The sound of the shattering glass sent a chill down my spine, forcing me to withdraw deeper into the corner where I was tucked in. "Mansur, please stop. At least for Aaliyah's sake." I begged, the tears streaming down my cheeks. He swung around to face me, his eyes blazing with rage. "To hell with you and that bloody girl." he yelled. Do you hear me, Salma? To HELL with you and her. This is my house, and I can do whatever I want." he yelled, throwing the bottle at my dressing mirror. The glass shattered all over the room, the larger pieces landing on some of the bottles on the drawer beside the dressing mirror in which I kept my incense sticks. This caused them to shatter as well, the glass falling everywhere across the room. I could hear Aaliyah crying in the next room, but I could not go to her as Mansur was blocking the door. "You will learn your place today." he yelled, unbuckling his belt. I shut my eyes as the tears continued to flow, knowing all too well what came next. The first strike was always the one that hurt most.

~~~~~~ When two ends meet, does that mark it the end? Or the beginning of another roller coaster? ~~~~~~ There's a hausa saying "kowa ya bar gida, gida ya barshi." In the case of two sisters, could that proverb be the best description to their situation? • • Zubaida Musa, a teenage girl, whose tender teenage hood was snatched away from her by the cruelties of this world is yet again faced by many other challenges, and leaving her home was the biggest of them. And her sister Ruqayyah, who was a survivor of a toxic marital relationship. Could surviving it alone mark the end of the bitter memories? Or they haunt her from time to time. © Halimatu Abdulrazak

Earlier known As Where's Ahmad In a world tainted by the pursuit of power and riches through blood and cruelty, one enigmatic young man stands untouched by the malevolence around him. Meet Ahmad, kept captive for eighteen-years by the blood Mafia, a sinister group known for their money rituals and merciless ways. Despite being imprisoned in their hellish domain since the age of five, Ahmad has developed an uncanny ability to survive and evade their grasp. Haunted by the deaths he carries on his conscience, Ahmad finds solace and belonging in the very place that confines him. However, his world is turned upside down when a determined young woman named Hibba is brought into the midst of the blood Mafia. With a heart full of hope and a fierce determination to escape, she seeks Ahmad's aid. Yet, their initial encounter is fraught with misunderstanding and hostility, leaving Hibba skeptical of Ahmad's willingness to help. As they embark on a precarious journey together, Ahmad and Hibba form an unlikely alliance, driven by Hibba's desire for freedom and survival. In this gripping tale of resilience, trust, and redemption, Ahmad and Hibba navigate a treacherous world where humanity is scarce, and danger lurks at every turn. Discover the captivating journey of Ahmad and Hibba as they defy darkness, seeking freedom and a chance at a new beginning.