C H A P T E R
36
- S e b a s t i a n -
"Hamsa!"
My bark resonates, mixing with Yahiya's and Zayn's. I guess in this, our desperation to stop Hamsa from darting into imminent danger, we're unified.
"Hamsa! No!" Without thinking, I charge after her. Zayn too has the same reflex and he's by my side in a second.
But she is too fast and has already dashed into the crumpling building. Zayn and I dive into the hurricane of smoke and dirt, coughing and puffing, but we keep going. The smoke stings my eyes and I get momentarily blinded, which is all it takes for me to trip over a rock, landing on my face.
I grunt as my chest hits the ground with full force, knocking me out of breath, but quickly I struggle to my feet, and push myself forward. Zayn plunges into the hallway and I'm a few steps away when the air before me vibrates and I see a rain of rocks collapse at the entrance, with a loud groan. A wall between me and Hamsa.
No, no, no!
I throw myself at the wall of rocks where the opening to the hallway was seconds ago, beating my fists at it. "No!" I scream. "Hamsa!"
I shake my head with a growl.
Hamsa cannot be trapped inside with me out here, powerless, useless. I have to do something, anything.
But I cannot think. My thoughts crash explosively against my skull, in time with the rhythm of my heart.
Near my feet, Lamees sobs, hands clasped over her mouth and eyes shimmering with terror.
Beside her Yahiya kicks and thrashes at the barrier, trying to move the rocks. His blows are random, despairing and not even one of the rocks budges but he doesn't stop. Doesn't quit. "Hamsa! Zayn! Anas!" He barks.
Lana closes a hand around Lamees' arm and pulls her to her shaking feet.
"They won't hear you," Lana says steadily.
It's obvious she's trying to stay calm, be the level-headed one in this situation but her trembling lips are hard to miss.
The horrid guilt gnaws at my insides as a thought dawns on me. This is my father's doing, this is the demonstration of power he was talking about. He's the only person capable of swinging something like this.
A sob gurgles in Lamees' throat. "What if they're dea-"
"Don't you even dare say they're dead!" I explode at her. "They are alive! They can't be dead"
Hurt flashes across Lamees' stunned face and immediately I'm attacked by a wave of remorse. She falls into Lana's chest, wailing.
"Calm down Sebastian," Lana says, her tone not chastening, just concerned.
My words spit past gritted teeth. "I. Can't"
Get yourself together, Sebastian. I'm not the only one suffering right now.
I slam my fist against the wall and grit my teeth when it hits a jagged rock. "I'm getting her out of there!"
Yahiya goes limp, head pressed against a rock. His breath is laboured and his hands trembling. Suddenly he lets out a guttural roar, turning on me so fast I recoil.
"You are the reason she is there in the first place!" He erupts.
If I thought I've seen Yahiya's angry face before, I was wrong.
His face is exploding with shades of red, hands clenched at his sides and his eyes are so wide I imagine them falling out of their sockets. "You and your people did this!"
What he's speaking is only half the truth.
"Me? You're the one who's doing a lousy job at protecting his sister!" I throw at him.
Quicker than it takes me to draw a breath, he lungs at me, his hand grabbing my collar, forcing my chin up.
Lana and Lamees squeal in fear, but that doesn't faze him. His lips are pulled back, leaving his teeth bare.
"Let me go," I spit past a clenched jaw. I try to keep my voice as level as possible.
Yahiya draws my face a bare centimetre from his, so I could feel his threatening words as well as hear them. "I've tolerated you for long English worm, but if anything happens to my sister, I swear to God, I'll make every last one of you pay."
"I said... let go of me," I say, shoving him back by the shoulders.
He falls back, scrambling for balance and then he smashes his fist into the side of my face.
Pain hisses inside my skull but it only takes my knee a moment to find his gut. Yahiya doubles over, snarling. It sets him back just a moment, and then he crashes his head into my face.
I hear Lana and Lamees scream at us to stop, and the kids' cries grow louder, but none of us is thinking straight as we through blow after blow.
A voice in the back of my head shouts at me to stop fighting Yahiya and figure a way to save Hamsa, but I cannot help myself. In this moment all the agitation and anger boiled up inside me from every accusation or glare he ever threw my way, is channelled to my fist.
