It's finally here! I have been itching for this chapter for forever! XD
Yami: I take it that doesn't bode well for us. -.-;
Indeed not! XD
Afika: Am I still high?
LOL
HieiWannabe: Hey there! missed you! I know how busy life can get. The story is getting bloody? Yesss! Yes it is! (Niu: -sigh-) And yes, Niu is cute. :) Hmm. Interesting idea about the whole Akeifa-whatever thing. Your guess is as good as mine...no, better. :P
DMagic: I believe you're new. -tackles- Hi! -grins- I can't tell you who I'm gonna/not gonna kill off! Where's the fun in that? (Malik: -sobs- It's me again, isn't it?) Oh shut up!
dragonlady222: "Too bad that Kasiya will never get his life away from Apophis." It is a shame. Sucks to be him, doesn't it? As you could tell from his narrations, he wasn't an evil person. He had a Very different way of rationalizing but you gotta forgive him to some degree because of his upbringing.
nayades18: Afika is your fav character? (Afika: Ha! Take THAT losers! Take THAT!!) ...are you done? (Afika: -deep breath- Yes. Yes I am.) -rolls eyes- Okay then. Now that he's gotten that out of his system...Yes, big revelations coming. It was difficult to write.
Duckweed: -grins- Did I tell you last time how much I love your name? Sarah Monette? Rings a bell but I can't think of a book. Shame on me too! Both my siblings work at a library, my dad is the manager of a bookstore...etc etc etc. :) "right balance of action and suspense and psychological drama, with little bits of cuteness thrown in" Cuteness is a requirement!
cgflower: "BEST. CHAPTER. EVER." O.O Really? You think so? (Yami: Aaaaand here it comes) WHOOT!!! XDXDXD (Malik: Will it never end?) No, Minkah's mommy wasn't a meanie. "it also sounds like you're plotting something evil to come" Oh come on now. You know I am! It's ME! You've read my other stories. It ain't over till it's over! Ah, Severa...-smirk- She's a big question mark, isn't she? (Malik: I...what? That doesn't make any sense!) I thought it did.
Kitsu-cha: Hmm...you're new...aren't you? -tackles just in case- Afika on drugs? Yeah, not the best scenario, is it? (Afika: I'm gonna...get you!) Uh-huh. Definitely not good. (Minkah: Teehee! My thoughts are fuzzy!) O.o
Peepz: Hey sweetie! The lullaby was familiar? lol Well I have not used it before. Maybe your memories have been suppressed too and you're really from Saudi Arabia. O.o "Poor Kasiya though, getting his head blown up and all" Yeah, he should get a little sympathy sent his way. (Kasiya: A LITTLE?!) My my someone's holding a grudge. (Kasiya: You blew my fucking head up!) heh. Yeah, I guess I did. (Afika: no, I did! -passes out-) Wow. Oh and I chose that nickname cause it was the only legit one I could find. lol Thanks for asking how I'm doing. I'll give a brief info as I always do at the end of the chap...mabye send you and email or stalk you on facebook. :P
RyouLoverForever: "Afika and Minkah are suffering from the same ailment!" Not quite. Sure we're getting flashbacks from both of them, but that doesn't necessarily mean they both forgot everything. Hint hint hint. Plus Afika was drugged and hearing voices. That doesn't usually happen to him. lol
Flacks: Gotta feel bad for Minkah's mother. More info on her this chapter but it kind of brings more questions than answers. Eventually though. You asked what Kasiya was doing with all the LSD. lol That's explained more in this chapter. Afika is in an "interesting situation" as you put it. (Minkah: he's frikin' high!) (Afika: Mwahahaahaha...ha...-collapses-) Geez! He's gotta stop doing that! He's going to break his nose at this rate!
Fallin-Alone-Scared-Lost: I'm an awesome writer? Daww! Orange tic tacs for you! XD (Minkah: -grumble-) Some people love Afika, some hate him, others are just confused and giving him a little sympathy. (Afika: -passed out on the floor-) -.-; He's been doing that a lot lately.
Dragon-Tooth: "You kill people in such amusing ways - it's so refreshing to read!" LMAO!!! XD You really are just like 's true too: there are far too many stereotypical deaths these days. "The dark side has issues, but at least we have plenty of cookies" We have fire too! -plays with matches- (Yami: Oh lord...) XD
Sagira98: "Kasiya is dead? Well crap." (Kasiya: WTF? That's all I get?! 'well crap'?! 'Well CRAP'?!) O.o uhhh...I guess so. I mean, you weren't a character I focused on that much...(Kasiya: And you just HAD to blow my face off! And the whole thing wasn't even my fault!) Do I sense a rant coming? -.-; I did put a note right below concerning Severa and her emotional response to Kasiya's untimely death...(Kasiya: He blew my fucking face off!) -sigh- And no, Afika is not going to disappear into the shadows, fate unknown. I promise. :) "Whatever happened to Kek? No wait don't tell me." Okay, I won't. -smirk-
This chapter shall be dedicated to HieiWannabe, DMagic, Kitsu-cha, and everyone who has stuck loyally by this story for these few years. :) My bad guys. SPECIAL NOTE: Some of you were confused about Severa. I apologize because it's hard to remember when there's such long time between postings. While I never delved deeply into her emotions, there is a narration of hers a chapter or two back concerning Kasiya. In this chapter we learn a little more about each assassin as well as the MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH. This is a song I've been waiting with great anticipation to use. It's Within Temptation's "Angels". Cut out a repeat of the chorus to make it shorter. This is one of my favs of theirs and is also the first of their songs I ever heard. Lyrics fit PERFECTLY.
Sparkling angel, I believed
You were my savior in my time of need.
