East Abuqiya, 1987Relived to once again breathe in the fresh air of the open sky Yrahsa, allowed herself a few moments of relaxation taking in the warmth of the sun. Her work day was over,
finally. She mouthed the word to herself careful not to make any actual sound. Melanor knew her employees would be less than thrilled of her actual thoughts about her career. Yes she may have beseech her father to reach out to her
family friends to award her with the position, but what else was she to do? 'Be honest and genuine during the interview, Frossaj will be with you my child!'. Yrahsa could still hear the encouraging, soft yet pleasant tone only a mother could conjure. Maybe she was right though. At least with Frossaj being with her that day. The Gods knew times were more complex now. Honesty was simply not something one could rely on anymore.
“Sorry mum, if only everyone had a gentle soul like you...” Yrahsa sighed herself. Minutes passed by soon feeling like hours, though only about twenty-five minutes had actually passed as she discovered glancing down at her watch. Odd. The trolley by no means was renowned for its punctuality, but twenty-five minutes? That had to be a new record. With another sigh, this time of annoyance rather than nostalgia, Yrahsa decided to take a step back opting for relaxation on one of the stone steps leading up to the building behind her. No point standing around forever.
'Marissa would approve? Stand my love, don't let your beauty be wasted on laziness'. Now the nagging voice of her father intruded on her mind. Why did they have to be so caring? She wondered to herself. Her parents were perhaps typical of those who bore only one daughter. She was after all their little 'dove'. Still, she couldn't help wondering if they'd be this nagging of Ali. Speaking of which when was the last time she spoke to her dear brother? Maybe a month ago, what was he up to? Yrahsa once again glanced at her watch, it was now thirty-two minutes. What was going on? She could hear the groans and quiet complaints of her co-workers sharing the same question.
“Well Ali it is then!” She thought aloud may as well visit her brother while there was still daylight out. Settled on this she hastily got up and walked along further down the street raising her hand to hail a Taxi. She could afford it, and it'd be good to get some peace and quiet anyway. For that she did envy her older brother, to be able to just have a calm morning once would be a blessing at this point. Instead she must endure the symphony of chaotic noise that permeated every corner of the city. If not for this job...
At last a taxi had managed to finally answer her hails, seemingly combating other money hungry drivers who now flocked towards the roadside to meet potential costumers. Another glance at her watch it was about four-fortyfive. If all went well she should make it to Ali's by five, give or take. Opening the taxi door, a plume of odor greeted her causing her to hesitate for a minute. It wasn't a bad odor so to say. Just noticeable and strong. It was hard to describe but typical of Taxi's a sort of mixture between smoke, old leather, perfume and BO all rolled up into one strange concoction.
“Salam, my dear!” the voice of a jovial driver snapped Yrahsa out of thoughts, ushering her into his humble vehicle with a half genuine-half fake smile. Returning the smile Yrahsa entered the Taxi resting her bag on the far side of the seat, while reclining in the closest, satisfied to have the comfort of soft leather.
“Salam, can take me to Kumasil?” Yrahsa inquired fastening her seat belt. She was greeted with another smile, revealing the elderly drivers less than attractive teeth and an O-K hand signal. They were off Yrahsa noting the on goings of the city before it eventually faded into the background. Readying her purse she fumbled around for the fee. Figuring the trip would be about twenty-three Dinars, she internally cringed as she pulled out the notes wondering if this was really worth it.
No, no. For Ali any price was worth it she reassured herself. She re-assured herself, by now the two were well into the outskirts of the city, the ever familiar sea of brown making that clear. With nothing to really see Yrahsa decided to rest her eyes a little, asking the driver to awake her once they arrived. Another smile of confirmation and she allowed herself to descend into darkness staring off into the river.
***
Yrahsa slowly opened her eyes stretching her arms out, or at least as much as the small interior of the taxi permitted. Finally fully conscious she glanced outside to see the sun was... gone? Surly they hadn't been driving for that long. Kumasil was not too far so why had the sun descend already? Hoping to garner and explanation she turned to the front only to notice the driver was also missing. Which means, they weren't moving. A sigh of annoyance left her mouth, then instinctively she searched around the backseat. Good nothing was missing. So then by Helus what was going on? In order to search for answers, or at least the driver she exited the vehicle the nip of the cold night engulfing her. For a moment she wondered if she should go back to the comfort of the warmth. No. She needed to find out what was going on. Circling the car she expected to find the driver working on the car maybe a tire had gone flat. Once she made it to the other side she noticed an uncomfortable familiar sight. The driver was gone! What was going on. Was all she could think, before she noticed something off in the distance. People by the river. Should she approach? She wondered. Its not like there was any other option still this was too strange. Just as a precaution she searched into her purse before producing a small spray bottle of Mace.