We both freeze mid swing when a deafening crash sounds from within the building. The sound drags us back to reality long enough for Lamees to dart between us, holding her hands out to bring us apart.
"Are you out of your minds?" She yells, looking from me to him. "Throwing around blame and punches won't get any of them out of there! You're just wasting time they don't have."
My chest heaves as I fight to catch my breath. I wipe my mouth on the back of my hand and spit out on the ground. The blood that comes out is an alarming contrast to the white snow.
Only now do I notice the crowd forming at the school entrance. Men and women - who probably gathered to investigate the source of the explosions -, alarmed looks on their faces.
Yahiya glowers at me, but when Lana gives him a pointed look, he gazes away.
"We'll only rescue them if we work together," Lana says urgently. "We have to move this wall before another crash."
"It doesn't move!" Yahiya says, kicking a rock at the bottom to demonstrate.
"I'm not giving up," I say.
"You cannot do anything, you're just useless."
I swallow, trying to pacify the flame of anger working its way up. Hamsa needs me now.
"Maybe not me. But we can." I gesture at the four of us standing before the entrance and then I nod my head in the direction of the town people flooding the playground. "And them. It'll be like that day we cleared the hallway to the library."
"I guess that would work," Lana says with a determined nod.
I shed my jacket, tossing it aside. "Then let's get started."
Just then I catch myself doing something I've never done in my life.
Something I never thought I would in a million years. Praying.
Pleading a God above, that he keeps Hamsa safe. That she hangs on until I get to her. And I don't even think it's crazy.
*
Despite the ice cold air, a thin film of sweat coats my skin, clinging to my shirt.
Yahiya digs the shovel deeper and I pull the rock out of its mountain. We both smile in satisfaction when a few of the ones supported by that rock tumble to the ground.
"It's working, I can see inside," Yahiya exclaims, then he starts coughing from the smoke snaking out of the newly made breach. His hair is sticking out every which way from how many times he has raked his fingers through it.
"It's big enough, I can slip through," I say, blotting the sweat on my forehead with the sleeve of my shirt.
Yahiya's reluctant for a moment, but then he nods. "Okay go ahead. We'll keep working here to open the entrance completely."
Without another word, I work my way between the rock and into the hallway. It's dark if not for the rays of light slithering through the opening. I strain my eyes to look around, ignoring the sting of smoke while I scanned the hall.
"Hamsa. Hamsa! Talk to me." I recognize Zayn's voice deep inside the building. He sounds alarmed; borderline panicked.
I surge towards Zayn's sound, but it's very dark, there are rocks everywhere, and I don't know where I'm going. I'm also getting dizzy from inhaling all this smoke.
Finally the wall behind me crumbles - the sound like music to my ears - and the hall is wrapped in bright light. Only then do I notice Zayn lying on the floor to my right, where the door to Hamsa's classroom used to be.
He is covered in dirt, eyes closed and blood gashing from an injury on his head. I rush to his side, checking for pulse, and his eyes fly open. They're glassy and bloodshot, and he seems out of it but still I shake his shoulders and ask, "Where's Hamsa?" Then I remember Anas was in here too. "And Anas."
On the mention of Hamsa's name, Zayn jerks away from my touch and it's like I slapped him. He looks away, towards the wall of rocks he's leaning on.
"She's just beyond this wall, but she's not responding," he manages to croak. "Anas is with her too."
Yahiya arrives breathlessly at my side, coughing from the increasingly smoky air.
"Zayn, you're hurt!" Yahiya says, and then to the man who followed him inside he adds, "Help me get him out of here."
Both of them struggle to get Zayn on his feet, but then, each supporting him on a shoulder, they walk him out.
I rush out to get a shovel and get back to the wall behind which Hamsa lies.
"Hamsa!" I call. But just as Zayn said, she doesn't reply.
I don't know where exactly she is, and I'm frightened that the rocks I hit will end up on top of her, but I have no other choice. For the second time this morning, I pray, that I hit the right spot.
I move to the far end from where I found Zayn, and with all my might, I lift the shovel and bring it down on the rocks. They fall and I don't wait for them to stop raining before diving into the other side shouting Hamsa's name.