Blinded by faith I couldn't hear
All of the whispers, the warnings so clear.
I see the angels,
I'll lead them to your door.
There's no escape now,
No mercy no more.
No remorse cause I still remember
The smile when you tore me apart.
You took my heart,
Deceived me right from the start.
You showed me dreams,
I wished they'd turn into real.
You broke the promise and made me realize
It was all just a lie.
Sparkling angel, I couldn't see
Your dark intentions, your feelings for me.
Fallen angel, tell me why
What is the reason, the thorn in your eye?
This world may have failed you,
It doesn't give you a reason why.
You could have chosen a different path in life.
The smile when you tore me apart.
You took my heart,
Deceived me right from the start.
You showed me dreams,
I wished they'd turn into real.
You broke the promise and made me realize
It was all just a lie.
Could have been forever
Now we have reached the end
Chapter 18: The Promise
(Ryou's POV)
"While we let Minkah reminisce perhaps we should start making a plan," Malik suggests, relentless with this topic. "We know how to use the guns. What's next?"
"Maybe the possibilities of whom we could convince to join us, if anyone?" Yami inquires, head resting on his boyfriend's shoulder as he drifts off occasionally.
"Is anyone from Apophis even slightly trustworthy?" Mr. Mutou asks Niu.
He hesitates, contemplating carefully. "Kasiya is only possible person." He takes a sip of his tea as he mulls over it. "And if you get Kasiya you get Severa."
"The hot girl?" Jou grins hopefully.
"She's the pyro, remember nitwit?" Honda groans.
"Oh…right."
"Why would Kasiya join us?" Yami asks what we're all wondering; except Jou who is pouting about Severa.
"Like most of us, he is part of our group because he want freedom," Niu enlightens us somberly. "He will grow tired of this. He will want to leave soon, I think."
"But why would that make him choose us?" Marik questions, doubtful of a member that hasn't joined with us already as Niu has. Of course, that was kind of an accident.
"He would not…gone on his own?"
"Escape?" Yugi supplies.
"Aiywa. He will not side with Kek. Kek want to kill everyone…"
"Including his comrades?" Yugi asks in surprise. Minkah told us Kek and Afika have some score to settle but is the guy that insane?
"We saw the dude. Believe me, that bastard will kill anything and everything," Jou says with a shudder.
Niu nods, having caught enough of Jou's words. "There is a chance we get Kasiya to be comrade."
"How would that benefit us?" Honda, like Marik, is suspicious. "What does he do?" He changes the question so Niu understands. "All Minkah said was that he's a master of disguise. I don't see how that helps. Afika and Kek wouldn't fall for that."
The tech expert looks around. "Could someone explain what I say? I detail better in Arabic."
"Go ahead," Mr. Mutou encourages him. "We'll translate for you."
"Shokran," Niu says looking extremely relieved.
(Niu's POV)
"Kasiya is a master when it comes to chemicals," I explain while Malik translates for me. "It's mostly venoms and poisons gathered from all over the world. His collection ranges from lethal, to causing different forms of pain for torture, and hallucinogens. It all depended on what he was trying to achieve in his mission."
"And he'd side with us?" Minkah's brother asks, intimidated by the description I've given.
"Possibly," I answer before switching back to Arabic for a thorough elucidation. "He won't be able to escape on his own. Neither Afika nor Kek would think twice about killing him. One-on-one against either of them, Kasiya would fall."
"And Severa?" Malik inquires. "Where does she fit in?"
"There's only one reason Severa was even considered to be chosen as part of the revolutionary group. She idolizes Kasiya. Whatever he says goes." To this I send Jounouchi a wry smile. "One might even go so far as to say she is in love with him, though she wouldn't realize it. Kasiya, meanwhile, remains oblivious for the most part. He could care less even if he was aware."
"So Afika knew this and used it to his advantage," Yami simplifies it. "He gained two assassins because of one's emotions toward another."
"Impressive," Mr. Mutou states in astonishment. "How did you know all of this, Niu?"
"I'm good at assessing people. Afika had me help put together the operation. Next to Kek and Minkah I was his third choice in comrades."
"So you know a lot about all of them, don't you?" Honda's eyes brighten as he's told what I've said.
"Maybe," I smirk. "What do you know so far?"
"Kek is a giant creepy psycho that likes to torture people. He also hates Afika," Jounouchi grimaces.
" 'Creepy psycho'?" I repeat these alien words but decide they have fairly clear perception of Kek. "I hacked into the databases while Minkah and Afika were in Japan with you…" Pulling out my laptop from under the couch I open it. "I kept files with the little information on each of us onto my own computer unbeknownst to any of the others."
"That's awesome!" Jounouchi exclaims jumping up and down on his chair in exhilaration.
"Do not get too excited," I warn him. "It is not much," I admit bringing up Kek's folder. "Kek is from Egypt. He came to Apophis when he was approximately five years old. He is now around twenty-two. No siblings or friends were listed to have been kidnapped along with him. His real name is Jasim. They never left the family name in the records."
"His real name?" Yugi asks in confusion.
"They altered their memories, filled their heads with lies," Malik growls, wrapping an arm protectively around Marik. "A new name, a new life. Kek: god of darkness in the ancient Egyptian religion."
"Ancient Egyptian?" Honda queries glancing at me, recalling our talk about my own name.
I pretend not to notice. "Moving along. Kasiya was originally from Lebanon. He was nine at the time. It mentioned a single-adult household and two other children of whom he was separated from upon arrival to Apophis. A year later he was the top student of a man called Fida—Apophis' expert in biohazards and poisons. Kasiya gave me the chemicals to create my watch." I hold up my bandaged hand. "He eventually surpassed Fida and killed him."
