Chapter 51 "All characters" The riot of chaos.

-FAISAL-

-12:30 pm.

Life is unpredictable, but that isn't the most awful of it. It's that the people in it can become so unnecessarily sort downcast about a particular action that does not and should not concern them, why bother weeping when the worst case scenario has not happened yet.

I kept pacing back and forth, stroking my chin with my gun as Sam sat there infront of me, tied up in a chair.

"Look where you got yourself." My voice is laced with sadistic pleasure as I growl.

But as I mentioned, life is harshly unpredictable like this.

One day everything is fine, your living your normal regular life, and the very next day, you have to kill your children for the sake of yourself.

I suggested Sam several offers, if he forgets everything I did, we can continue living our regular routine. He wasn't there, he doesn't know what Sarfaraz and I had.

But he's too egotistical, too stubborn, to the point he's leaving me no choice.

"Victor will you make him understand the true meaning of defiance." I order.

Victor with a hesitant grin, stepped forward, his fist clenched, ready to strike. Good.

Sam helplessly sat forcefully tied up with chains that bound him to sit there like a good, decent boy he is.

Sam's eyes widens with terror as he anticipated the impending blow.

Don't be scared boy, I raised you stronger than this.

With a sudden motion, Victor punched Sam's face, the sound of the impact echoing through the damp chamber as if a crack of thunder, and so the corners of my lips curled up in amusement.

Poor Sarfaraz, wasn't letting me do what I wanted.

Look what happend Sarf.

Sam's head snapped back, his hair sweaty and messy, wounded features, his eyes remorseful with pain as Victor's fist struck again..

and again,

and again.

Each blow landed with precision and brutality. "Ah that's nice" I turn around. "See Sarfaraz? I told you he's stronger than that." I smile.

"You're n..not getting a..away with it!" Sam's face twisted into a repulsive grimace as he whimpers in pain, revealing the destruction of a cage he was inflicting.

"Let me ask you one last time son." I walked closer. "If you're ready to forget, I'd be more than intrigued to welcome you back" I say, making an offer.

"Go to hell" Sam's face began to swell, as he spat out blood.

"Victor" I snap my fingers.

Victor slapped him to get his attention back, Sam's eyes puffing shut as the relentless barrage of punches continued, each one making Victor not wanting to be here anymore.

Oh Victor don't have a heart for God's sake.

Victor's hands had inflicted unspeakable agony upon him, yet Sam's resolve remain unbroken.

My voice dripped with malice as I sneered.

"Do you agree to forget everything?" I pause, my gaze lingering on Sam's battered form. "Or perhaps you'd prefer to suffer a bit longer?" I ask.

"I'd rather d..die!" Sam winced.

I grasped Sam's chin, my fingers digging deep into the bruised flesh.

"Sir!" Victor shouts.

Sam's eyes widens in a silent scream as my grip tightened, threatening to shatter his jaw.

"Sir I think that's enough!" Victor interrupts again.

But I couldn't hear him over the sound of Sam's ragged gasps and whimpering.

It's nice seeing yourself be dominat over someone, to have such power over anyone, it's how we must live.

"Sir that's enough!" Victor grunts.

I release him.

"Fucking blood relations" I mutter under my breath. "Forget about everything and we can live on as one again." I offer once again.

"Fuck you" Sam spits, as the scowl he already had on his face deepend.

"Where are your manners Sam?"

"My m..manners for you s..should've died a long time ago!" He's whimpering in pain yet he has the audacity to yell back. Once again your son impressed me Sarfaraz, like he always did.

He's an impressive child I must say, but if I let him live now he won't let me live.

And my life is far more important than his,

More children will born his way hopefully.

"Dear boy. Anger is bad luck.." I say.

"What the fuck did you just say?" His scowling turned desperate, and even though anger is all that he's showing, the hurt beneath that nasty tongue is exactly like Sarfaraz.

"Your father used to say that" I say.

"You were his b..bad luck all along! not some f..fucking anger he felt!"

"It's always anger that leads us to make such absurd and rash decisions. Obedience is healthy. Be obedient Sam and we can concour anything. You and I son, we can do anything." I say.

"Don't fucking call me that you son of a bitch!" He shouts.

I sigh.