When my eyes land on her - Anas too close by -, the smile on my face could have lit coal mines. In a second I'm by her side.
She's safe. My Hamsa is safe.
I hover above her, holding out my hands in front of me, unsure where to touch. Or if am allowed to touch at all.
Then I see the blood, her blood, and the metal jabbed through her leg and my heart skips a beat.
She's dangerously injured and lost a lot of blood. Too much blood.
"Green, don't die on me! I can't lose you too!" I shout, hauling her into my arms.
As I watch her thigh peel out of the metal rod, I'm grateful that she's unconscious and missed this horrid episode of pain.
Suddenly Yahiya appears in front of me, and yanks her out of my hands. "Don't touch her," he snaps.
He uses the shawl I gave her to cover her hair - which I hadn't noticed until now - and then scowls at me.
So much for our newly found camaraderie.
Ignoring his outburst, I crouch to lift up Anas, who is thankfully just asleep.
"She needs medical attention," I say, following Yahiya out into the playground, away from the ruins and smoke. "Her injury is serious."
"I know, I'll tend to her." He doesn't even bother to stop or look at me over his shoulder.
"Real medical attention, as in a hospital," I press on.
Now he stops and turns to look at me. Down at me. "In case you haven't notice, we don't have that privilege."
I hands Anas to Lamees, who cradles him in her arms like a baby and glances down at him, relief washing across her face.
"I know you don't have hospitals here, we can take her to the residential province."
Yahiya scoffs. "You really are out of your mind. Crossing the border is against protocol. Even if we are willing to, it's impossible."
"I'll take care of it," I say.
"What can you do?" Yahiya asks, cocking a brow with disdain.
"Just put Hamsa down, prop her head on something and apply pressure on her injury. Give me a minute to figure things out."
Not wasting any time, I dig into my front pocket and retrieve the small mobile phone Theo gave me. To use in case of emergencies, he had said, and I didn't believed I'd ever use it.
Moving away from the crowd, I call the only number saved in the contact, and Theo picks up on the first ring.
"Yes Mr. Walsh," he greets me, all business. "Where are you? There are explosions in the Factories Province. It's extremely dangerous to be outside."
I smile faintly. If only he knew what I've been doing in the past hour.
"I need your help," I say quickly cutting to the chase. "And I know about the explosions, I'm there right now."
"What is it, Sir?"
"A friend of mine was injured in the explosion, and I need a ride to the hospital."
There's a pause and some shuffling, and then Theo is back, his voice dropped to a whisper. "Sir, your father has increase security and surveillance, and if a car leaves the grounds of the mansion without authorisation, he'll be notifies immediately."
I take a deep breath. "I'll deal with him later."
"Sir, I hate to be the one reminding you this, but your father is not known for his forgiving nature. You know what he'll do if he finds out about your... Muslim friends."
I cast a glance at Hamsa, limp on the floor, blood spilling freely from the gash despite all effort to stop it.
Squeezing my eyes I say, "I don't care what he'll do, I have to save her."
Theo's sigh is a foreign sound to my ear, and I realize that he's at stake here too, but yet he says, "Where are you exactly?"
"At the building that just exploded, I'm sure you know where that is."
"I'll be there in ten." He hangs up.
I exhale into the deadline and then shove the mobile phone back into my pocket.
The next ten minutes feel like ten hours. Yahiya ignores me, and with the help of Lana and Lamees, try to stop Hamsa's bleeding. They're just making things worse and watching Hamsa squirm in pain becomes too much so I storm out to the street, where I almost get run by Theo's car.
"You made it!" I exclaim, as Theo comes out of the car. I almost want to hug him.
The crowd around and inside the school, stare at Theo and the car. Some gawk in awe, other sneer and glare with hatred, and I realize this is going to come back to bite me in the arse.
Yahiya rises to his feet, and his expression incredulously. "What are you doing, Sebastian?"
"I'm breaking protocol," I state matter-of-factly. "We're taking Hamsa to a hospital, in the Residential province."
"I told you-"
"I heard you the first time, but I'm telling you Hamsa is going to... die if she doesn't get treated properly, as soon as possible!"
I hold his stare, will him to just let go of his stubbornness and let me help this once, for Hamsa's sake.