"Killed him?" Yami questions in disbelief. "He murdered his superior and wasn't punished or executed?"
"In any other case, yes. But Fida was determined to make Apophis rise to greatness, even at his own expense. He was not a coward like the majority of the organization's leaders who held their own lives above anything else. The person who could outsmart, out-craft, and kill Fida would be his successor," I reply bitterly, scrolling down the file. "Kasiya's original name was Kazim. He is 20 yrs old."
(Severa's POV)
"Kasiya!" I shout again but he does not reply.
The body falls forward onto itself, brain-matter dropping in chunks onto the expensive carpet. The gun he'd attempted to take up lays drenched in blood on the floor. I stare at the lifeless mass, anger welling up inside of me. Curling my fingers around a chunk of shredded flesh, I press it to my face. Blood trickles down my lips as I inhale. It still smells alive with a burnt odor from the gun.
This empty thing is no longer my admired mentor. It is nothing but a shell of what he was. All of the talent and intellect has been destroyed in milliseconds. All he was is no more. Everything he was planning and hoping to accomplish is nothing now…
"I was thinking more along the lines of Australia. They have many venomous creatures there. Or perhaps South America. They have the same there…"
"Afika…" I hiss, feeling the flames return to my mind.
He killed him. Afika killed Kasiya. But it was Niu's fault we had to move in the first place because he betrayed us. And it was Kek that made Afika paranoid. Then there is Minkah, the one who fuels Afika's motives. However we only returned to Japan because of what those people did concerning Minkah. And Afika would not have shot Kasiya if I had not drugged him.
It is because of everyone.
"And you never let up on the fire, Severa…"
(Malik's POV)
"Who on earth came up with this shit?" Jou mumbles. " 'Hey, let's kidnap kids and brainwash 'em to be terrorists!'"
"That was inconsiderate," Grandpa reproves him, nodding towards Niu who's focused on his laptop.
"Oops."
"I'm afraid I don't have much on Severa. According to the medical records kept she is around 18 years old, but I could not find when she was recruited or where."
"What's her real name?" Jou presses somewhat hungrily.
"Jou honestly!"
"I do not know her name…" Niu states with a troubled expression.
"What's wrong?" Ryou asks even as his gaze strays toward the hallway.
The black teen sighs. "There were a few children who came to Apophis voluntarily. Whether abused or orphaned…even just because they were starving and didn't have a roof over their heads. If this was such a case they would not have bothered to change her name."
"What kid in their right mind would…?"
"Life was hard and dangerous on the streets," I murmur in a strained voice while tightening my grip on Marik. "A life with meaning, even such as that, would have been tempting. If I hadn't had someone besides myself to protect and had been approached by an Apophis recruiter…"
"Don't Malik," my brother entreats, lavender eyes pained. "Don't."
"That's right," Yami says from my other side. "What matters is that wasn't how it was."
"You would not have done it," Niu states with confidence.
"Why do you say that?" I ask. "You don't know me or about my past."
"You always find someone to protect," he answers simply before continuing our previous conversation to my astonishment. "You said you know Severa is an expert when it comes to fire and explosives but it is much more than that. She was one of the top stealth assassins in the ranks. Severa and Afika are the best of the best in getting into a place undetected. How else would she be so successful using fire to kill? If a victim notices beforehand it's pure folly."
"So if we get Kasiya on our side it is possible we could convince Severa," Yami says before yawning, his injury and the medications still affecting him.
"What about Afika and Minkah?" Ryou speaks up. "What information could you find on them?"
Niu frowns. "Just as with Severa, there was little—no, even less about Afika. He was the 'perfected' assassin Apophis was aiming for. A past would only cause problems."
"Well what do you know?" I thread my fingers through Yami's hair.
We wait as he types something, opening his file for Afika. "No known former name, family, country of birth, or when he came to Apophis. According to medical records he's approximately twenty years old. As far as the world is concerned he virtually did not exist before coming to Apophis."
"He's twenty?" Jou gapes while Ryou's eyes bulge.
"Approximately. Give or take a year."
"But he…we…gah!" our friend shouts. "This is so confusing!"
"Do you believe Afika knows any of that information regarding his past?" Grandpa inquires with worry.
"Maybe," Niu finally answers in Japanese. "But not much, I think."
"What about my brother?" Ryou presses insistently drawing everyone's attention. "What about Minkah?"
(Minkah's POV)
"Yarah, you have no idea how much I appreciate this," Um said unpacking a worn woven bag of food.
It wasn't anything spectacular and yet my mother was glowing. Her grey eyes were radiant. She had her hair covered in a colorful scarf, as is a common practice in Islam. Maybe she was Muslim. I don't recall ever visiting a mosque or her praying. She put the loaf of bread and flour into the refrigerator as well. There they would be safe from insects.
I was practically glued to her side, smiling shyly at the woman called Yarah that had to be in her sixties. Apparently she was a neighbor; one of our few friends. Maybe our only friend.
"Think nothing of it," the woman chuckled, a deep dry sound. "You have a third mouth to feed now." There were hints in her undertone that tells me she disapproved. "My dear, are you certain...?"
"I'm not throwing him out, Yarah," Um cut her off handing the woman a pile of brightly colored scarves like the one she wore. I have remembered she made them, trading them with this woman for food and basic necessities. The older woman would sell them at the small market. I don't think Um, Afik, or I left the small house much due to the hostility of the area's residents towards us.
"You've heard about that group, haven't you?" the woman asked Um in a hushed voice. "Are they the same ones that…?"
"I believe so," Um said, turning away for a moment. "All the more reason to keep Afika here where he will be safe. He has nowhere to go. They would take him and…" She shook her head, banishing that thought. "I love that boy as if he were my own."