"Don't say I didn't offer." I say, "You're fooling yourself."

"Leave me alone! You sick psychotic bastard!" He shouts again.

"I won't say that didn't hurt." I say, "Victor" I command.

Victor punched his stomach for the hundredth time. Sam coughs blood out but as stubborn as he has been all his life, he kept scowling at me, with each hit, his hatred grew for me.

I won't that easily will let him go, that's the real part of it.

All I ever wanted to do was to murder my own ruler, but he who was supposed to be my best friend, betrayed me, and so ever since then, my revenge for Sarfaraz for betraying me was simple, I raised his sons to be exactly like me, the person he didn't like.

And I will keep tormenting Sarfaraz's blood, for the pain he caused me, either its Sam or my right hand, my loyal associate.

The satisfaction is just beginning.

-FAIZA-

-1:00 am.

We took the lead, our headlights casting a stark glow over the deserted streets. After three hours, we reach Troyville.

"Sam's location changed?" Ifan asks in his walkie talkie.

"He was first traced in his mansion but that's not the case anymore, the last we found his trace was near these streets after his phone got shut down, I assume purposely." I say.

"Where is he now?" He asks.

"I suppose its Faisal's hidden warehouse. Have you never been here?" I ask.

"Faiza usually an all rounder eager psychotic owner of a money laundering company doesn't take his workers to his hideaway, specially when its supposed to be a secret. "

He's so getting on my last nerve. "Wasn't Sam close?" I ask.

"That was when we didn't know he murdered Sam's father, if he can hide that amount of information, I think a secret warehouse is a child's play." The irony Ifan has in his voice is enough for me to actually punch him in the face.

"Be steady, over." That's all I say.

"He's chattering too much, can't wait to throw him behind bars." Ali cracks his knuckles.

"Yeah.." I fidget with my fingers. My eyes locked onto the warehouse ahead, I ready my rifle. "We're here" I Inform in the walkie talkie.

Ali's gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, his eyes locking onto the car Ifan's driving, as it swung wide, taking a sharp turn. His jaw clenched harder, sucking up heavy breath. "Alright, team" Ali growls.

Our vehicles hurtled forward, headlights showcasing the warehouse's entrance. My eyes narrowed. Our cars rolled to a stop in front of the warehouse, engines purring with a faint sputter.

I reload my rifle, looking at Ali, we both nod to each other before stepping out. Every movement more deliberate and cautious.

I led the way, my eyes scanned the perimeter of the building. Ifan stepped out, walking toward me.

"Sam must be in there—if Faisal is here then it means Sam tried to attempt and got caught." Ifan tells me.

"Probably" I say.

"If Faisal dies today, just so you know, it may might be because self defence exists" He flicked a sly smack of his tongue.

"You know what?" He turned to face me.

"I always wanted to see how good you must look in Dr dentist coat." He checked me out from head to toe. "But I don't mind the cop badge either"

I simply looked at him, his gaze softens.

"Let's go neigh—ah no. Dectective." He's sly.

I looked at him with a heart full of hostility but worse devotion for him, my gaze set on him and he didn't bother to look away either. Till Ali snapped his fingers and we both collectively began looking everywhere but at each other. "Be cautious" Ali says firmly.

"Steady everybody, move" I order, I'm wearing a kevlar vest, rifle in my hand, and a pistol holstered at my hip. My gaze flicked from the rusty fire escape to the rows of grimy windows.

Ifan's eyes covering the flank of the building. All of our footsteps are light, our senses on high alert.

The team moved forward in a tight formation. Everybody hugged the building, using the shadows for cover.

As we gently approached the entrance, Ifan's peaky finger nearly touched mine, when I realise and I move aside. He's got to stay away from me, if the allegations get proven true, I may lose my badge. I sigh and we slowly moved ahead. I signaled for the team to halt, as I crept forward, my rifle leading the way. The others watched, the split second silence is oppressive, the warehouse loomed before us, my voice is barely audible as I whisper "Let's move in."

In seconds we spread all around, covering every corner, catching them in a circle.

This is it.

The day I've been looking forward to.

Every officer with a shield covering half their body, and their other hand stretched staight, with pistols gripped.