As she got closer she could make out a group of four to six individuals and two vehicles one a sedan another a pickup truck. This was getting suspicious, maybe she should turn back. She would have to if it wasn't for the familiar figure of the driver. The sound of laughing and voices incoherent from this distance caused her much annoyance. Was this old man partying with friends? Did he really just forget about Kumasil?! Rejuvenated with a sense of frustration Yrahsa began marching towards the group, if anything she would at least get the keys so she could make the journey herself.
“Hey!” She said the tone of frustration clear in her voice. To this the group now turned to her. Good she wanted to give them all a piece of her mind. The level of unprofessional conduct was simply astounding to her. Now they were all within clear sight of each-other and that's when Yrahsa froze, terror now engulfing her body and cementing her in place. The group now moved closer to her. One who didn't was the driver. She realized the driver was mouthing something to her but what? Not that it mattered once the group was only a brief pace away form her, Yrahsa could do nothing but stare with wide eyes at the objects in their hands. Rifles, guns. The drivers message was clear, RUN.
“Salam, sister!” One of the men in the group spoke his tone friendly in demeanor but betrayed by the weapon grasped in his hand. Yrahsa didn't take long to react swiftly raising her arm and pushing down hard on the spray bottle releasing the painful toxins of Chemical in the mans face. The others were taken aback by this and hesitated as one of the men rushed to ail his friend. This gave Yrahsa enough time to flee. She didn't know where or how far all she could think to do was run. Her legs stopping for nothing, even as she heard the voices of the men behind her yell vulgarities and commanding her to stop with false promises of no harm.
In the end try as she might, the human body could not outrun decades of craft and thought that went into the development of a bullet. Like the most terrible of thunder strikes the sound of a rifle ripped through the quiet night air. The impact of bullet to flesh made an excruciating squishing sound as it pierced her right leg. She stumbled to the ground letting out a wail from the pain. Now on the sandy ground of the unforgiving and uncaring desert all Yrahsa could do was stare with uncontrolled anxiety at her leg as red liquid oozed out of it freely. Blood, her blood. The sound of footsteps approaching no longer concerned her as now all she wanted was for the blood to stop.
“Search her!” One of the men commanded all sense of familiarity or mercy, weather fake or real, now vacant in his voice. As commanded she could feel the rough hands of others carelessly turning her over patting her down for anything they cared for. One of them produced her Mace handing to the leader before having subsequently slapped of his hand.
“Get that shit out of here!”
The other continued to search her though he did so gently almost as if to make it as painless as possible. Curious why he choose to be so sensitive now, Yrahsa conjured enough strength glance at her captor. She was met with sad almost sympathetic eyes. Young eyes. The eyes of a boy, maybe no older than thirteen. Their eyes met for a short while causing the boy to hesitate for a moment before breaking eye contact. He produced a small carved wooden figurine which prompted a response form Yrahsa who violently shoved the boy away from her causing him to drop the figurine.
“Oh come now lad! Can't even do a damn search right!” The leader said, before noticing the small wooden figurine. Curious he grabbed it and studied it noticing an unfamiliar figure wrapped in red cloth. His eyes widened with sadistic familiarity.
“Well I'll be damned.
This, friends is exactly why we are here! This little wooden block, now reveals it all. We have here Gents, a bloody Cultist!” He announced motioning with his hands towards Yrasha. She attempted to reach for the wooden piece mumbling something along the lines of
give it back. The leader simply smirked at her titling a finger side to side. It was then that two of the group grabbed her by the shoulders and started to drag her towards the river. The pain in her leg was no longer a concern now numb. Instead her attention was to the old driver who appeared to be tied, and now blindfolded. Hearing the sound of dragging he began demanding the group to let Yrasha go.
“Patience, old man! Your time will come soon enough.” The leader said as Yrasha noticed the boy now gagging the driver to silence him. Once again the boy and Yrasha locked eyes, only this time it was she who looked upon the child with sadness and a disappointment. He quickly looked down and headed towards the truck. By now She was near the river and the two men released her causing her to fall into the water engulfing her before she promptly regained herself holding herself up with her hands. A firm hand however held her head just above the water.
“Sister no we do this not out of hate, but out of necessity! You have been corrupted, sworn allegiance to false idols. Know that these so called 'gods', that this Helus is nothing but myth. An illusion to drive you from the path of righteousness, to lead you to the path of wickedness! I am here to save you sister, to bring you back to the light! Be cleansed let the water wash over you and wash your sin! Let Azhiran Guide you to the light!”
With that Yrahsa could feel the hand push her forcibly down. Water soon engulfing her, the world nothing but a canvas of blue.
“...behold the light of the new beginning. Let all those who are righteous be welcomed. Let all those who are consumed by wickedness, forever fester in the oblivion of their own corruption” ~ Codex ARIYĀRAMNA