As if on cue, Afika entered from the bedroom. Yarah immediately tensed. Um noticed and greeted my friend.
"Yarah just brought us some groceries. Would you like to say anything to her, malak?" She still called him 'angel'?
He stared almost angrily at the woman. Maybe he considered her a threat after the way everyone else apparently had treated him. I was looking back and forth in a tentative manner. Um turned to Yarah with an apologetic smile.
"Thank you once again…"
"I'll see you later," the woman said distractedly, letting herself out. "Ma saalema."
Um opened her mouth to return the farewell but Yarah didn't wait, quickly retreating.
"Afika, you have to be respectful to visitors. Yarah has done so much for us. It is risky for her to be associated with us in any way…"
"She doesn't like me."
Instead of rebuking him for interrupting her, Um walked over to Afik and brushed his bangs aside gently. "You'll find there are many scared people in the world. They get scared when they don't understand something or somebody. There are reasons they are the way they are," she explained sadly.
"Like Minkah's ab?"
She turned to stone at that sentence. "Wh-what?"
Afika stared at her with a blank look. "When he tried to kill…"
Um immediately slapped her hand over his mouth. There was a wild gleam in her eyes. I was huddled by the sink sucking my thumb. I was bewildered and afraid at the way my mother was acting. Also because I remembered the angry white-haired man who had visited us not long before Afika came to live with us. He had argued loudly with Um and then tried to strangle me. My mother, a petite young woman, was no match for him physically. She had used a gun to scare him off. She never talked about my baba. I never asked.
"Who told you such things?" she demanded pulling her hand away.
Afika's eyes strayed to me but he didn't speak. Um caught the hint, seeing her adoptive son trying not to get her biological child in trouble. It was this protective nature of his that made her calm…at least partially. It was almost like she had expected something else. Something far worse.
"There are people who care too much about themselves that they will hurt others," she told us, beckoning me over. Drawing us both into a hug she whispered, "But don't either of you believe them, malaa`ikah. Not for one moment." She planted a kiss on the top of my head. "If we stick together we'll be just fine." She kissed Afika's forehead. "Why don't you two go play while I make supper?"
We both nodded obediently, trotting into the bedroom with the mattress and broken toy truck. That was our playground, our sleeping area, our sanctuary. Um taught us like a school in the main room. Thumping down on the mattress Afika released an aggravated sound. The clothes he was wearing had been let out due to gaining his health. By the looks of it he had been with us for several weeks in the very least. He was nearly head taller than me now.
"Why did she let him get away?"
I was busy fiddling with the remaining wheels of my toy. "Who?"
"Your ab." He flipped onto his stomach. "He tried to kill you."
Biting my lip, I was still confused about the angry man. Why did he hate me so much? What had I done wrong? It was even more confusing because Afika seemed to know more about it than me. He was older and already very perceptive. He hadn't been there though. He hadn't seen it.
"I dunno." I gazed at my friend hopefully. "Do you?"
"No."
"Where are your baba and mama?" I distinctly remember Um telling me never to ask Afik this question.
"I don't have any."
"Why?"
He shrugged as if it didn't matter. "I never had any."
Crestfallen, I sat back. "Oh."
We stayed quiet for a long time, the tension in the air lessened by Um singing as she cooked.
"The night has ended and the sun has risen and the bird sang 'saw saw'.
He saw the cat he said to her 'bes bes', she said 'nau nau'
His mom said 'Leave the cat alone'…"
I grinned, rocking back and forth on the floor. She knew we were listening. That's why she had chosen this particular song.
"…He left the school and threw his notebook and he bothered the cat.
She scratched his hand when he pulled her tail.
And that's the end of someone who doesn't obey his mom."
I giggled but Afika just sat listening intently, hanging on her every word. I think he understood the meanings behind the songs better than I did. Grinning, I turned to him.
"Since you don't have parents, you can share Um with me!"
Afika stared at me as my mother began another tune: "The chickens… too pretty….
Dance in a circle happily …"
"Why would you want to share her?" Afika questioned distrustfully.
"They drank water…. They said 'khay'…. They raised their heads…
Thanking their God gratefully…"
"Because she loves you too," I said merrily, climbing onto the lumpy mattress beside him. "She wants you be your um."
I don't think kids my age were open to sharing, but there had never been anyone besides her to share with. Maybe it was that fact that made me want to share her. Or perhaps it was because of how fond I had apparently become of this other child. I had a sibling, so to speak.
"They put their new clothes on… for there's a celebration…
They're very cheerful and happy…"
"Okay," he said slowly, still eyeing me unsurely. "But no one out there likes her or us."
"So?" I asked, undaunted. "We can protect her!" I was used to no one liking us. It was an atmosphere I had grown up in and learned to accept.
"The chickens… too pretty….
Dance in a circle happily …"
Afika turned his head to look at the door from where the soft voice crooned beyond. A strange look appeared in his brown eyes as his brow creased. I wonder what was going through his head as he listened.
"All right."
"We'll protect her together! The three of us will protect each other just like she said 'cause we're a family!" I cheered bouncing up and down giddily. "Promise?"
Afika gazed into my eager eyes with a pain as though he was being torn. Perhaps having no family of his own hurt. Even an offer from Um and I didn't erase that fact. His attention returned to the doorway and the woman who was kind enough to take him into her house and offer him a home.
"The chickens… too pretty….
Dance in a circle happily …"
With a smile he turned back to me. "I promise."
Heaving a deep breath I lean against the headboard of the bed. This is all so enlightening and yet utterly baffling. Um was a kind-hearted, loving mother. She only ever wanted what was best for me. She didn't yell at me or speak harshly. As far as I remember she never raised a hand or her voice against me.