We see a build on stage where Sam is tied up in a chair, Looking at Sam, Ifan rashly aimed his gun at Faisal in furiousness.

Victor is standing behind Sam and Faisal is standing infront of him with two of their men surrounding them. They immediately took out their weapons and aimed at us, where as our people had already surrounded them, all their pistols aimed at Faisal.

"Put your hands where I can see them!" My eyes blazed with fury as we burst into the their warehouse, gun drawn.

"Faisal, You are under arrest for Money laundering, in violation of Troyville's financial transaction, Manufacturing and producing prohibited substances in violation of section 1-101, and Unlawful importation and transportation of prohibited substances. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Turn around and place your hands behind your back!" I said loud and clear in the little speaker I had on me.

"Don't waste your time kid, we don't get arrested" Faisal spun around calmly, facing us.

"Actually we do. We have self confession of one of your man, claiming what you do." I say.

"I'm not surprised knowing who outed me. It had to come that way" He looked at Ifan.

"Put your hands up!" I raise my voice.

"Ifan g..go away!" Sam whimpers.

"Victor" Faisal orders, and his men rushingly came, making an even bigger circle in which they surrounded us.

"Drop your weapons" Faisal says.

"If we move he's going to kill Sam" I whisper to Ifan.

"Tell the team to attack. He's not going to kill Sam that easily." Ifan's penting, but he's confident?

He's taking that much of a risk? Then it must mean true, besides he has known them better than any one of us,

and I trust him.

I nod. "Team!"

The warehouse erupted into chaos as Faisal's people and our attack team

clashed. Guns blazed, the sound of gunfire echoed. My radio crackled with urgent voices, calling for backup and medical assistance.

I took cover behind a transport cart, my pistol at ready. I pop out to take aim, my gun cracking, taking down two of his men. Faisal secretively got away.

I see Ifan doesn't need much weapon, he ran toward them as if he fear nothing and took down his former man with a swift kick to the stomach, sending the man crashing to the ground.

Ali signaled our team, and they launched a coordinated counterattack, laying down a hail of suppressive fire to pin down the perpetrators.

As Ali fought, he kept an eye on me providing cover fire when needed. I meanwhile, kept an eye on Ifan.

Don't let yourself get hurt neighbor.

"Faiza look out!" Ali yells to which I look behind me, a man lunged at me with a broken bottle, I rushingly sidestepped the attack and countered with a swift elbow strike, shattering the bottle and sending him crashing to the ground.

Victor took three of our men with his trusty baton. He swung the baton with precision, taking down our team one by one.

The rest of the team stood panting, their chests heaving with exhaustion.

"Son of a bitch!" I slammed my pistol. "Ali cover for me!"

"Wait!" He grasped my arm. "You're going to take Victor?"

"It's only fair I kill that bastard" My jaw clenched. Ali's eyes roved between mine. "Take that bastard down." He gave me a sly but sad, and unfortunate smile. "Cover for me." I say.

"Always." Ali rushingly reloaded his gun, and shot the man near Victor. "Move now!"

I stealthily went forward.

Victor is standing, baton in his hand, as if he wants to put an end to all of it.

Don't worry farukh I'll put an end to you. I shot a man who was covering for Victor and I slouched down.

A cruel grin spreads across his face. "Look who do we got here, Adam's baby sister all grown up." Victor sneers, cracking his knuckles.

I didn't flinch, instead I broke my cover snd stood still. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment." My gun trained on his chest.

"Here I am, infront you, shoot your shot." He laughed, a cold, mirthless sound.

"I'm tried of your pathetic self absorbed attitude Victor" I say.

"I know what you're here for, it's not duty is it? Its personal.."

"Why did you throw away Adam's letter?!" I yell.

"Because I was ordered to!" He yells back.

"He was your friend!"

"And I feel bad enough, you don't have to rub it in me face!"

"Shut up!" I yell, charging at him. He dodged my clumsy blow, and pushed me aside, I stumble on my feet and I didn't think, not even for a split second as my gun flashed in the dim light.

Victor howled in pain as the bullet grazed his shoulder, but he kept coming.

He won't give up, and neither will I.

We clashed in a flurry of punches and kicks, I landed a solid kick to his stomach, but Victor retaliated with a vicious uppercut that sent me crashing to the ground.