Yahiya looks away from me, towards Hamsa... and then the remarkable happens; his face softens.
"Okay, if you're sure you can get us through."
"Yes, yes I'm sure," I say, sighing in relief.
"Are you actually going to listen to him?" Zayn exclaims. If that's even possible I think his hatred towards me increased after his entrapment.
But luckily Yahiya seems to have crossed that bridge, at least for now. "Only because he has a point. We don't stand a chance at saving Hamsa without help."
Yahiya carries Hamsa to the car, slips into the back with her head supported on his legs. I get into the driver's seat and Theo dives in beside me, and I dash down the empty streets, thanking the lord for the snow that kept people inside their homes.
Hamsa's condition is getting worse by the second, and I want to rapture my eardrums just so I wouldn't hear her whimper in pain.
As I near the borders, the streetlamps blur and dance, and everything feels strangely unreal. My hands are shaking so hard I cannot handle the steering wheel. I avoid looking in the rear view mirror, but every minute, my eyes steal a glance at Hamsa and I regret it.
Nobody speaks, I doubt anybody is even breathing, but as the guard at the border waves at me to stop the car, I have to plaster on my Sebastian Walsh face.
I draw down the glass on my side as we approach the guard and instruct Yahiya to drop his head down so he won't be seen. Driving a shaded car was good thinking on Theo's part.
"Step out of the vehicle," the guard commands, a scowl no his face.
"Is there a problem guard?" I snap when the guard leans towards my window.
I purse my lips in a frustrated line.
The guard looks taken back, and then alarmed especially when he realizes who I am. In haste, he takes a step back from the vehicle. Good start.
"Uhh-" he stutters, rubbing his hand over his bold head. "Forgive me Mr. Walsh, but we have been ordered by Luteinise Adams to search every vehicle crossing the border."
I almost flinch at the mention of my name, so loud and clear that there's no way Yahiya didn't catch it.
I pretend to check my watch, and then click my tongue. "I don't see how that has to do anything with me." My tone is disdainful, ugly and even I hate it.
"I'm afraid sir, that the orders include everyone. You know especially with the events of today and the terr-"
"Are you implying that I have something to do with the terrorists?" I tilt a daring brow.
"Of course not, Sir! My apologies, I just have my orders."
I feel sorry for this man, that I'm making him sweat over doing his job. It's not his fault, it's my father's. All of this is.
"And I told you your orders don't include me. If my father learns that you stopped my car to search it, in spite of my word that there isn't anything in here. He would have you whipped till your skin bled through your uniform and you screamed until your throat was parched and soar." I rest both hands on the steering wheel and roll my shoulders, sighing in fake annoyance. "So I repeat for the last time, is there a problem guard?"
The guard's eyes are wide with terror, hands trembling. "No sir," he croaks.
"I thought so," I say, rolling up my glass and shoving the gas pedal as the guard motions for the one manning the barrier to open it up for us.
I relax back on into my seat and risk a look in the rear-view mirror. My eyes lock with Yahiya's that are now hostile and knowing.
"Sebastian Walsh," Yahiya says, his voice is level but the way he says my name - like it's some sort of dangerous, contagious disease - annoys me. "That explains a lot. Just not what you want from my sister."
I clench my hands on the wheel so hard until all the blood is drained from them. I'm sorry I broke my promise Hamsa, I think. I had no other choice.
"I want to keep her safe."
"I would have laughed if I had the energy," he says, looking out the window.
Minutes later we arrive at the hospital, I barely comprehend opening my door, storming into the hospital and rushing back with a stretcher on which we rush Hamsa inside.
My bare arms welcome the warm hospital air, but the noise does little to help the headache pounding my head.
We look around for a doctor or a nurse, but no one gives us a second glance. Yahiya stands beside Hamsa's stretcher, alarmed and so out of place.
Finally I resort to using my name, and just like magic, once I show the lady at the reception my ID, every doctor on duty is sent to Hamsa's side.
They shout things like 'low blood pressure', 'extreme loss of blood', 'risk of contamination', 'immediate operation' and stroll her into an empty room.
At the door, Yahiya pauses to glance over his shoulder, looking for me - which takes me by surprise. 'Aren't you coming?' his face asks.