And Afika lived with us. We actually knew one another before Apophis. We were like siblings, which is a bit unsettling considering he's my lover now. Why has he never mentioned it? Why didn't he correct me when I spoke of how horrible she was to me?
'They must have altered his memories too,' I conclude sadly. 'At least this means he's not at fault. He was just a kid too.'
(Ryou's POV)
"Minkah was six years old when he was captured by Apophis," Malik translates for Niu as he reads from the file. "He was from Egypt. A single child born to a young unwed mother…What is it, Niu?"
The tech expert stopped speaking, staring at the computer screen. After a long pause he looks straight at Malik, talking quietly. Malik's eyes narrow as he listens. I notice the others that speak Arabic also become disturbed by something.
"What's going on?" Jou pipes up.
Malik's lips are pursed together as he turns to us. "There's information regarding Mr. Bakura being his father as well as the car crash."
My mouth goes dry. "But I thought they wanted the kids to forget…"
"His hate for you drove him," Niu states in monotone.
"They played upon that hatred and used it to convince him to learn and kill," Marik's whisper of a voice reaches me. "His purpose was to avenge his mother, remember? That's what he believed anyway. They made him to believe that's what she would have wanted."
"They used his devotion to her as a weapon," Malik snarls. "Those bastards!"
"It would be why they did not change his name," Niu observes. "If they wanted to let him remember some things then he had to be himself."
Yami brings up an unnerving point. "But how did they even know about Mr. Bakura being Minkah's father?"
"I do not know."
"Archeology," I whisper.
"What was that, Ryou?" Mr. Mutou asks.
I look up at him. "Otousan is an archeologist. Besides children, weren't archeologists and other people knowledgeable in ancient sites and relics targets?"
"That's right!" Yugi exclaims. "Selling ancient artifacts on the black market was a major part of funding for Apophis."
"But in order to sell such objects they had to obtain them first," Malik finishes, a fierceness in his eyes. "So they captured people who would be able to locate said objects for them."
"Then maybe Mr. Bakura was a target," Honda agrees glancing at the computer screen from next to Niu. "But when did they set their sights on him? That question could make all the difference."
I let this sink in as an eerie hush falls over us. Otousan was connected to Apophis in some way. He was definitely not in league with them. I remember how he was trying in vain to rescue his fellow archeologists…going to such great lengths as allowing Minkah into our home in order to get information out of my brother. How much does our father really know about the murderous organization? Did he know of Minkah's false perceptions of his mother? If so, I don't believe he ever tried to correct him. Rather, I don't think he cared what Minkah thought. My brother is his bastard son after all. Even with my mother and Amane dead and my knowing about his affair Otousan still refuses to renounce his hatred for Minkah.
"So," Malik suddenly continues in an ominous tone. "Which happened first? Did they discover Minkah or Mr. Bakura?"
(Minkah's POV)
I awoke one night to find it pitch-black. This was not unusual. Everyone shut and locked their windows and doors securely at night especially. Afika was kneeling by the bedroom door peeking through a small crack. I looked around to find Um absent. Climbing off the mattress I felt frightened. Where was my mother?
"Afika…?"
"Shhh!" he hushed me.
Clamping my mouth shut I tip-toed over to my friend. Getting on my hands and knees so I was below him I peered through the barely open door. Um was standing alone at a window she had undone. It must have been a cloudless night. There were no streetlamps. A soft blue glow streamed down her hair that fell to her waist. I couldn't help but notice the tears in her eyes. As I remember I recognize this. I drew this scene in my sketchbook!
She wasn't singing. This confused me. Um was quiet and she was obviously unhappy. She never showed this side to me and Afika, always smiling, singing, loving…She was strong. That's something I remember well. She never let anyone know how much she was hurting. We were surrounded by people who hated us yet she pressed on. And she was only around 22—maybe 23 years old with two children that were also shunned by the community.
"She does this every so often," Afika whispered to me. "Stares outside for hours. Sometimes she talks…"
"To who?"
"Shhh!...To her ab usually…then names of people she's never mentioned."
"What do they look like?" I asked, excitement building. I had a jaad?
"Shhh!" he warned me again.
"Where are they?" I prodded, not deterred.
"Who?"
"My jaad and the other people! Where are they?" I was confused as I watched her lips move in silent words. Where was this grandfather Afika spoke of?
"They aren't here. They never are," he replied distractedly.
At this I shivered. "Are they ashabah?"
"No."
"Aren't you scared of ashabah?" Once again I looked at him with such admiration. He was not afraid of ghosts? This was impressive to my young imagination.
"There's no such thing."
I cocked my head to one side as I stared up at him. "But there are malaa`ikah. Why can't there be ashabah?"
"Malaa`ikah aren't real either," he replied in a stony way.
"Um says they are."
He didn't respond, continuing his seemingly never-ending shadowing of her. Afika really must have taken that promise to heart. I wonder how many times he stayed up watching over Um while she stood by herself in her sorrow. I'm glad he was there with us. It made things a little less lonely for Um and me. He wasn't such a child as I was. While we would play games he never laughed or seemed extremely exuberant about anything. It was almost as if he didn't know how to have fun. I can relate to that now, as nearly a lifetime with Apophis practically robbed me of such experiences. A person can only take so much before they can no longer view the world in an innocent light. Carefree thinking vanishes. From birth others are never even given the opportunity. Maybe that's how Afik was.
"Minkah! Can we come in?" Ryou calls from behind the door.
I open my eyes. "Yes."
By 'we' my brother meant Niu, Malik, Mr. Mutou, and himself. They are looking at me unsurely. This can't be good. They wouldn't just interrupt me unless they've figured something out.
The old man recognizes the apprehension in my features. "Don't fret too much, Minkah. We were discussing things and were wondering if you by chance have any memories of your father?"
