard through the fog hoping to reach the ending and escaped our attackers, but somehow we had gotten separated along the way

"Devon!" I called again slightly louder

Still i got no answer. So i walked on until the bright lights ahead made me exhale in relief. I rushed through but then froze in my steps. My enthusiasm and excitement instantly turning it confusion and dread

What they hell?

 I stared at the mass of people moving around, then I spun in place looking behind me. My jaw literally hit the ground when i realized not only was the fog gone but the forest i had been in was  as well. 

What the fuck is going on? I thought, suddenly terrified and stuck in disbelief. 

I returned my attention back to the people walking around, but they ignored my presence as i just stood there staring like an idiot

I didn't fully understand  what was going on, where Devon was, but i did know that i needed to find a way home and kill that conniving bitch Jenni when i did.

With that thought in mind i walked carefully  into the crowd. It looked to be a market of some kind. The clothing the people wore was unlike anything I remembered seeing when i traveled here on business, although i never  really got to see very much. The people looked dark skinned like me and I could overhear them hackling over prices and conversing. Their language sounded similar to what I've heard our client Rashid speak. 

So i was still in Africa then. 

the knowledge made me immensely happy. Now I just needed to find a way to get out of here and back to the airport. I could wait for Devon there and then w-

My thoughts were interrupted by a large animal stomping by; almost trampling me over

The man  spat something at me that i didn't understand but clearly he was angry i was in his way. however i was more stunned by the fact hat he was riding a camel

Did modern day Africans really still ride these? Where were the cars and all that?

Suddenly a knot of dread formed in the pit of my stomach, Still i ignored it and continued walking before coming to the horrible realization that no one spoke English here. How the hell was i gonna get back if i couldn't ask anybody  for directions?

I could feel panic welling in my chest at the thought of being stuck here alone. Dammit!!! I cursed Jenni a hundred times in my head as i begrudgingly  trudged on. 

The marketplace here  was ridiculously  long and the smells in the air were staring to bother me. Did no one bathe here damn!

Then i passed a stall with foods that completely blocked out  the foul smell of unwashed bodies and replaced it with spicy, savory deliciousness

My mouth instantly watered for a taste. I was thirsty, hot and starving. But i had no money on me, so all i did was stare longingly at the food, watching enviously as others stopped and purchased some before moving on

Suddenly the thought of stealing some entered my mind. I had stolen many times before, i was damn near a pro at it, but this was a foreign country. I didn't know how severe their punishment were for things like that.

Could i really risk getting my hand possibly chopped off for some food?

Hell yeah i could. I thought instantly.

 I really didn't even have much choice. If i continued like this walking under the blazing heat of this sun without anything to eat or drink i wouldn't make it back to the airport or anywhere because I'll be dead

I moved inconspicuously  as possible and pretended to be admiring the wares nearby. I waited until the owner was occupied serving two men before stealthily sliding a small piece of sweet smelling bread beneath my suit jacket 

Then subtly I inched away from the table attempting to avoid suspicion by still surveying all the stalls around

Just as i had walked away and thought myself successful a hard voice called out

"THEIF! STOP RIGHT THERE!" He shouted in his language

I spun to watch two large men wearing garbs far different that any other around the market riding toward me on their camels

Were they supposed to be like the police or something? 

I wasn't waiting to find out though. Once i realized they were talking to me i immediately took off running. I hid myself in between the throngs of people crowding the place. The heat of the bread near my chest made me sweat even further and the sweet smell continued to cause my stomach to grumble in protest as i fled

I looked behind me but saw no one still chasing me. Exhaling with relief i moved into a more secluded spot and stopped to calm my breath for a moment

Once my breathing returned to normal i quickly pulled out the bread and devoured it in only 3 bites, barely chewing

I was still thirsty as hell, but i was grateful that my stomach  was sated for the moment

I took off the hot suit jacket i had on loving the small breeze i felt across my skin. I was wishing i had never wore this outfit now. But Devon was adamant about us always dressing professionally whenever we went to serve our clients

I peered around the corner looking for the men who had chased me. When i didn't see them around i hurriedly moved back into the safety of the crowd and continued walking toward what i hoped was the end of the market

Finally i could see the ending and although it didn't look so promising, with all its sand, i did feel like i was making progress just by leaving that place

Unfortunately before i could reach it a hand snagged me by my shirt. It ripped slightly making me yelp as the aggressive man dragged me upwards

He tossed me easily onto the back of a camel, He barked something at me before riding away from the market quickly

I lifted up slightly and swung on him catching his jaw. I hoped he would drop me, allowing me to run, but instead he backhanded me hard splitting my lip then he pushed me back down with a warning growl

My face and mouth ached from where he struck me but i had had worse. I continued to fight him until he  was forced to bind my hands 

Defeated i still struggled and spat curses that i knew he couldn't even understand.

When my energy had been depleted i laid still mentally fuming as he and his associate rode on completely unconcerned with my fits or rage

On and on they rode into what seemed to me like nothing but endless dunes of sand. The sun beat down on me so heavily i knew i was inevitably gonna pass out

I only hoped wherever they were taking me i could talk, sneak or if necessary fuck my way out of just like i had always done before....................

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