My heart is in my throat as I try to make my way back into the room through the dark. I swallow as I try to moisten the back of my dry throat, the sudden anticipation causing me to feel on edge. The floorboard creeks as I tip toe across the narrow hallway, my pale fingertips gliding across the cold wall. Another footstep comes from inside the room which I now stand outside of, causing me to suck in a sharp breath.
I could have sworn that no-one was in here with us. I made sure that we were alone. Unless I missed their presence?
I'm suddenly brought out of my thoughts when the door swings open with a cry and I widen my eyes, my heart missing a beat. I'm stood still as the figure stares down at me, his dark eyes holding confusion.
"Hudayfah," I gasp, my hand hitting my chest as I blow out a breath of relief before letting out a soft chuckle, shaking my head at myself.
He clears his throats and that's when I realise he's holding the duvets from the bedroom. He stands awkwardly and I'm not sure if he wants to laugh at me or not but. I can make out The ends of his lips twitching slightly and I grin however once it falters and leaves his face I step back.
He walks past me, the duvets gliding across my arm as he does so. I sigh, clearly tired of feeling this way and run a hand down my face. I'm about to turn away and get back to my search until his voice stops me. "It's cold."
The simple declarative sentence states the obvious. I understand that he's telling me to join them at the fire and warm up but I shake the thought away, not wanting to stay in the same room as him.
Once he's walked away with a soft sigh, I turn back around to look at the door I was stood at. I make a move towards it as I bring out my phone but then click my tongue when the screen is still hard to see past. In the end I decide to walk back into the front room, sitting besides a sleeping Nafisah who has been wrapped up in a duvet. The other one has been left aside, probably for me but I don't take it.
After what feels like hours of drifting in and out of sleep I get up, noticing the day lightening slowly. Making wudu quickly in the sink I stand to pray, hoping it is the correct direction of the Qiblah. Once I'm done I sit crossed legged, raising my hands as I whisper silent prayers, hoping that we'd be able to get back home to safety.
"You didn't wake me," I jump at the sound of a deep voice, my head snapping to look at Hudayfah who now hovers over Nafisah, tucking in the covers. He then looks out the dark window, stretching as he does so before looking back at me.
"I was about to," I reply, standing from the floor and clearing my throat. He runs a hand through his hair, wiping his hand across his sweater as it still looks a little wet. "Um, the water is uh, cold."
At this, he laughs softly, shaking his head before walking past me. I furrow my brows in confusion and return next to Nafisah at the same time as I hear water spluttering out of the tap. He prays relatively quickly and before I know it, he has returned to his seat. We sit in silence, only the sound of the fire and Nafisah's soft snoring surrounding the room.
What feels like hours have passed by and I am now sat by the dark windows, watching the night turning into day and the room finally growing brighter. Hudayfah knocked out a while ago albeit jumping in and out of sleep, restless due to the fact that we are not safe. When Nafisah stirs back to wakefulness, I turn to her and hold her hand to lead her to relieve herself however that isn't possible when there isn't a toilet in this little cabin. I sigh as I drag her outside, making sure to pull on her coat and hiding her away between bushes as she empties out her bladder.
The wind gushes past me and causes me to shiver, my clothes still not dried properly. My teeth chattter against one another and I hold my body tighter together in hopes to get warm although it doesn't help. The trees sway softly against one another and the river gushes back and forth. I look around, my anxiety building up when I hear movement within the trees but I don't spot anyone. As soon as Nafisah is done I spin around in a millisecond after having covered her before racing back inside.
"Let's go." I jump at the sound of Hudayfah's sudden voice, my grip on Nafisah's shoulder tightening and making her wince. He holds a random wooden batton he must have found in his hand and tucks the gun into his pocket albeit it threatens to fall out.
I shake my head in disagreement. "No, Hudayfah." I say sternly, my voice shaking slightly. "No. Do you know how dangerous it is out there? We can't go back there, especially with-"
"Do you want us to stay here forever then, Al?" He retorts, running a hand down his face. "We can't do that, we need to get out of here. It's no safer in someone else's property, never mind out there! They might come back here and then what, Alvina?"
I huff, gritting my teeth. He's right. We can't just stay here and starve to death. No-body knows our whereabouts and can't exactly come and rescue us which means that we definitely have to find our own way back home.
We stand silent for a while, waiting for the other to say something. In the end I shake my head again, rolling my shoulders back as I try to release the tension within my body.