Startled, I hesitate while trying to recall. "I remember he and Um got into a fight…I didn't even know who he was. He grabbed my neck and Um threatened him with a gun. He fled. I didn't see him again until after I became an assassin. Why?"
They're appalled by what I've just told them. Niu, having grown accustomed to such realities, recovers almost instantly.
"I have files on all of us—the Apophis members," he informs me reluctantly. "In yours there is information not only about your father but Ryou and his family as well. It seems Fenyang and the others knew a great deal about your history. And they used it against you."
I figured as much. They fed me false memories, virtually erasing my childhood. Because of what I believed to be true I committed horrible acts, including the murders of Ryou's mother and sister. I would crumble if not for the determination to set things right. If he wanted me to die then I would gladly kill myself. This is not the case. Ryou wants me to live…to stay…to be his family.
"We're trying to figure out when Apophis became aware of Mr. Bakura," Malik enlightens me gruffly. "I guess we'll never know."
"Sorry, I just don't remember that much about him," I admit looking down at my hands.
"It's for the best," the blonde Egyptian huffs. "He's not the kind of person I'd want to remember."
I can't help but smile weakly, eyes returning to them. "That's true."
"Well, we'll leave you be now," Mr. Mutou says. "Come and join us when you wish."
"Thanks." I wait until the door is about to close. "Niu?"
He steps back in halfway. "Aiywa?"
I'm not sure I should ask him this, but maybe he knows. "What do the files say about Afika?"
This earns me a somber stare. "Almost nothing."
"Oh."
"Why do you ask?"
"Nothing really…it's just…He lived with us."
Dark eyes widen. "What?"
"Afika lived with Um and me."
By the utterly shocked expression on Niu's face I know straight away he had no knowledge of this. "A relative?"
"No, he just…showed up one day. The people in the area we lived in were going to kill him. They hated outsiders I think. Um saved him and he lived with us ever since."
Niu is fully in the room now. "When was this?"
"I was about six…" I mumble, knowing what it means.
Afika and I would join Apophis soon.
"For how long?"
"I'm still remembering," I answer faintly, trembling. I don't want to know how it ended. I don't want to see how our little family was torn apart.
I don't want to see her die.
My comrade rests a hand on my shoulder. "You need to know," he whispers as if reading my mind.
All I can do is swallow and nod. Niu turns to leave, clearly troubled by the news I've given him. As he reaches the doorway I remember something else.
"What were you going to show me?" I ask softly. "About Afik? You said you were going to tell me what he was doing for the two months I was recovering." He's stilled, fingers clenched tightly around the doorknob. "Niu?"
"Now is not the appropriate time to…"
"What did he do?" I demand, ready to get up and barricade us both in here until he tells me.
Niu's shoulders sag, head bowed. Back to me, I cannot see his face. My heart is racing nonetheless.
"He found my family…and had Kek kill them," he murmurs before letting himself out, closing the door behind him.
In a stupor I sit. Did I hear him right? Yes, of course I did. I should not be surprised. Afika is definitely capable of something like that. He hates Niu, so it comes as no shock that Afik let Kek do the slaughtering. It's just…
It's different this time. I understand what family is now. The emotional anguish Niu must be in…His family was alive all this time. He was free. And he was betrayed by the very people who helped him to independence even as he was working for them. For some reason this makes me feel guilty—like I'm partially to blame. Is it because he was caring for me at the time? Or do I feel accountable for my lover's actions? I think it's both.
I'm finding it harder to view Afika in such a light now that I remember who he used to be before Apophis got their claws in him. When I look back at the serious child with a protective streak it makes my blood boil that they could have changed him so much. I could see in his eyes back then that he loved Um and me in his own unspoken way. Has he truly forgotten it as I did? He must have. It would be impossible for him to destroy Niu's family if he remembered. No one ordered him to seek out and annihilate them. Therefore, he must not remember how things really were. It's not who he was.
(Afika's POV)
I fight to keep my eyes open as the snowmobile races through the night. Whatever the drug was it appears the effects are beginning to wear off. I'm surmising it was a hallucinogen. It's leaving me extremely fatigued though. Not so far behind there are multiple explosions as the mansion is decimated. Bombs were not the cause. It was fire.
Severa.
It was foolish of me to not kill her after I had shot Kasiya. He was the only reason she stayed in line. With that gone she's now on a wild rampage. Due to being incapacitated I was unable to make that judgment, too absorbed with the woman's voice that tormented me. It has long since departed. A figment created by the substance Kasiya somehow administered to me.
There's no telling what that girl will do now that she literally has no restrictions. Everyone is her enemy. The problem with having her as a member of our team was the risk of anything befalling Kasiya. Since I have made the mistake of leaving her alive I have the substantial consequences to deal with. What's more, I don't even have a clue as to what she'll do next. Setting fire to the mansion in an effort to kill me was an act of vengeance. That was decipherable. But now…
This is insane! Why have I been doubting myself? Never have I faltered…well, not quite. I learned my lesson and paid the price back then. I don't need a mess like that again.
"Never again," I pledge through chattering teeth as the small blasts from the house grow distant.
Never.
(Ryou's POV)
"Is something wrong, Niu?" Mr. Mutou inquires as we continue our conversation.
Malik stirs the flames with the poker as he pushes the logs. Red embers fly like fireflies, disappearing without giving a sign. Niu's eyes are trained on them, chin resting on his fist. He hasn't been giving his input since returning from talking with my brother. This worries me. I'm sure I'm not the only person concerned. Mr. Mutou's question is proof enough that someone else has at least taken notice.
"There is so much to worry about," the teen answers softly looking very disheartened.
"Got that right," Jou concurs glumly.