As Victor raised his foot to deliver the killing blow, but I rolled out of the way just in time. I scrambled on my feet, my gun still clutched in my hand, and fired point-blank at Victor's chest.

I shot a tin near him, making him crumble, covering his head.

"This is for Adam!" I shout my pain out.

I stood over him, my chest heaving, gun still smoking.

I'm going to kill him.

-AYAT-

-An hours earlier.

I ring Zaid's house bell aggressively. "Come on, come on" I mutter relentlessly.

The door opened. "Ayat?" Zaid is surprised.

"Something extremely bad is happening" I walk inside, bumping him aside.

"Bad as in your oven broke again or?"

"No Zaid it's serious" I throw my purse down on his table.

"I ain't even want to know such bad" He growls. "Isn't everythin bad enough?"

"Zaid I'm not joking, it's seriously not funny" the tention I had on my face made him squint his face. "What's going on?"

"I'm assuming you already know you're father is a thug—"

"What..? How do you—when did you—why do you know that?"

"Trust me I know I wasn't suppose know when I figured everyone kept lying to my face, including you" I'm penting.

"You're supposed to not know, stay away, go home Ay. This shit ain't right"

"You lied to me zaid"

I pace back and forth hesitantly.

"As a matter of fact I never lied to you ay, you never asked me any of that kinda shit" he says.

"But you stayed silent? You kept it all a secret?"

"It ain't never was my secret to tell" He crosses his arms.

"I don't care, I think Sam went somewhere bad, could be wherever but he got armed, a.. and was ridiculously mad at someone as if he was going to hurt someone, Zaid you need to get take me with you, I'm seriously shitting my pants scared!" I rush my words.

"Ay" He sighs, spreading his arms around me, shoving my face againisg his chest. "Lay down for a bit—"

"I can't" I pushed myself back. "I'm not crazy I know what I heard, I need to get to him!" I said. "He's going to hurt someone or worse himself!" I raise my voice to feel heard.

"He's not stupid he can handle himself"

"I tried reaching Ifan but he didn't recived any of my calls so I went to his apartment, the door was wide open and he was no where, neither was Faiza, I don't know where anybody is, I rushed here to you because I'm panicking and I seriously don't know what to do!" I say, I'm sweating.

"Ay come down" He grasped my shoulders. "Breath in"

"Zaid be honest with me.. do you have any idea what could be that got Sam this mad?" I ask, this time more desperately.

His face looked like he know but isn't going to tell me.

Great.

Lie, hide, keep me away again.

"Go home Ayat"

"I'm sorry what? Sam's out there planning on hurting someone and you expect me to stay home?"

"He's a thug he knows what he's doing"

"And my brother? Him too right. And Faiza? Her too, great. Everything's just great. One day I'm happy I have a family and I plan a dinner for us, the next day I find all of them fighting not because they're angry but because they're thugs, freaking smugglers?!" My voice shivered

"I know it's hard to digest but—"

"Digest? I'm going to freaking puke, what the heck is all of this? What is happening? I need answers Zaid"

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Tell me what got everyone so mad? Where is everybody?"

He growls and buried his face. "I don't know"

"Then find something that'll make you know" I say.

"I don't have such authority Ay, I can't just snap my fingers and get answers, its not that simple, it doesn't work like that, I'm not genie."

"And I'm so not in the mood to argue with you so just please help me out here!"

"Fine!" He yells. "It could be that he's after my father."

"Why?" I sigh in exhaustion.

"Because my father's the one Sam's been after this entire time!"

Oh

"Oh Zaid"

"Don't follow them it's risky"

"He went armed Zaid, you do know what that means?"

"I do. I gotta go ay" A suddan scared hesitation made an appearance on his face, which made him slighly panicked.

"You can't go!" I blocked his way out. "Why does everyone keep on walking away from me" my eyes swirled up, tears on the verge of slipping down.

"Are you're going to let that happen?" I ask.

"We'll have to take a look ourselves for that to really know"

"You're bringing me with you?" A slight hope sparked in me.

"You're insistin, no?"

"Yeah yes please" I held his hand.

He took his jepp keys and I followed him behind.

