Sold To The Sheikh

Part Nine

Avni tightened the backpack around her stomach, pulling her top over it she pulled a scarf over her head.
She backed behind a massive stage and looked through the woods, lowering herself she found Neil's chain on the floor in the mud, picking it up she held onto it tightly, she would find Neil, she had to, if she didnt, well, she didnt even want to think about that option.

She edged toward the prison cells and pulled open a window, climbing in she jumped down and pulled her scarf back up over her head
She passed many cells, starving people all alone, some seemingly had given up.
But none of them were Neil, she had 20 minutes until the hanging, her heart raced quicker.

"What are you doing here"
Avni paused, unzipping her backpack around her stomach she grabbed her gun, turned swiftly put the silencer on and shot the man
Her watch beeped, five minutes, all the walking around the cells had wasted time.
She ran fast, jumped up and out the window and towards the stage
Her heart dropped as she saw from behind a man stood on the stage, a noose around his neck

It seemed no matter how fast she ran she just couldn't reach fast enough, the gun shot rung loudly in the air as he was shoved off the stage, a deafening crack silencing the crowd
Then suddenly she was there as the rope cut, his face bloody and bruised to the point that he was unrecognizable
She dropped to her knees, resting his head on her lap
"Im so sorry I didnt get here in time" a slow tear made its way down her face as the crowd dispersed

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Joseph sat in his car, he turned slightly "I wasnt going to leave you to be hung, I am a good man, no matter what you think of me, but Avni can never know that I saved you, she must think you are dead"
Neil looked up, honour was everything to him, he didnt want to ruin that by going against the man that saved his life
But maybe it was for the best, Avni was never really meant to be his anyway.
She was made for bigger and better things, so Neil nodded, he would stay away, never to tarnish Avni's life again.

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3 Years Later-

"Avni, are you coming" Joseph asked
She turned around to face him "Why do you still visit me, I left your workplace"
Joseph cleared his throat "Because I worry about you Avni, your whole life is dedicated to finding Neil's killers and thats no life to live"
She let out a shaky breath "I had no one, no one until I met him, sure I had my carer but it was nothing more than a duty of care, he taught me how to live, he taught me right from wrong, he taught me how to"

She stopped, gripping tightly onto the arch of the door, she let out a sob
"When I close my eyes I still see him, feel the wind then its like hes right next to me, you dont understand, you never will" she shook her head, slamming the door and walking outside
She stretched out her arms, her eyes tightly closed "I can still feel you Neil, as if your arms are still holding me, keeping me safe"
She grabbed the bottle of cologne on the table and sprayed it on her clothes, she took in a deep breath, tears rolling down her cheeks "smells like home" she whispered

She held onto his chain around her neck "Im sorry I didnt get there, its all my fault, I let you down again, you deserved so much better"
Avni touched the ring on her finger, she never managed to make herself take it off, right now she was still his wife, she always would be
She walked back in and rewinded the tape of one of Neil's old speeches, she stepped forward, stroking his face on the tv, his voice so calming

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Neil stroked the tattoo on his arm, one single word 'habibi'. How he missed Avni, Joseph said she was happy now, had moved on and the appearances she had made on TV told the same story, but her eyes said something different
He longed for her, craved her presence as if it was as necessary as oxygen to him
He twisted his ring around his finger and pressed a kiss to it, he hoped wherever she was, whoever she was with that she was happy

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"You taught me everything Neil, but you never taught me how to live without you, you never explained how hard it would be, how empty I would feel, how alone" she spoke softly
She grabbed his jumper she had kept and slipped it over her head
She stood up slowly and walked outside, it had been to long since she had came back to this country, but the hunt for his killers had brought her back, it seemed everywhere she looked she remembered a memory with him, albeit a short time she spent with him, it was enough to last her a life time

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Neil walked outside, entering the mall he looked down at his watch and then looked back up again
His breath hitched in his throat, his Avni was here, her hair lifted in the breeze from the open door and whipped around, she looked down then to the side
"Habibi" he uttered, three years he hadnt seen her, heard her voice, held her
So what was she doing back?

Avni paused, turning around in a circle, the hairs on her neck sticking up, it was impossible but she was so sure she had heard Neil call out to her
Neil pulled his sunglasses down slightly to get a better view of her, he watched her look around quickly, he wondered what she was looking for
Even now, after all these years she still managed to take his breath away
She lifted her hand, swiping away some tears

Neil grimaced, Jospeh had told him she was fine, happy, yet here she was crying
He felt his own eyes burn with unshed tears, he swallowed the lump in his throat and pulled his sunglasses back up
"Goodbye habibi" he whispered before walking away
Avni looked around again, she felt crazy but she was so sure she had heard his voice, felt him close to her
She shook her head and continued to walk

Neil turned around again to see her, she had stopped and turned the other way
It couldn't harm to just follow her outside
He wanted so badly to run to her, take her in his arms and make everything okay again
Avni leant against the wall and slid down it, she bent her head and sobbed
He looked down at her clenched fist, she still wore her ring, he smiled slightly from behind the wall then looked back around it again

Neil noted she was wearing his jumper, his chain around her neck as she lifted her head
She took a deep breath and stood up, he couldnt help but turn the corner, she faced away from him trying to get herself together again
She turned back around and stopped "Who are you and why do you keep staring at me" she spat out maliciously
The scarf covering his mouth came to good use this time as he couldnt hide his smile at hearing her voice

"Hey, im speaking to you" she stepped closer
She shoved at his shoulder "Do you work for the Sheikh, is that why youre following me"
Avni shoved past him angrily when he offered her no reply and paced quickly past the shops
Neil lowered his head, distraught, she was so close yet so far away

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Avni stood outside on the field where the school used to be, the cold air was biting
She looked up at the starry sky and closed her eyes "I thought I heard you call me today Neil" she laughed "Maybe I am going crazy" she sighed heavily

Neil stopped in his footsteps at the figure on the field, he came here to reminisce Avni and here she was
He stepped closer, her eyes were shut, her face upturned towards the sky
Her eyes opened slowly and she looked straight
"Neil you know I feel closer to you here"
Neil found it hard to breathe, she still missed him, thought of him

Without missing a beat he stepped infront of her and watched as her eyes widened
"You, again, who are you" she shouted
Neil put his arm around her waist and yanked her forward and she gasped
He put his face near her neck "Habibi" he whispered
Stilling in his hold she pulled back ever so slightly and lifted her hand, pulling his scarf off and then his sunglasses
"Neil" she whispered
She lifted her hand and went to touch his cheek but paused, her hand in mid air

Her body faltered and she fell unconscious in his arms before she could reach out to him
"Avni, Avni" he shook her gently
Lifting her in his arms he made his way to his car, putting her inside he started the car and drove away, he would take her home and ensure she was okay