ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.
Zayd forced himself to not think about where Layla is the next day. She's been absent for an entire day then the second one too. It is not his concern where she goes. He's done what his mother asked him to do, slept with her and she is definitely feeling good since she was able to leave the house. Now he will have the entire place for himself so his privacy won't be raided by his mother or friends. But by the end of the second day, he started getting worried for some odd reasons.
Maybe sleeping with someone makes you think about them? That should be it because why else would he be thinking about where his bully is. Before going to bed, he decided to call his cousin Teems to see whether she's seen Layla or spoke to her on phone. She should know whatever it is her friend is up to so she can tell him whether she is safe or not. It doesn't matter where or how she is, as long as they know about her whereabouts he is okay. He can tell his mother when she asks and make up excuse.
"Hey, Zeeeee! What's up groom groomer groomest? How's being married?" She greeted in her usual enthusiastic voice with a tinge of jeer as if she knows what he's done with Layla. She's told them!
Suddenly shy, he tried changing the topic but never one to beat around the bush, he asked. "Everything is fine, single lass. Where's Layla though? She's disappeared. Confirm whether she's left for good so I can free us entirely."
Teems sat up from the other end with brows going down in concern and fear. "Disappeared? You mean she isn't there with you?" He made of sound of positive answer. "Then where is she? I've been calling her number but it's switched off I thought she needed space like she always does once in awhile."
"Oh? She does that? Well then, let me rest and enjoy my time before she comes back to destroy it."
"No!" Teems took a deep breath, suddenly having bad feeling about this. "Layla is definitely in trouble! She is not in her apartment either. I was there with Lana earlier, she wasn't there and there was no trace of her. Where could she go to?"
Zayd sat up from his lying position, thunder roared outside his window making it rattle. Where could Layla be in this weather? It's going to rain hard soon and she is out there chilling in God knows where? Well, she knows how to take care of herself so he is going to lie here and rest, she should sort herself out like she always does. She likes being independent anyway, she should continue with that as it's a very good thing to do.
"Now what? Should we start searching for her or report to the station?" His questions are definitely sarcastic and she's heard that but instead of giving him the perfect answer, she rolled her eyes at that.
She is too much in her concern for Layla to think about giving a behooving answer.
"You should really go and check out. Or ask Uncle Ahmad for help? They should send their men to search for her all around. Maybe she is kept somewhere or hit by a car..." She stood from the bed at the mere imagination of Layla being hurt somewhere all alone. No, Layla is strong, she cannot be hurt. But she is only human!
Zayd frowned too, she cannot be hurt or can she? She's Layla Abd Al-Turaij after all, she cannot be hurt. "Are you serious right now?"
"I am!" She whisper-yelled in an agitated tone, her hands raked through her shoulder length hair in sheer concern and fear for her friend. She cannot tell Lana about this, the girl won't be able to sleep and if she is sleeping, she will wake up and decide to go search for Layla herself.
"We need to find her! She never switches off her phone, that's never happened before. She can ignore calls or reject them but never switch it off. Something isn't right, I'm feeling it right now. Please go and search for her, Zayd. Forget about the difference between you two for now and look for your wife." Her voice shook, her throat closed as she tamed down the furious tears rushing down her cheeks.
She hopes to God Layla isn't caught by the people she is running away from. She didn't tell her the story but she's heard her talking to herself one day in the bathroom asking when the person is going to find out where she is and what he'd do to her. Maybe the person is a serial killer, you just never knows with people nowadays. Why would someone keep chasing her from country to country? It doesn't make sense at all but apparently, not everything is made to make sense to everyone.
But now, they need Zayd more than ever. He can fight all the men around her if there are any. "Please go and find Layla for me. Or I will go out there and endanger myself, fault on you."
Zayd sighed, he was going to go anyway. She is his responsibility now even though he can shun it all that she didn't ask for permission before leaving. That is what is expected of every Muslim married woman, to ask her husband before she steps out of the house or Angels will keep cursing her until she comes back. He can easily back behind that as excuse but he wasn't brought up like that. He's been groomed to respect women, care for them and protect them with his last breath if need be.
Both by his parents and the military.
He left the bed immediately and lurched to his closet to wrestle through a random army green polo shirt and left the house in his khaki shorts. Straddling his Dodge Tomahawk V10 motorbike, he accelerated down the driveway while placing his AirPods to his ears. If he doesn't find her in the next hour, he will ask his friends for his help and if by morning she isn't found, his father will have to know about this and then his mother will be worried for no reason. She likes Layla a bit too much that it doesn't sit well with him at all.
The weather is getting a bit messier now, thunder roaring in warning that no one should be outside. It's eleven in the evening, only a few cars present and himself. Maybe he should also go back home to avoid catching cold that'll definitely come along with fever. He's always loathed flu, it makes him want to go crazy and that is where his weakness has always been.
There was nothing in the world that Zayd would love more than the sight of Layla rain-soaked and bedraggled.
He had to restrain himself from rubbing his hands together in villainous glee. He would love to watch her curing her own flu with red runny nose, tissue papers all around her and medicines that'll definitely knock her out. Oh, what a sight. There is no way he wouldn't take another picture at the image he's already portrayed in his head. She should be lucky he is not ready to be disowned by his parents, he would've gone back home and rest.
Albeit messy, there is no doubt the weather will be amazing for a long night sleep. It's chilly, the kind of weather that never seize to make him late for training or parade.