Soon we got on the highway, my hands kept fidgeting in panic, biting my nails when more anxiety curled up my sleeves.

"Don't bite your nails ay"

"Don't bite your lips, it's bad luck." He grabbed my hand interlocking his fingers with mine. He was staring at my lips?

"It's a habit, don't worry about it." My hand yet held in his.

Tears ran down my chin, I wipe my face as I sniffed and Zaid looked over at me. "Are you crying?"

"Please hurry" my voice shivers and he crossed the speed limit.

After going through the three hour long drive in just one and a half hour, with the amount of speed he had, I started feeling nauseous.

His gaze grew more worried than to feel sorry for his father.

I can't imagine Sam hurting anyone. What if by the time we get there we're too late.

He suddenly pulled the break, I slip forward. "Zaid?" My eyes widenes in shock.

"Wait here, lock the cars" He got out. Where is he going?

I sigh, leaning back my head.

Is Faiza really a cop?

Is my brother really a.. a thug?

Where do I fit in all of them? Had I always been a side bone, a side character, the useless one? Where am I in their story? Where do I fit?

None of them cared what I would feel if I ever unearthed their secrecy.

I buried my face in my hands as more tears rushed down my face, and it became hard for me to breath, ragged whimpering is all that is echoing in this car.

Is what Sam said when he came to my house all tormented true?

Can he really be a murderer?

I flinched to the sound of Zaid getting back in the car.

"Ah got it" He's adjusting himself. "Here you go" He brought orange juice for me. "Drink this, orange is good when you feel like puking."

"I'm not in the mood"

"And I'm not in the mood to clean a car smeared with vomit" He says.

A slight laugh escapes my lips. "Alright" I took a sip of it, not more than two I could take, I already felt like throwing up, I now felt dizzy and everything kept turning blurry.

"Zaid I don't feel good"

He parked his car infront of a warehouse.

"Is this it" I felt an extreme exhaustion spreading around my body, pulling the weight of my body back.

"What is this" my eyelids felt heavier.

"I'm so sorry ay, I can't let you get hurt" his voice echoing, it turned all deep and I couldn't listen to anything anymore. "Zaid no, Zaid don't do this to me please, not you too" my head began banging and throbbing, I couldn't move. I bearly can see, he tied my feet and wrists.

"I have to, stay here. I love you so much" He kissed my forehead and left in a hurry, whereas I—I'm forced to stay here, all tied up and sweating.

Everyone left me.

My eyes fluttered open. Every memory felt hazy. A wave of disheartening subconscious climbed into my head.

"Sam" I whimper in pain. "Ifan.." I'm fainting.

Sam..

No one thought I could be brave, only because I was always giggling and a little too feminine, that everybody decided to exclude me.

Everyone thought I didn't matter enough or wasn't important enough to be included. Everybody got so self absorbed they forgot they aren't the only one who's got a story.

-SAM-

2:00 am.

Faiza was about to shoot Victor when he rolled over and launched himself at her, making both of them crashed and they landed with a resounding thud, they both stumbled back on their feet.

I can feel someone's calling my name.

My eyes swiped from them to someone who untied me, when Victor got busy tracking everyone around.

"Don't touch me!" I bit back my shout.

"Its me Sam, you need to get out of here hurry"

It's Nimra.

"How did you get here?" I rub my soared wrists.

"I don't have time, Faisal may catch me any time"

"Stay safe" I say, her gaze softens.

I got up.

"Ifan's here with the police" she says.

"I saw" I reply. Ifan's here with the police.. How?

What could've happend?

"Do the right thing Sam" She smiles but it seem sad, as if deep down she knows this might be the last time we see each other.

I nod, she handed me a gun and left.

I watched her leave this battle field, I looked around to see cops everywhere, our men attacking them just as they defend themselves. All this shouldn't have happend..

I immediately unconsciously paced back, I felt as If someone was calling my name. My chest heaving with exhaustion.

"Tired already?" Faisal walked behind me, my hands clenched into fists.

"Why did you hide" I ask, my gaze full of fury.

"Why would I have to run away from you? Will you hurt me?"

"I don't know, ask yourself that" I say.

That's when I see Ifan, him and an officer are arguing back to back while our men had surrounded them.

I turned to Faisal.