"Is there something that worries you more than the rest, Niu?" Mr. Mutou persists.
What is he getting at? Marik is the only other one who looks unconvinced. Do they suspect Niu is withholding information from us? They didn't seem to think so before he spoke with my brother.
"What did Minkah say?" I ask him directly. "Niu?"
His gaze tears from the fire to focus completely on me. His features are fairly neutral of emotion. It's his eyes that tell the story. Immense sorrow. Anger. Bewilderment. I'd bet my life that's what I looked like when I found out the truth about the car crash.
"Is this all about my brother?"
Niu hesitates, doing his best to hold his ground against his emotions. Aside from his eyes he's flawless at it. What is he holding back?
"Leh."
"What is it then?" Honda asks from beside him.
The black teen is well aware of his two new friends on either side watching him. He knows them well enough to know they will not relent until they get an answer. They're the most stubborn of our entire group. He shakes his head.
"Does not matter. Minkah did say something," he covers his own personal problems with information we won't decline.
"What?" Jou asks warily even as Honda sends Niu a frustrated look. "What did he say?"
(Minkah's POV)
"Do you both understand?" Um asked tapping the small blackboard with the minute piece of chalk that she could barely hold onto.
She was extremely well-educated. How is it that Um ended up in the slums? Who taught her? Couldn't she simply have left Egypt and moved to a place where an unwed mother wasn't shunned so much? She had a lot of potential. It seems like a waste of a brilliant mind.
"I already know this," Afik complained.
The three of us sat on the floor of the kitchen, the scent of fig and date bread encompassing us. She always made some type of treat as a reward.
"Where did you learn to read and write?" Um questioned with praise. "And you know basic math too?" She leaned over and ruffled his hair. "It seems I'm not challenging you enough, malak."
"Can we have a snack, Um?" I pleaded with a hopeful grin. "We've been working really hard!"
Afika rolled his eyes, a sideways smile on his face. Um just laughed, a clear melodious sound. Setting the board aside she got to her feet.
"You two are both so devious, aren't you?"
"Yup!" I chirped, not fully understanding the meaning of the word.
"Can we go outside?"
Um whipped around while I gaped at Afik in alarm. He looked up at my mother expectantly. She slowly moved back over to him and knelt down.
"You know it isn't safe out there for any of us, malak."
Afika would not be deterred easily. "What about at night?"
"No," Um said firmly. "Afika, what has gotten into you lately?"
"I'm just sick of hiding in this tiny house," he replied while scowling at the walls and closed windows.
"I understand how you feel, trust me," she answered empathetically. "I want to go outside too. That doesn't mean it's a good idea."
"But that's not fair!" I chimed in.
"Nothing is fair," Afika muttered angrily.
"There are many things in life that aren't fair, malaa`ikah. We need to stand up for what we believe in, but there must be a limit."
"If we stay in here nothing will change!" Afika protested, Um's eyes widening. "Why can't we just go somewhere else?"
"Because everyone hates us," I told him thinking it was a fact.
"That's not true, Minkah," my mother corrected me.
I tilted my head in confusion. "Really?"
"Really," she assured me stroking my cheek. "There are many places we could be accepted."
"Then why can't we go to those places?" Afika persisted crawling over to Um.
She gazed at him with her grey eyes for what felt like forever in my young mind. It was no doubt she had considered this course of action many times before. In the end she always decided against it. Why?
The edges of her mouth lifted. "Well, we will have to plan carefully and accordingly…"
"You mean…we're moving?" She nodded and I squealed with excitement jumping into her arms.
"Yes!" she laughed holding me tight as we fell backwards onto the floor.
Afika's eyes were alight, a joyful grin on his face as well. I don't think I've ever seen him as happy as he was at that moment. Not only did he have a family now: he would be free from mistreatment of other citizens. We might even be able to go to school with other children. It was a hope-filled path that lay ahead of us.
So we did leave. Or at least we tried. That makes me feel better to some degree. But then how did Afik and I end up with Apophis? That slum town was the perfect place for them to invade and 'recruit' the children. I thought they would have caught us there. No one would have defended us. Authorities would not have cared.
It's strange. I don't recall ever leaving. Why though? What was it that kept us there? Um was so intelligent and gifted. She could do anything! What were we doing in such a place? Did she choose to stay there or did she have to? Wait…I remember now.
I remember…
"…lied to us!" Afika yelled at her late one evening in the main room as I spied through the bedroom door. "You said we would leave this place!"
She stared at him sorrowfully. "Malak, you must understand. I only have a passport for myself. Even with it, it will be difficult enough for me to get out of the country—let alone you two boys."
"That's your reason?" He was fuming, small fists clenched as he glared at her. "You promised us! You promised!"
"I'm sorry, malak, I…" My friend backed away from her shaking his head with tears streaming down his face.
"You lied to me!" he screamed. "You promised to be my family! You said I could trust you but you lied!
"Malak…"
"You promised!"
"Please listen to me…" she begged him.
"No!" he shouted, turning and racing out the front door.
"Afika!"
She chased after him, pausing in the doorway. "Minkah, stay inside!"
Then they both were gone. I was alone in the silent house in a place where people hated me. As much as I wanted to follow my mother and Afik I was too afraid. Instead I sat trembling in the bedroom curled up by the door waiting for them to return. Hours passed and it became quiet outside. Everyone had long since gone to sleep.
"Minkah the smart…" I whimpered out one of her lullabies in an effort to comfort myself.
"His h-hair is fair and t-tidy…
Whoever loves you will k-kiss you…
B-but whoever hates you..."
I took a deep shaky gulp.
"Who…whoever h-hates you…"
Breaking down into a sob I rocked back and forth. My heart was pounding in my ears like loud drums. I never was left by myself like this. And even if Um left me for a while it was never under such conditions. Where were they?
