Chapter 3: The Man Who Lives Here - Part One

When I woke, my vision was blurred. I had no idea where I was. I quickly rubbed eyes.

I knew I was in a room, but it looked nothing like my room at home. Then, I remembered. The man from last night...I can't believe I actually stayed in his house. If my mom found out, she'd give me hell.

I looked around the room.

The room was a lot brighter now. It looked nicer. I could see the sun shining through the drapes. I looked down. My knapsack was at the foot of the bed, though I remembered I had left it by the stairs. I got up and stretched. I picked up my bag and slung it over one shoulder. I picked up my sandals and slipped them on.

I walked into the room beside mine, but it was empty. I assumed he was downstairs. I wanted to thank him before I left.

I decided to go to the bathroom and wash my face. When I walked in, I noticed an unopened toothbrush and toothpaste. I smiled. I was sure I would need it. It would make it less awkward to speak to him with morning breath.

I turned on the tap and splashed water on my face. I wiped the crust from my eyes and began brushing my teeth.

When I got downstairs I realized that the windows, that were previously boarded up with wood, worked as some sort of contraption. Last night they seemed to be shut, but now they were open and they filled the room with a rich sunlight.

The kitchen was also empty, so I continued out the door. He wasn't there either. So I decided to leave. I didn't want to over stay my welcome. I also wanted to avoid the awkward "thanking the strange man for letting me sleep over" part.

I got all the way down the steps when I noticed an old Moroccan man walking up the path. I stopped. He had a brown bag full of groceries with him.

He finally reached. "As-salām 'alaykum."

He smiled, then asked if I spoke Arabic.

"No...I'm sorry. Not very much," I replied.

He nodded.

"I work for the man who lives here...Bane I go to the markets for him." He had a thick arabic accent when he spoke.

Bane, I thought. So that was his name.

"My name is Aasir." He extended his hand to me.

"Natalie", I replied as I shook his hand.

"I've rarely seen anyone visit. Are you a friend?" He asked me.

"No. I just returned something to him, yesterday."

"OK. OK." He looked around. "Is he awake...can you tell him that yesterday, I couldn't go to the market...my wife was sick, but I went for him this morning."

"So that's why he was out..." I mumbled to myself. The man Bane, obviously didn't go out by himself. He couldn't without drawing attention to himself. He had hired this man to go shopping for him.

"Can you give this bag to him?" He asked.

"Oh, sure. Of course." I smiled and held out my arms.

I took the bag from him and placed it on the front steps, before walking back down to the man. He was turning around to leave, but I wanted to ask him something.

"What do you know about him...," I asked. "The man who lives here?"

He stopped. "He keeps to himself mostly. You are the first new visitor he has had."

"What do you mean, new? Wait, someone else comes to visit him?"

"He only has one friend...a companion who stays here sometimes."

"Someone else lives here?" I didn't see or hear anyone when I went inside. That's strange, I thought. Was there someone in the house that I didn't know about?

"He comes and goes. Very busy."

I just nodded.

"I have to go, but please give Bane my apologies."

"Of course."

"Wait...Sir?" I lowered my voice. "Can you tell me about the mask. Why does he wear it?"

Then, Aasir was about to speak, but he stopped when he glanced at something behind him. I noticed it then too.

A man was walking up the path. He wore cargo pants that were similar to Bane's. What was with these guys and cargo pants, anyway? He also wore a dark grey t-shirt. He had shaggy dark brown hair and a beard.

He ignored Aasir, who I assumed he knew, and walked past him looking directly at me. He gave a few glances then towards the house. His blue eyes flared with curiosity, but his face stayed expressionless. Aasir had moved out-of-the-way, giving him the space to stop right in front of me. Too close for my comfort. He stared right into my eyes. Still he was stone-faced as he looked me up and down. He wasn't trying to hide it.

"Hi," I smiled, trying to seem friendly because this was probably the other man who lived here. He looked capable enough. I wondered why Bane didn't have this man do his shopping instead of Aasir. Unless he served a different purpose...

He had that same look Bane had. He was trying to figure me out. I hated that.

"Hello," He smiled back, but it was more calculating, than sincere. Of course he was wondering what I was doing here.

"Um...your friend...he was hurt..."

He nodded and smiled as I spoke, but I don't think he heard me. I thought maybe he didn't understand me, but then I remembered that when he said hello, I had heard an English accent.

Now I was completely positive that he was wondering what in the world I was doing here.

"And I was just..." I began.

We were interrupted by the sound of heavy breathing and a figure appeared in the doorway. We all turned. I noticed the man took a few steps away from me.

"Bane." I breathed. I was acknowledging him, as well as testing out his name on my lips for the first time. It fell from my lips with ease.

"Good Morning." he said. He was wearing a long brown robe. Like what the older men here sometimes wore.

"Morning." Aasir and the man seemed to say in unison.

"I'll see you inside." Bane said, obviously to the man in front of me.

He nodded, but smirked at me before doing as he was told.

Bane stepped out from the doorway and made his way to me. He was the closest he'd ever been to me. So close, I could feel the heat radiating from his body as he looked down on me.

I tried to keep my cool. "Um, who was that?" I asked, gesturing to the door.

"His name is Barsad."

"And he's a friend...?"

"Yes. A very trusted associate. I suppose you could say." A saw a flash of a smile in his eyes.

"Oh...OK" I said, uncomfortably turning my eyes away from him. He never looked away from me once, so I tried to do the same, but failed miserably.

He noticed the bag over my shoulder, but didn't say anything.

"Um, I..."

"Mr. Bane...Mr Bane." Bane finally looked away from me and at Aasir. I almost forgot about him. He was watching us talk this whole time. Bane walked over to him.

"Sorry. I could not go yesterday. You see my wife...she was sick." He began. " I bring you the groceries today."

He laid his hand on Aasir's shoulder."It's alright, brother. No worries. I thank you."

Aasir noticed the bruises that lined his chest, as did I, for the first time. "You're hurt." He said.

"I said no worries. I've experienced worse."

"OK..OK...I will take them in for you." He brushed past us and grabbed them from the steps. I wasn't sure if he was very eager to help people or just scared of Bane because of his mask...probably a little of both. I would be too.

Bane slowly made his way back up the steps, so I followed.

The man nodded at Bane, then me. "Have a good day," Then he was on his way.

We were alone in the kitchen. Bane began unpacking the groceries and I stood patiently leaning against the wall, until he finished. His groceries were similar to mine, but he had things like tea and eggs and meat, which he put in the fridge right away. He seemed to go on about his day, like I wasn't even there, putting things away and washing produce. He put the kettle on the stove before finally seating himself around a small rectangular table, but me, I was still thinking about that man who came here earlier. Where was he now?

"You were planning to leave?" He looked up at me with a questioning expression. I think he was disappointed that I would leave without saying goodbye.

"Oh...yeah. Well, I didn't want to overstay my welcome. My roommates are probably wondering where I am, anyway."

"Roommates," he repeated, calmly.

"Yeah...roommates."

"OK, then." I smiled shyly, and was about to turn around.

"Stay. You're joining me for breakfast."

I looked at him, though I couldn't pretend like I didn't want to. There was still so much I wanted to know. "Sure. Why not?" I replied, though I'm pretty sure it wasn't a question.

Author's Note: I hope there aren't a lot of mistakes.

I had to add Barsad because he's too cool to be dead. ;)...also for other reasons as well, but you wlil find out later.

Part Two will probably be up tonight or Sunday.