"I don't want to hurt any more of your men. Come fight me yourself if said you're such a mighty brawny claim." I say.

"Someone twice as experienced as you?" Faisal sneers.

"I'm not afraid of you"

"Well that's foolish, you should be."

"Leave Ifan out of it, whatever you have is againist me, let him go."

"He came with the policeforce, as apart of them. You really think he's true with you?"

"I do"

"What if he's here to cuff you and not just me."

I chuckle."You can't deceive me anymore"

"I'm not" Faisal's suit is torn and dirty.

I laugh. "I don't care"

"Sarfaraz would've cared"

"Well he's not here no more" I stare at him.

"I had to do what I did"

"Fuck you for what you did!" With a suddan brust of anger, I charged forward with a headstrong jab.

His face twisted into a snarl, sidestepped the blow with ease, His knuckles connected with my jaw, sending my head snapping back, but I quickly retaliated with a vicious kick, but he leapt out of the way, his agility allowing him to avoid the attack by mere inches. He pressed his advantage, pinning me against the wall, my gun slipped out of my hand, and His fingers closed around my throat, squeezing tight. But I refuse to end my entire story like this, using every ounce of strength to break free, with a sudden surge of adrenaline, I managed to pry his fingers loose, sending him stumbling back.

"I always thought you were smart" He got raged on, Sweat dripped from his brows, my heavy breathing made it difficult for me, but neither of us showed any signs of backing down, right then a fight erupted between a cop and one of our men, their bodies crashing, when a stray bullet whizzed past, shattering the large window behind us. The sound of crunching glass is all I could hear in that waz moment, and we instinctively ducked for cover.

As I dropped down, my gaze landed on a slender shard of glass. Mr Faisal looked at me.

Without hesitation, I snatched up the fragment, its sharp edge glinting menacingly, Faisal's eyes widens as I brandished my improvised weapon, ready to strike.

"You grew up to be just like me" He wipes his lips. "Otherwise if you had grown up to be like your own father, you wouldn't have the courage to stand on your feet with such firm perspective."

"Shut up" I say.

"Sarfaraz had zero sense to look for directions, I'm glad it was me who raised you"

"I said shut up!" With the glass shard clutched tightly in my fist, I lunged at him, eager to gain the upper hand. But as I struck, Faisal dodged to the side, avoiding the blow by mere inches.

In my haste, I lost my grip on the glass, and it sliced through my own palm, opening a deep gash.

"Fuck curse me!" A hiss of pain escapes my lips as I stumble backward, clutching my injured hand.

"Impatience mean less success" He says. Where as I stood there, blood welled up from my wound, dripping down my wrist and onto the floor. My vision blurred for a moment, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself to focus. I couldn't let a little pain take me down now.

"I've never hated someone this much" I shout.

"Good"

"You were no one to take his life, you had no fucking right to destory my family in a click like that!" With a snarl, I wrapped my injured hand around my wrist, trying to stem the bleeding.

"I had the power then, and I have the power today" Faisal took advantage of my momentary distraction, he took out a knife he had on him and sliced through my defenses, biting deep into my shoulder. My cry of pain get lost in the chaos as I stumbled backward, my already blurry vision fading to black.

He then retaliated with a crushing blow that sent me crashing into the nearby wall.

My head spun, making my vision even more blurring, but he refused to back down.

We're both wounded, but I can no longer get up on my feet, Faisal took a step toward me.

I'm never giving up.

He's standing right above me.

He'll kill me.

Because that's what he is.

A Inhuman murderer.

"HANDS AWAY FATHER!"

Did I just heard Zaid?

I looked up, he's holding a gun. The gun that fell out of my hand, it's aimed at Faisal.

"What are you doing Zaid?" Faisal turned slowly. "Stand where you are! don't come closer or I will shoot." Zaid yells.

Just what I needed,

Mere second of distraction was all I looked for.

I pulled Faisal's leg and he fell on his head, I immediately get over him, punching his face as hard as I could. Not once, not twice, but more. His nose began to bleed, a cut so harsh, appeared on the bridge of his nose. He kicked my testicles and rolled me over. Grabbing my face forcefully, banging it on the floor. I spit out blood as I lose my vision.

