My most sincere apologies for not updating in such a long time! So here is Chapter 5!

When we stop to make camp for the night, no one says a word, with the exception of the Captain saying something about how much he misses his whisky.

The old alcoholic.

Even during our meal of slightly stale bread and dry cheese, not even Snowy utters a sound, seeming to sense the tension between the four of us as he patiently gnaws on a chicken bone at Tintin's feet.

Elizabeth and I turn in right after the meal since there isn't much else to do.

Long after the little girl is asleep, I happen to overhear a conversation between Tintin and the Captain.

"I just don't trust her, lad. Ever since you met the girl, you've been acting strange and if you ask me, she's been nothing but trouble." The Captain reasons.

Well, he didn't ask you. I find myself thinking darkly.

Firecrackers! What's wrong with me?

"Captain, she's a nice girl that just so happens to be my coworker and she's no fool either. She's proved to be loyal thus far."

I can almost picture the Captain shaking his head as he responds.

"Tintin, take it from someone who knows. A pretty face can scramble your brain without a doubt, but you need to be careful. Women are fickle and they aren't always who they appear to be. I know that you have feelings for the lass, but I don't want to see you get hurt."

I'm surprised at how fatherly the Captain sounds. Almost as surprised as when I hear him refer to me as 'a pretty face'.

"It's true that I like Katrina as a friend, Captain. But I've only known her for about three months. I promise that there's nothing going on between us." Tintin assures.

I'm not sure what he says after that, but I don't really want to hear any more.

Why do you care, Katrina?

I know I will spend a long time asking myself that question.

When daybreak comes once again, we continue to travel in the scorching desert sun, despite the horrible discovery of our camels and supplies being stolen due to the Captain falling asleep during his watch.

I still have this unsettling feeling in my stomach as I think about the conversation between Tintin and the Captain last night. It sort of reminds me of when I accidentally gulped milk that had been sitting on the kitchen table since breakfast; I had that same gut feeling that something wasn't right. Someone was clearly onto us. But who was it?

After a few hours, we are almost crawling in the heat with me carrying Snowy and Tintin carrying Elizabeth, and the delirious Captain trailing behind.

When I see horsemen on the horizon, I want to cry, not only due to my exhaustion, but also because I'm almost certain that it's a mirage. Fortunately, I'm at the point where I don't even care about who the people are, just as long as they can help us find a place to rest.

Suddenly, the sound of hoof beats ring out through the desert with the dizzying Arabic from the riders as they get closer and closer.

"Put your hands up, by the order of Bab el Ehr!" They finally yell in English.

Tintin and I reluctantly set Snowy and Elizabeth down, and reach for the sky with the Captain following spastically from behind.

"Action stations, everyone! Batten down the hatches and prepare to bring her about!" He slurs before promptly falling face first in the sand.

"Get the drunk one and bring the others along to His Highness!"

They grab my arms despite my effort to try to make them let go.

"Get your dirty hands off of me! You have no right to do such a thing!" I bellow, thrashing wildly.

"And keep the girl quiet!" The order rings out before I'm silenced and tied to a horse before we continue to our now unknown destination.

We eventually reach a large magnificent structure a few hours later.

"Odd. Since when did Bab el Ehr have a palace?" I hear Tintin mumble to himself.

We are brought before a tall, Arab man who looks like he's had one too many lemons in his life and possesses a chin so pointy that his beard is in a perfect triangle.

"You dared cross my path again, Tintin! It was you who escaped from my grasp and destroyed my master plan for Skoil Petroleum! It was also you who helped that rat Ben Kalish Ezab regain power after I overthrew him! Now you and these three other dogs will feel the wrath of Bab el Ehr!"

Snowy begins to growl, almost as if he understood what the Arab was saying.

"The Captain, Elizabeth and Katrina have nothing to do with this, Bab el Ehr. Our only aim was to come and help our friend Professor Calculus who could possibly be in Khemed!" Tintin defends.

"Lies! You have come as spies from Emir Ben Kalish Ezab!" Bab el Ehr rages.

And I thought that the Captain had a bad temper...

"It's the truth, I tell you!" Tintin protests.

Bab el Ehr is almost purple with rage.

"Guards! Seize these spies! They are to face a firing squad at dawn!"

"Yes, Highness."

The guards once again roughly grab us, although this time, I have no strength to rebel.

"You have no right to arrest us, you troglodytes!" The Captain tries to resist the grasp of the guards, but is rewarded with a conk on the head for his efforts.

We are all thrown into an enormous jail cell, the door closing with an ominous BANG!

"Ectoplasms! Bashi-bazouks! Freshwater swabs!" The Captain pounds on the door relentlessly while Elizabeth begins to sob at our misfortune.

"Now I'll never get to my destination!"

She buries her face into my shoulder as I wrap my arms around the little girl.

"It'll be all right, Elizabeth. Don't cry. We'll get out of this, you'll see." I gently rub her back, hoping that I'll start to believe my own words within the next hour.

In the midst of all the drama, Tintin gazes blankly out the window with a pensive expression crossing his rosy, round face. Snowy gazes up at his master, as if he can read Tintin's thoughts and is desperate to see them put into motion.

What brilliant plan is he brewing up this time?

I turn back to Elizabeth, whose sobs have slowed to sniffles.

"Tell me, why were you off to Khemikhal in the first place?"

She looks up at me, her round amber eyes taking in my hazel ones.

"I was trying to escape from my cruel father. I have an aunt who lives in Khemikhal, and I've been trying to get there for the past few weeks. Unfortunately, my father had the police after me, leaving me landlocked in Wadesdah."

I chuckle.

"I guess that would explain you hiding in all of the strangest places."

A flicker of a smile flashes on Elizabeth's face.

Without warning, the door opens to reveal a guard with dark sideburns and kind eyes. He doesn't look any older than me or Tintin.

"I am Ali and I am ordered to bring you your meals until your execution tomorrow. This is to show the graciousness of Bab el Ehr."

I can hear the Captain snort at this comment as the guard places a tray of stale bread crusts and slightly murky water beside me.

"Thank you," I smile at Ali, but get nothing in return.

The door closes once again, leaving us alone together in the dusty cell.

I begin break a crust to share with Elizabeth, but I stop myself when I find a slip of paper stuck on it.

I believe that you all are innocent and I will do everything I can to help you escape. If you decide to take up my offer, tie a handkerchief around one of the bars on the door and await further instruction.

-Ali

Tintin looks over my shoulder and also takes in the note.

"Do you think it could be a trap?" I ask, not realizing until now that this is the first time I'm talking directly to him today.

"It very well could be and we have every reason to think that it is. However, considering our lack of options and the fact that we have nothing to lose at this point, we don't really have a choice," he muses, his thoughts clearly on something else.

The Captain comes to take a gander at the note as well.

"Well, I'm all for it. Tie away!" The Captain says.

As I pull out the blanched cloth from my pocket and begin wrapping it around one of the iron bars, I can't help noticing the sinking feeling in my stomach returning.

So is it a trap? What will become of Tintin, Katrina, the Captain and Elizabeth? And why does Ali want to help them all of the sudden? And did Elizabeth really tell Katrina the truth about her intentions? All this and more will be answered in Chapter 6 (and future chapters! :D) Heh, I sound like I don't even know the ending of my own story… I DO! I REALLY DO! I just like to see your thoughts chapter by chapter…and while we're on that subject…I would absolutely love it if you left me some of your thoughts in a *cough* review.

Once again, thank you for reading and I will update soon! (I mean it this time! :D)