Dreaming for freedom

Chapter 6

We meet again.  Oh and I forgot to ask what do you think of newfound Basma? I think we all need someone like that. 

" Wake up! " Screeched Basma. I could hear chaos enfold nearby.Screaming, shouting and wailing. 

I surveyed my surroundings with half open eyes, some bright candle from outside letting me see.

Basma, Auntie Nahiza, Uncle Habib were standing next to me, their faces displaying mixed emotions, mainly fear and worry. 

A little further away, Malik, Naffiza and Yaccoub had formed a huddle. 

Malik was clutching his mother's hand tightly, Naffiza picking him up and hugging him. 

Reassuring him as he cried. Yaccoub stood next to his wife staring at something in the distance. 

Karima was gone.

The din was deafening and I was tempted to fall back asleep. Auntie Nahiza started shaking me with my shoulders.

I opened my eyes wider to try and see what was going on outside. 

Auntie Nahiza smiled in relief and helped me stand up.

Uncle Habib took a step towards me and gave Auntie Nahiza a hug, she dissolved, breaking down into tears.

Basma stood up authoritavely and stared them down," We have no time for this! "

I now saw we were in a small cove, sheltered from the drama outside.

Basma filled me in," Mr Khan from the treats store knows another way out. There's a hidden door on the side of the tunnel near our school. But the problem is that the English have just got here, they're trying to kill us before we escape. "

She said this all in a high-pitched panicky voice as if just realising what was going on," So we have to go. But we can't all go together or we'll most likely die. "

Uncle Habib took my hand," We will stick together as a family. "

He glared at Basma, but instead of cowering Basma sighed," No we won't. Hear that? "

Now I could only see their shadows and slowly everything turned black, we could only listen, we fell silent at the sound of screaming and screeching, people begging for mercy. 

Basma shed a tear then looked towards the anxious huddle nearby, Naffiza, Yaccoub and Malik. 

" None of us want to die. It's obvious them three go together, you two, and me and Sarah. "

Uncle Habib began to argue," No, that's not - "

" She's right, " I broke in, " We don't have any time. We have to go now. "

I heard footsteps, luckily it was only Yaccoub, Naffiza and Malik, clearly they'd overheard our conversation. A silence descended on us for moments as we all stuggled with our thoughts -

A torch-light shimmered nearby, a soldier poked his head through the entering of the cove , we flattened ourselves next to the wall, suddenly the torch dimmed so he could hardly see anything. Alhamdulilah! 

He cursed under his breath and was gone. I breathed a sigh of relief then reminded myself he could be back . . . It wasn't safe here.

" What's going on? " Malik wailed.

I walked my way to his voice, accidentally stepping on Naffiza in my hurry.

 I kissed the top of his head and hugged him tight, feeling his soft black hair and hugged him once more. I was going to miss him, who knows if that was the last time I'd see him?