Meandering around the whole street where their estate is located, there is no glimpse of Layla. He turned on the lights of his motorbike to the max, lean down to drive into town when something caught his attention by the end of the sidewalk along his right. Furrowed brows and narrowed eyes pierced through the darkness, searching for what got the hairs at his nape to stand at attention. There is nothing he is afraid of, not even a hyena at this moment so the reason why his hairs stood isn't fear but instinct.
There was no sound or any movement to indicate that someone is there but he is sure he felt something and human being is right there. Turning off his bike, he placed his helmet atop the bike and traipsed to the little bush there. A whimper that sounds awfully familiar got discharged deep inside where a garage door stood. He remembered the place damn well because he's played there with his friends after coming back from school. It's now an empty lot, no one visits the place since the roads got reinvented by his grandfather.
Right outside the chirped grey garage, a lady sat with her arms cradled to her chest and her legs spread out as if in pain. There is no doubt who that person is so he quickened his pace and got to her in few ground eating strides. His eyes narrowed again to make sure the red hair he is seeing and ivory skin belongs to Layla. Her eyes showed nothing close to fear, not so surprising since the girl fears nothing in her life. Not even death.
Deafened by the sound of thunder mingled with the roar of the pulse in her ears, she waited, shivering, for whatever would happen. She's seen the motorbike parked at the sidewalk, she couldn't even call out for help since her throat is parched. No water had passed through her mouth for two days straight. She is dehydrated with no atom of energy in her system, her limbs are dead too. When it seemed that no immediate disaster had befallen her, she straightened and swiped at her wet face with the sleeve of her good arm since they managed to leave her with a broken arm and leg.
The tall large man that is slowly traipsing towards her looks familiar and ridiculously like Zayd. Her brows shoot up in surprise. No! This cannot be what she is thinking. Zayd out in this weather looking for her or is he just being a good samaritan and the soldier he is trying to save a stray lady? That should definitely be it because what the fuck? She cannot even imagine it, she shouldn't.
Zayd out of his amazing cabin that's probably heating with fire to heat it up for his nice night sleep, to look for his bully? What a joke!
He reached her in few strides and squat down to squint his eyes at her then a slow wicked smile graced his lips. His eyes are already laughing at her situation but she didn't give him the satisfaction of seeing how desperate she is to be in the comfort of any shelter. She's managed to crawl out of the empty lot knowing if she stays there, there is no chance of anyone seeing her. She would've gone back inside till the rain subsides had it started dropping. But maybe he is going to help her now?
"You look great." He commented, both his knees just few inches away from her face.
She managed to raise an egoistic brow at him, her lips set thin and straight. "Thanks. What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I was forced to come look for you. I wanted to go back and lie that you are safe in your apartment but I cannot do that anymore. I mean, you are here." His smile is so cool and satanic. She never thought she would see this kind of sickened wickedness in Zayd but voilà, another surprise. She is rubbing off on him.
"You can easily go back and lie, you are good at it anyway. I wo—" She broke off and flinched at a bone-rattling peal of thunder.
"Keep that sassiness aside and let's go if you don't want us both to get sick. Or should I say, if you don't want to be sick." He stood up and started marching back to his motorbike expecting to see her following him or at least attempting to stand up but none. She sat there looking at him in dismay.
Would she have stayed there if she were able to walk? Sodden idiot!
"You're not coming?" He called out from the bike he's already straddled, helmet in both hands as he tried adjusting it.
Biting back a sarcastic sassy reply, she traced her tongue all around her teeth then clenched them. "My leg is broken." She called back, her voice lighter than his since she wants to act like she doesn't need his help when she damned well do.
Surprised at that, he slowly lowered the helmet and trudged back to where she is with more tentative steps as if waiting for her to strike him. There's never been a sign of weakness from Layla except that one time in his sister's room, Layla never permitted any room for such but now with her own mouth? He is going to do her a favor which he will make sure she never forgets in many years to come. She has no legs so there is no way she is going to act bratty now, she is in his mercy. Either she behaves or she'd be left out here for wild animals.
He scrutinized her from head to toe and concluded that her leg is most definitely broken or dislocated. She is now looking at her arm, the one that also looks out of place. She isn't wincing nor grimacing at the pain and it looks really painful. Then how much more painful was her menstrual cramps to get her crying and rolling on the floor? His stomach immediately recoiled at the thought, the pain must've been excruciating and unbearable.
He lowered one of his hands underneath her knees and one across her back to carry her up. He didn't break a sweat when he rose to his full height, bunching her further upwards to his chest where she hit her forehead with his shoulder. She bit her lip to stop herself from grimacing and shouting at him for picking her up without telling her what he'd intended to do. Because she doesn't have one leg and an arm huh? He should do all he wants now because the minute she recovers, there will be hell to pay.
But what she doesn't understand is the unbearable sweet ache that began inside her, intensifying until it seemed as if something might fracture.
What the fuck is going on? Maybe the pills still haven't released her? That should be it because there is no way on earth she is supposed to feel such nonsense just by being in Zayd's arms.
Lightning bolts pierced the firmament, a trio of brilliant jagged streaks accompanied by a series of cracks that sounded like shattering glass. Or maybe it's not her heart after all, the thunder isn't making things easy for them too. Yes, the weather is the cause of everything she is feeling now. She's been cold for days, being in his arms now brought this aching feeling that keep heightening with need for more warmth.
Definitely not Zayd!