"We can't take Nafisah with us nor can we leave her." I say and quickly finish off before he can speak again. "You can't go out there on your own, Hudayfah. I'm not risking both your lives-"
"You both stay." Hudayfah manages to cut me off and I feel like knocking some sense into the dude. "I'll go find some help."
"Are you being serious?!" I scoff, laughing at him. "Help?! Help where?"
This time he huffs, raising the wooden batton and letting it sit on his shoulder. He stares down at me for a few moments before kneeling down to Nafisah, running a free hand through her hair and ruffling it, causing her to squirm away. He then raises and gives me a tight smile, nodding his head as he walks towards the door.
"Hudayfah," I groan, trying my best to not talk through gritted teeth. He can't just walk away without saying anything! "Where are you going?! It's dangerous out there, you can't go alone!"
"I can," He looks back at me and sighs softly. "Make sure that this door stays locked. I won't be long-"
"But where are you going to go?!" I say exasperatedly. "There's literally nothing! How will you even find your way out never mind coming back to us!"
Fear runs through my body as he places a hand on the door handle, stepping out into the cold, dull morning. I take steps forward to grab at his arm and scream at him to stop but before I know it he has stormed away, the trees grabbing at his body and trapping him within them. My heart beats faster in my chest as I stare at the spot where Hudayfah's dissappeared into.
What if he doesn't make it back? What am I going to do? How will I even get back to him?! What if something happens to him?!
My jacket is being tugged on at the bottom and I look down at Nafisah, her lips pouted. I sigh as I bend down to reach her level, pushing back stray strands of her hair. Nafisah whimpers as she looks back at where Hudayfah was last seen, worry evident on her little features.
"Hey," I whisper softly, turning her face back to look at me. "Don't worry, it will be okay. Hood Hood has gone to get help."
"Are we going home now?" She asks, her eyes welling up with tears. The breeze causes her and I to shiver but I ignore it. "Has Hood Hood gone to get our car back?"
I swallow the lump in my throat and nod for her sake. I honestly don't know why he's gone out there and what on earth he thinks he will find or who he will find that will be willing to help us.
I bring out my phone and watch at the screen flickers with grey yet the home screen can still be seen through the lines. I sigh through gritted teeth, frustrated at our situation once again.
I can't just sit here and wait for Hudayfah to get back. How can I act so dependent on him? On the other hand I can't risk taking my sister out there again.
Hours drag by and with every passing minute my nerves threaten to break. I'm chewing on my fingernails, constantly walking back and forth as Nafisah sits drawing at the table in the bedroom. I can't concentrate properly with my anxiety and I let out a frustrated cry.
Nafisah glances up at me and I give her a quick smile, hoping she wouldn't get worried. I then exhale and calm my shaking hands before making my way into the bedroom after quickly looking out the windows for any sign of Hudayfah's return.
"What are you drawing there?" I smile down at my sister, placing my hands upon my knees as I bend down slightly to peer over her shoulder. She instantly recoils and places an arm over her picture. I furrow my brows at her defensive behaviour. "What's wrong?"
Nafisah hides the paper behind her and I raise a brow. She purses her lips and I hold out my hand; her suspicious behaviour making me want to know what she's hiding.
"Nafisah," I warn her, giving her a pointed look. "Show your big sis!"
She huffs, biting down on her lips. "I didn't draw it..." she slowly brings out her hand from behind her back and hands me the paper, the drawing facing down.
"Then who did?" I laugh at her as I flip the page over but immediately am confused with it.
The drawing shows a little stick drawing of a young girl holding both a man and woman's hand , both smiling in front of a house. They've been drawn in multicolours, the little girl with a big grin and short locks. The man who I assume is the father wears a tie whereas the mother wears an apron which reads 'mamma bear'.
I gasp, staring at the picture in disbelief. No, this isn't real. This isn't mine!
However, the date approves otherwise. In the corner reads the numbers 2/3/2008. I drew this 9 years ago.
I shake my head, dismissing the silly thought and hand the drawing back to Nafisah before clearing my throat. My eyes decide to scan the room, the little single beds and the mini desk. It all comes flooding back to me.
Dad used to bring me here sometimes...this was where we were going to go that day.
My heart is pounding as memories slowly creep back into my mind and tears surface my eyes. Nafisah watches me, confused at why I'm now acting this way. She opens her mouth to speak but is suddenly cut off from a sound ringing through the other side of the cabin.
•••
Oh my God I'm so bad at updating!!! I'm so sorry guys!
P.s I changed my @ name lol