HAZEL - As the vehicle approaches closer, I squint my eyes hard, f ocusing on the obscure figure behind the wheel.The shape of the dark silhouette appears to have a bob cut around the head.Hmm looks like a lady. Something isn't quite right...why would baba ( dad) opt-out of driving his personal car to fetch me?In all my four months of spending time at his home, I had never witnessed him in any other vehicle but his own.He's hired employees to drive the delivery cars. So it was incomprehensible why he would need to get behind the wheels of one.An unsettling sensation crawls over me. I begin retreating backward slowly without breaking my eye contact with the car.My grip tightens on the duffel straps slung against my shoulder.A couple of seconds later my eyes distend in extreme alarm. Accosted by none other than Hamdard bulging neckless face.This was baba's favorite employee whom he had selected as a potential suitor for me to marry. I had rejected Hamdard's abhorring shameless
Within a flash of a second, a looming figure appears out of the shadows in between nearby alleyways, dressed in an equally shabby outfit as him.A hand shoots out and snatches the bottle from the grips of the homeless guy The toothless grin and cheery squinted eyes vanish into a glower. "Give me back my dollars worth! found it first"He hops onto the looming homeless guy What ensues is a crazy scuffle as they fall to the pavement, rolling about over a bottle.Inwardly I feel guilt wash over me, surely I could spare some money for these men.I reach into my duffel front pockets and fish out two crisp 100-dollar bills.I didn't have the change to spare for them since I needed that for a phone call from a pay phone. I doubt it would harm me to spare two hundred dollars.I very much hoped that would have been the case, but alas the sympathetic gesture of mine nearly did harm me. Out of major greed, the two scruffy-looking men demanded I provide them with more.Their grimy hands almost go
HAZEL -"No one a good enough matches for you Grig! You're unbeatable!" Bev remarks seriously, as she pushes herself up onto the passenger seat.Her hands clamp around my upper arm as she gently prompts me to meet her eyes. She offers me a warm smile."Sit up Hazel" she coaxes in a whisper. "It's okay now, you're safe."I'm glued to the spot, unable to move from the extreme fear coursing through my veins.Right at this moment, I'm afraid of these people.But she tugs at me again and my body is plagued with tremors as I crawl up onto the seat."Vladimir is undefeatable. I've been hospitalized a few times over shįt." Grigori corrects her. "As I've said before these puny gangster fūckers are no match anyway.""True enough, gotta give credit where credit is due!" Serge affirms ."Bev, you should see Vladimir in combat mode! Man goes berserk but yet he's all calm and shit. Gets out unscathed with the task complete. Fūckin epic.""I wish I could get to witness hardcore trips you guys go throu
HAZEL -The rest of the drive lasted over twenty minutes in silence. My mind was reeling from the past couple of terrifying hours of my life.The skin irritation had diminished from the allergy med I had taken. I decided it would be rude if I don't thank Grigori for suggesting the medicine and just when I'm about to, Bev interrupts."Finally! We're here," She points towards the window excitedly.I had been too lost in my chain of thoughts to have noticed that we were in a very metropolitan setting of the city.Serge parks the car in parallel. They all began departing from the vehicle so I follow along.Stepping out into the cool night air, I sling my duffel over my tired aching back and shoulders. The guys stride ahead into a glassy entrance guarded by the security of a modern high-rise skyscraper.Right above the entrance, massive golden letters etched into polished granite read Nielsen Enterprise And Corp, Gold Coast Headquarters.Bev grips my hand firmly as she tugs me behind. I cra
HAZEL -"Oh no Beverly, thank you. That'll be all." Rachael nods once in gratitude. "Have a very a goodnight."They begin to shuffle away and I jump from my seat in sudden remembrance. "Wait!"Pausing at the entrance of the doorway, their questioning gazes fixed upon me.I stride up to them with heavy steps and breath out "T-thank you for all that you've done for me tonight." I lower my vision to my shoes and continue "I don't know what would have become of me had you-" My voice ends up cracking and tears of despair slip down my cheeks as thoughts plague me of the doomed fate I could have been subjected to.Sounds of clinking bangles nip the momentary silence as warm and slender bare arms wrap around my figure. I blink away my tears, Bev has encased me into a comforting hug.She's as tall as Rachael so I can't see the expressions of the men behind her until she gently pulls apart from me seconds later. Serge scratches the back of his neck as he and Grigori stare at me awkwardly."Don't
My brows crease in perplexity and disbelief. "And you choose to do nothing!? Y-you just allow such horrible things to occur in your home?""Hazel you must-""An innocent man is continuously tortured right under your nose!" I bolt up from my seat furiously. "you refuse to help him!"Mister Mirza opens his eyes and looks up at me with complete guilt. "Hazel please sit down and listen to the reasons why I'm unable to help Khalil."I shake my head at him in disappointment and my body trembles with ire."Please?" He implores forlornly. I grit my teeth as regret fills me.why couldn't I have included Khalil in my escape?But Yasir had obstructed my way and it was risky.I sit back down reluctantly. "How do you know he's okay now?""I've just arrived from home, was my first stop before I got here. The gang must have dispersed as soon as you had escaped...they must have assumed you'd inform the police so they couldn't risk remaining there." He expounds. "Khalil is an illegal migrant, Hazel""S
The majority of the short period on the limo ride consisted of a very solemn kind of sadness.Four bodyguards sat across from Rachael and me. Unlike the Mafia members, they didn't possess a sinisterly alluring aura, nor were they quaintly dressed.Rachael had asked me a few formal questions about my growing up in America and then my move to Australia. But sensing my sullen mood, she left me unbothered.Deliberately, I slip into deep contemplation of the events pertaining to the current night.My thoughts drifted from Mister Mirza's envelope to Serge, Grigori, and Bev. How easily they shrugged off the gunfight while I had been frightened senseless.Sure, the gang members had initiated it, but it befuddled me deeply that the three of them weren't bothered at all by taking someone's life.Of course, they had the right to self-defense. Yet it was strange how they weren't serious either.The limo parked before rows of classy townhouses. As we stepped out into the crisp night air, I noted my
HAZEL- A loud thud reverberates throughout the room. I'm jolted awake as I hear peals of lively laughter.Utterly miffed by the supposed ruckus emanating in from the corridor, I groan while shifting to find a more comfortable position in my bed-Wait! What?!Flashes of the events about last night, crash against me like a powerful tsunami wave.In a fraction of a second, I spring up into a seated position.Eying my surroundings, I recognize I'm in Rachael's guest bedroom.My escape from Yasir and Hamdard!The gunfight and violence!It was all real! Not a fragment of my imagination!My eyes nervously flicker towards the bedside table clock-12:15 pm!OH MY ALLAH!!I have missed my obligatory morning prayer. Another disappointed groan escapes my lips.I slide out of the comfy bed and plunge my aching feet into the soothing plush carpet.I can't help but wince from my soar muscles when I stand upright and lift a leg to walk.Exactly how much time did I spend running around last night?Oh ma