"I'm going out to grab some milk from the market

"No, no, you're not going, I am."

If only I had let her go instead of myself. Maybe she'd be still be alive and I would've died in that fire,

It would've been an end itself.

With a last bang, he threw me, I cough severe blood out, and I couldn't no longer stand back up.

If only I had died then,

All this wouldn't have happend..

"ZAID!" Faisal yells.

A bullet echoed, Zaid shot his father's shoulder.

To save me?

-IFAN-

Ali and I, we stood back-to-back, surrounded by a sea of oppressors, I was one of them before, no one is at fault, I don't want to hurt anybody.

"I told you we should've brought more backup" I say.

"It's on their way, don't pet me around" Ali bites back his irritation. And suddanly To his left, a burly man charged forward, his massive fist swinging in a wide. "Ali get down!" I shout.

Ali dodged the blow, "Ah that's not good" Ali's eyes locked on the man, Ali countered with a swift kick, but him being stronger, he grabbed Ali's leg and threw him away and Ali stumbled backward.

"You're a traitor Ifan!" Vikram launched himself at me and I grabbed his arm, twisting it into a painful lock. He howls in agony as Ali got back up and slammed him to the ground.

"We're covering Faiza!" Ali pulled me to him.

I nod.

Ali shot a man who was about to strike Faiza.

"Ali!" I grabbed his shoulders. "Don't hit them to death!" I yell.

Ali's penting. "Don't order me around!" He pushed me aside, when I noticed something

"Snipers.." I mutter. "Ali take cover!" I shout. A hail of bullets greeted us, I jumped over him, a barrage of gunfire pinned us down, startling both or us. Ali still looked a little worn out as I'm still over him. He nods. "Don't tell me you're seriously going to pet me?" Ali sighs.

"Shut up" I slouch firmly, grabbing a nearby crate and holding it up as a shield.

"The one petting me needs a shield himself" A taunting chuckle escaped Ali's lips, as he peeked around the edge, immediately getting in control of himself,

"You're still on about that?" I raise a brow.

"Talk less, we're on a task"

"What? You're the one, when did I, you said it, how am I the one, what?" I blinked,

His eyes scanning the room for an opening.

"But like seriously what is it about pets that you don't like?" I ask.

"I don't like you" He said without looking at me.

"Good, please don't" I mock him, my eyes roving around the place, trying to find Sam.

"We have to help Sam, he's beating him to death" I said to Ali.

"You still want to be nice to his men?" Ali said in skepticism.

"It's not anyone else's fault, we were his men too, we aren't that bad now are we?" I say.

"Oh don't get me started" Ali scoffs.

"I'm going to clear the path, you go ahead" I sat.

"Ifan" he said "stay still, will you? I'll send you a sign when the way is clear" He snatched the crate I had in my hand.

"Wait? Are you going to clear—" without letting me finish, he charged forward, the crate still clutched in his hand.

"At least let me finish, God he's egoistic" I followed close behind, my footsteps quiet as I picked off Faisal's men with precision shots, one at the leg, the other on arm.

Sweat dripped from my brows, our muscles aching with fatigue, but everyone yet refused to yield.

"There's more" He covered for me.

For me?

Progress maybe.

My hand instinctively went to the knife sheathed at my hip, when three more men walked around us, their weapons at hand, ready to send us down.

"Look I know you don't like me but you gotta back me up here dude." I said, looking at Ali. "A tiny soft spot for now won't hurt you know." I say panickingly.

We shared a glance as we stood stiffly, our body posture screaming reluctance.

"I'd hate to drag your dead body anyway." He cracked his knuckles, adjusting his neck, while his eyes narrowed, and fists clenched in combat. "Agh I don't like you" He mutters.

My left eyebrow raised with a sly and salty chuckle, we were unlikely but just between you and me, we can agree Ali isn't that awful. He is a fine dude. And maybe perhaps Faiza is better left with him than me.

I'm no good for her..

"Ali" I call him.

He confusingly looked at me.

"When I won't be around anymore. Keep her loved"

For a moment, we locked eyes, a silent exchanged message made Ali head ahead around to finish this once and for all. Our officers kept fighting back till they could. I turned around to see Faiza with Victor.