"Um?" I whispered hoarsely through the door. "Afika?"
Then I fell asleep. More time passed. I don't know how long. It was still dark outside when they came.
I awoke abruptly when someone pounded on the front door. Scrambling to my feet I hurried into the main room thinking my mother and friend were back. Instead there were gruff deep voices of men. They did not sound friendly. And we never had male visitors. Panic overtaking my mind I raced over to the kitchen sink and crawled into the cupboard below it. Nearly hitting my head on the curved pipe, I sat completely still trying to hold my breath so they wouldn't hear me.
The house's door crashed open forcefully. I couldn't stop shaking.
"Are you sure this is the place? Looks abandoned to me." Nimr.
"Spread out. Odds are she's kept something we can use," a second voice instructed. Fida.
"Didn't she have a bastard whelp with that archeologist Bakura?" a third sneered. Burhan.
I shrunk down as much as was physically possible. Maybe they wouldn't find me. Where were Um and Afika?
"Search everywhere!"
"There's not much to search," Burhan grumbled.
"Don't complain," Fida's deep voice warned him. He was all business and duty. "Odds are she's kept something sentimental. It is likely she destroyed the information we seek."
"So then we'll just have to go directly to the source," a subordinate chuckled.
I fought not to whimper as they stomped through the only place I knew as home. Glass was broken, floorboards ripped up, the refrigerator torn away from the wall…All the while I cowered in fear.
"All right, if he still is here where would he be?" Nimr demanded. "Show us."
Lighter footsteps approached my hiding place and I stiffened. A long pause and then someone slowly opened the cabinet doors with a creak. I gazed up hopefully at the familiar face. It was cold.
"Afika?"
What?! Had they captured him during the night? What of Um? Where was she? It sounds like she was keeping something they were after.
Afik had been beaten. His clothes were covered in dirt and blood. One of his eyes was nearly swollen shut. And he was surprisingly calm about it given the circumstances.
Nimr appeared behind my friend. "So this is him, eh? He could definitely be of use."
"We could use him to get her to talk," Burhan contemplated with a sick grin. "Then again, she was quite protective of our little agent here when we picked them both up."
No. He didn't…!
"Good work, Afika," Nimr said while glancing at the other men still searching the house. "Though you took longer than was planned."
No…
"She was suspicious, no doubt," Fida stated while sifting through some papers. "Everyone is these days thanks to us."
"Speaking of which," Nimr looked at the battered door. "We should get going unless we plan on raiding this entire area. We don't have enough man-power for that right now…Unless you want to kill them, Fida."
"It would be a waste of my poisons," the chemical expert snorted. "Let's go."
"Afika, grab the kid."
I recoiled when he reached out to me. "Wh-where's Um, Afik?"
His expression hardened as he glanced out of the corner of his good eye at the Apophis members. "It's time to go. Just like she said."
"Afika, let me remind you Fenyang is already impatient about your sluggish progress with this mission!" Nimr bellowed from the doorway. "Do not take up any more of our time!"
"Where's Um?" I repeated as he grabbed my wrist.
"She left."
I stared at him in bewilderment. "What?"
"She left us behind. She moved away," he told me. "Now come on. They don't like to be kept waiting."
"Who are they?" I asked warily as he pulled me up out of the cupboard. "How do they know your name?"
"No!" I scream clawing at my face with my fingernails.
Whether it's tears or blood running down my cheeks does not matter to me. He betrayed us! They placed him in our village! They staked us out and sent him in for information! The whole thing was a setup!
"Minkah, what's wrong?" someone asks. They're all here worried about me. I don't care.
"He did it!" I shriek at the ceiling, at the sky out of my sight. "It was him!"
"We'll protect her together! The three of us will protect each other just like she said 'cause we're a family!" I cheered bouncing up and down giddily. "Promise?"
With a smile he turned back to me. "I promise."
The betrayal. Everything I believed in…the one person I fully trusted…it was all a lie!
"Minkah, talk to us!" another voice pleads.
I get up slowly, adrenaline pulsing through my veins with my rage.
"Can he stay with us forever?" I asked hopefully.
I can tell she was smiling. "Would you like that, simsimti?"
Afika…
"It's time to go. Just like she said… She left us behind. She moved away."
Even then you were deceiving me. All these years of saying you care—pretending you love me. Pretending you were helping me. Lying to me about Um. Letting me believe such horrible things.
"Minkah please!"
Afika…
"Because she loves you too," I said merrily, climbing onto the lumpy mattress beside him. "She wants you be your um."
I will make you beg for death!
I hadn't planned it but it really worked out with Minkah's mother calling Afika 'malak' (angel). That song fit even better then.
Ryou: That was depressing!
Hn. I had a hard time writing it. Not only to get the emotions and interactions right but also make sure not to do a sort of repeat of the Kuru Eruna scene in BTBT. Therefore, I decided to take Minkah's mother out of that final scene completely.
ashabah: ghosts
ab: father
baba: daddy
jaad: grandfather
Ma saalema: roughly means 'peace be with you'
malak: angel
malaa`ikah: angels
Parts of BTS and AIF done. Hoping to update at least one more before x-mas. Whichever I'm in the mood for writing. Nothing new for BTBT yet. I've started acupuncture. They left a mini needle in both of my ears and I get to wear them all week! Can't feel them at all and they're covered with a skin-colored tape so I can't see them. (I hates needles) Supposed to help keep my mood stable and my anxiety in check. Not bad so far. :P We'll see.
Please reviewsies! Until next time! The revelation will be expanded upon next chapter! XD
Yami: You make that sound like it's a good thing.
hehehe!