I gesture for him to go ahead without me, and after a moment of hesitation he follows behind the swarm of doctors.
"You're not staying, sir?" Theo asks me, as I exit the hospital's automatic door.
I run my fingers through my hair, pulling it just slightly at the end. "No I'm not. But you are." I wave my hand at a taxi, but it doesn't stop. "You should wait until Hamsa is out of operation and make sure she's okay. Also take care of all expenses and notes. Stay with them tonight and drive her home when she is released."
Another taxi passes by without noticing me. Maybe I did break down into a million tiny pieces after all.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay and make sure she's recovered yourself, Sir?"
I smile, the action so self-pitying "I already got her into enough trouble as it is. I have to get as far away from her as possible."
Theo snaps his fingers in the air, and a taxi breaks in front of us. "Then I'll take care of everything."
*
Hamsa will be fine and that is all that matters. That is all that should matter.
I keep repeating this as I stroll into the mansion, and as I drag my feet up the stairs.
Halfway up, I hear Alex's exclaim. "Bash! You look awful mate."
He lungs at me with his full weight and I dodge him, sending him tumbling down the stairs.
"OW! OW! OW!" he yelps, landing on his butt.
I snicker, suddenly feeling better. "Now we both look awful."
"Why are you so evil, cousin?"
"Why are you so annoyingly cheerful?"
He climbs to his feet, hurling himself in my direction to give me one of his bear hugs that I secretly fancy so much. "Ew, why do you smell like hospitals?"
"Because I went to a hospital." I state the obvious.
"What? When? What for?"
"Just now, because a friend of mine was injured," I say, climbing the rest of the way up.
"Where you in a fight Bash?" He follows close behind.
"No, I was in an explosion."
"What?" he shouts, jumping in front of me to block my way.
I press two fingers to my temple, all of today's event catching up to me.
"I promise, I'll tell you everything once I've had a nap," I say, my shoulders slumping.
Alex narrows his eyes at me, "You always promise me to tell me what's going on and never do."
"No this time I really promise. I actually need someone to talk to..."
Alex's expression grows suspicious, "Is this about that girl? Hamsa?"
I groan, planting my palm on his face and shoving him away. "Later, Alex!"
"Okay, okay. I'll go away. I'll disappear." He makes a motion with hands, sits on the stairs' ledge and slides, letting out a howl. "You're gonna regret it!"
I roll my eyes, but cannot help the grin playing at my lips which disappears as soon as I push the door to my room open. Because standing at my glass window, hands shoved in pockets and back to me, stands my father.
The first thought I have is, he knows about Hamsa and he's here to tell me he got her sent to one of his dungeons. The second, is that he's here to brag about his 'accomplishment' today. My third thought is, I didn't even think he knew where my room was.
He's only a day back from London and already I wish he leaves again.
Without voicing my entrance, my father speaks up, "I hope you had a fine day at the factories province today."
My breath hitches, but I pretend to be unfazed. He wants me to know that he knows, he wants to see me squirm. And I'd be damned if I gave him the satisfaction.
I plop lazily onto the bed, stretching my arms. "It was quit... interesting actually."
"Is that so?" father asks, turning to face me.
I cock my head in his direction, and scowl. "I watched one of your explosions up close."
He lifts both eyebrows in amusement and then snorts. "My explosions. You've really been spending a lot of time with them, haven't you?"
Is he going to try and deny this like he did last time? Does he think me that gullible? I admit I once was; I actually believed that all the Muslims were evil sick-minded barbarians, but now I know better.
I push onto my elbows. "Can we get this over with father? I was going to sleep."
He smile and pushes his glasses up his nose bridge. Father's smile always reminded me of clown smiles, so genuine-looking, yet so fake and forced.
"Yes, yes, of course. I came to tell you that the arrangements for that trip back to London we talked about are finally done."
I jolt to my feet. "What? I thought you cancelled those plans!"
Actually I had hoped he forgot about them.
He just walks away, not giving me a second glance. In the doorway he pauses to add, "Just a little alteration was made, Sebastian, the trip is no longer temporarily. You're going away for good and never coming back to Aurora."
And the door clicks shut.