"Not bad for a couple of has-beens." Victor says as he turned to Faiza, a forced grin spreading across his face.

"Worry for yourself farukh" Faiza says.

Their chests heaving with exhaustion. One of Faisal's man had a stun grenade in his hand when seen by one of our cops, he launched himself at him, casuing a mere explosion.

Everyone flinched but nobody cared to stop.

Faiza took the distraction and charged at Victor, and I know it wasn't just the distraction she took, but the grief of our fellow officers who died.

Victor sneered, his hand flashing to his gun holster. But Faiza was too quick, and she landed a solid kick to Victor's stomach, sending him crashing into the nearby wall.

Victor rebounded with a swing, but Faiza dodged, her agility and training allowing her to evade the blow, and instantly aimed her gun at him. He absorbed the impact, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You think all this is my fault?" Victor said. Faiza kept staring, her chest heaving with exertion.

"Your whole system is corrupted! and so was Adam!"

"And you're any better?" Faiza raised her voice.

"He wasn't either" Victor shouts.

"No one's asking you!"

In a sudden burst of speed, when Victor realised she'd shoot, he lunged at her. Faiza's eyes widened as Victor's hand closed around her wrist, twisting it painfully.

I thundered towards them when with a cry of rage, Faiza wrenched her arm free, but Victor is yet relentless. He pinned her against the wall, his gun pressed to her temple. Faiza's eyes locked onto his,

"You should have stayed out of this," Victor sneered, his finger tightening on the trigger. I immediately grasped Victor's arm from behind aiming it up.

The bullet touched the ceiling.

My grip still grasped around his wrist,

"Ifan d...don't get involved!" Victor yells. I'm pulling the gun out of his hand—more like forcing my hand over his, to aim it the other way rather than at Faiza, he can't attack her, not as long as I'm alive. He forced it back, and I stubbornly didn't let it go, and suddenly,

The sound of the gunshot echoed through the warehouse.

A bullet fired through—

We both looked at each other,

My hands lost its grip from his wrist.

I was clenching onto his arm so hard, but all of a suddan my arm loosens.

Victor looked down at his stomach..

The gun is yet in his hands.

He's fine?

Oh.

Oh

I looked down—Blood...

It had to be me.

Immense blood,

My pluse dropped.

I pressed my hand into my stomach to cover it up, blood dripping down my fingers as I do.

Behind Victor, I saw Faisal threw Sam back, Sam's head hit the wall behind him, sending him unconscious.

"Finish him Victor!" Faisal ordered Victor but Victor kept blocking my blood. "You're going to be okay Ifan" Victor says, as he kept shivering and panicking.

I've never seen him panicking before.

I whimper in pain.

"Victor!" Faisal aimed his gun at me, but if he fires now he'll get Victor.

And he wouldn't care..

"GET away Vic!" I pushed Victor away, Faisal shot at me and I closed my eyes as I flinched, only to see Victor had gotten back infront of me.

He coughs out blood. "you s..still owe me that painting you m..made." Victor winced in pain.

We both fell down.

As we sighed in pain, a chuckle escaped Victor's lips.

"I went against him f..for the first time.." Victor murmurs.

"come on vic this is not it!" With all the power I had left in me, I dragged myself closer to him.

He smiled as more blood got splashed out of his mouth,

"I'm not b.. bound to him a..anymore" His eyes froze in a permanent stare.

His hand stayed in mine.

"No.." My gaze widens.

"IFAN!" Faiza yells, as soon as she got on her feet.

Bang

Faisal fired a bullet through my shoulder, and everything, every sound got slowed down.

I shake backwards, falling down.

My head hits the ground and my hands slipped away.

I can see Sam under Faisal's feet.

God knows how much love I held for Sam in my heart all my life,

Time slowed even more when Faiza screamed my name and I grew dizzy.

My seven minutes a..aren't showing me my parents, Faiza, or even Ayat.

It's all Sam.

Our races through the street—his laughter, his life choices, and his tub of love for me.

The only person from the start to ever hold my hand and not let it go.

I grow even more dizzy.

One last nap Sam..

Wake me up when you meet me wherever I'll be.

My eyes couldn't stay open for this long.

So I closed them slow and steady.

Parhaps this time forever..