Okay so I'm heading into the portion of this fic I've been anxious to start writing but am finding annoyingly challenging to write. I can picture the "scenes" if you will that I'm after so clearly in my head. But getting them down on word document is another story. :/ If I'm not clear enough, lemme know otherwise how will I know, you know? :P
In case I'm not hinting enough, I'm desperate for reviews so please, if you've followed or favorited or just happen to have glanced at this fic just tell me what you think. Love it, loathe it, just let me know it. Please? If I'm going to keep on with this, and I really do want to, I need a little incentive otherwise, (sadly) what's the point kwim? Anyway, sorry for the excessive begging. Here goes, take as you will.
"Okay Farrah, promise me you're going to stick close.", Carrie said, holding her hand tightly as they made their way to the mosque. The parade was starting there and would finish a few blocks away where the street fair was set up. Virgil had supposedly already arrived. Now just came the trouble of finding him.
After letting Farrah dial his number Carrie took the phone back.
"Hey we just got parked near the mosque, where are you?"
"About a block from you I think. You better hurry though, this shindig is starting soon."
"Okay we'll be there in a few minutes."
Hanging up she took a tighter grip on Farrah's hand.
"Why you hold so tight?"
"You mean why do I hold so tight?", Carrie corrected getting a nod.
"Because I don't want us losing each other, that's why."
"I won't lose you, you won't lose me.", Farrah promised, swinging her hand in Carrie's as they walked.
...
"She is here.."
"You are sure?"
"Yes, she just arrived. With a blonde. Tall. Wearing olive jacket, white shirt, tight jeans.", Khaliq smirked, peering out from behind his binoculars.
"Stop checking her out and tell me the direction she is walking in."
"I need to check her out to figure that out, Samir."
"Khaliq!"
"Okay, okay.", he grumbled, rolling his eyes.
"She is heading west. Towards the start of the parade."
"They are still together?"
"Yes. Holding hands like little schoolgirls. Though Farrah is still technically a schoolg-"
"Khaliq!"
"They look close, brother. Farrah looks.."
"Manipulated? Brainwashed?"
"I was going to say happy."
"That is your crush on her handler talking. You are watching a spectacle, Khaliq. The sooner we get Farrah to the church the better off she will be."
"You mean the mosque, brother."
"No. The church. I am a Catholic now. Our sister will be as well."
"She was raised Muslim, brother."
"She will adapt. The way I did after Father destroyed my faith, his putting bombings over blessings."
"Father called himself a soldier of his faith. He acted in accordance with what he believed. Did what he felt he needed to, at whatever cost."
"His actions were far from honorable.", Samir snapped, signing off.
"So are your actions, brother." Khaliq groaned, flicking the off switch on his comm before moving closer to the crowd. Looking through the binoculars once more, a soft smile filled his face.
"Do not worry, Farrah. I will protect you.", he promised, then glanced to the apartment complex behind him.
"Even from him if need be."
...
"Virg! I can't see, Virg!", whined Farrah as she jumped up. Trying to see the parade even though she was standing behind a clump of too tall people.
"Farrah I can't put you on my shoulders. The people standing behind us will get upset."
"But I want to see!"
"Tell you what, when Carrie gets back with your popcorn you can sit on her shoulders."
"Why her?"
"She's shorter than I am.", Virgil shrugged.
"But.."
"Farrah.", he warned.
"Okay. I wait." Farrah grumbled.
Crossing her arms she paced back and forth, looking up at other faces once in awhile before focusing on one in particular. One that looked familiar. When she blinked and rubbed her eyes, he was gone but she knew he'd been here. He had been here. Now all Farrah had to do was find a way to see him again.
...
Meanwhile Brody, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible in his Aviators and baseball cap, meandered though the crowd. Just enjoying being outside and having the sun on his face. He didn't get out of his apartment or the center much, and as grateful as he was for the protection offered there he missed the outdoors. Luckily with so many people around it wasn't likely anyone would take notice of him...
...
"Thank you.", Carrie huffed, rolling her eyes as she walked away from the concession stand. She'd paid her life savings for a bag of stale popcorn and had to wait in a never ending line to do it. But Farrah had wanted it and left her no choice but to buy it. Munching on a handful from the bag as she walked, she tried to hide how on edge she felt all of a sudden. She'd told Virgil heat and heavy crowds didn't get to her anymore, but she felt a nervous buzz in the air, a knot forming in her stomach. Even though she couldn't put her finger on it, something was up.
Glancing up at the surrounding highrises while shuffling through the dense crowd, Carrie bit her lip.
Eyes searching for something when...
...
"Oh, I'm sorry.", Brody muttered apologetically, relieved whoever he'd collided with just brushed past without making a scene. They were probably too distracted, hadn't even noticed him...
...
Too busy looking to the sky to notice she'd collided with someone, Carrie kept walking. Looking ahead until, not sure exactly why, she turned around.
He wasn't sure she'd seen past his sunglasses, but he'd seen her.
Not sure if he should turn and run away or run up and kiss her, Brody stood in place until the first shot rang out.
Luckily it was the only one. For Samir in his apartment hideout it had the desired effect. The perfect diversion, distraction, scare tactic. The crowd had taken off every which way in every direction possible. Just what he'd been after.
"CARRIE!", Brody yelled, disguise be damned as he took off after her. Going off instincts and just the need to know, to see (for the sake of whatever remained of his sanity) that she was okay. That she was safe, hadn't been tripped or trampled or Allah forbid been shot. But she'd already run headlong into the mob. Shouting after someone but he couldn't make out who.
"Farrah! FARRAH!"
Yelling over and over til her voice went hoarse, Carrie didn't stop running. Weaving in and out of the crowd that had turned as chaotic as she was desperate. She was in too close proximity to everyone aside from Farrah, and between the heat of the day and her anxiety she felt trapped, crippled.
Pausing she rested her hands on her knees, trying to get her bearings, catch her breath before she heard her name. Someone shouting it, screaming it from a distance. Chilled now despite the heat she took off running again, even faster now.
...
"Virg?! Carrie?! CARRIE!", Farrah cried, shouting at the top of her lungs. In the chaos she and Virgil had been separated, and she was stuck between too many people too tall to notice her, right in the middle of the street.
Jostled around in the crowd a tear slid down her face, then another. Between the gun shot and the running and the yelling and the sirens, she was scared for herself and scared for Carrie. What if something happened to her or to Virg, like what happened to her dad. The thought scared her so much she started screaming even louder even though she couldn't be heard. Or so she thought.
Lifted away from the crowd and the chaos she squirmed around in her rescuer's arms, expecting when she turned around she'd see Carrie.
Instead it was a smiling man. Saying a children's rhyme her father told her when she was small. Recognizing it and him her whole face lit up.
Smiling back, Khaliq hugged her close, but then turned to walk them down a different street. Protesting in Arabic, Farrah shook her head, looking over her shoulder fearfully for Carrie. Telling her brother they had to wait.
"There is no time, Farrah. Do not worry though, I am here to protect you now.", Khaliq promised, carrying her off and trying to ignore how she was crying against his chest.