The Bends : Chapter Thirteen

The strong gush of wind blew directly into their kitchen from the opening door of the veranda, making the hanging pots and pans to sway against the motion of the wind. Zaharah walk towards the veranda and look upon the dark skies which seems to be heavily covered by the rain clouds, and any time soon, the sky will give in to the pouring of the torentious rain. The wind starts to blew so much stronger now, as Zaharah saw the trees among the side of the hill was swaying roughly against the wind, despite the hill was visibly lit by the dim lights which has been place along the hill. She quickly enters back into the kitchen and close the door behind her as she looks at the clock which was place on the kitchen cabinet. It was almost eleven at night, however there was still no sign of Adam's car hovering along their front porch. Zaharah lit up her stove and decides to heat up their dinner anyway.

"He was released upon who's idea anyway?" asked Adam furiously as he received the unfortunate news about Ilhan's released from Zaki.

"I'm not to sure about that. All I know, a lawyer came with some legal forms for his released. I guess the authority had no other choice but to comply." exclaimed Zaki as he drove Nadia and Umyrah back to his apartment.

"Just keep my children safe...hoping they will be okay." utters Adam as he speed along the drenched road due to the heavy torrent of the night rain.

"Oh! God! I've forgotten, Aden had left heading back towards his rented home as he needs to settle his rent there...and he had brought Aleeya along with him." cried Zaki anxiously.

"What? How could you let them leave?" asked Adam in between anger and shocked.

"I've only received the news regarding Ilhan's realeased only after Aden and Aleeya had left my apartment." utters Zaki as he sounds worried and fear run through his thoughts as he could feel his heart was beginning to race fast against his chest....a sense fear something terrible trials might befall his son and his niece. Nadia begins to feel uneasy and nervous about this whole situation and she prays hard hoping that Aden and Aleeya will be safe too. Umyrah tries to stay focus on her notes on Maya's case however a tinge of concerned begins to sip into her thoughts. Cause from the case notes which she had assess on Maya, Umyrah could figure out that Ilhan was a man who needs to take control in everything....and no one should ever go against his will. Seeing the weaklings to suffer will only makes him felt superior about himself. Umyrah knew it won't be easy for her and Nadia to handle Maya's case, however she is hopeful as she had seeing and tackle this kind of horrifying tragic cases for almost three decades. And she has full-pledge in her mind that, she will never rest until Maya will be given a new life...a new chance of hope.

"I shall call my kids now. If that's the case, then me and Zaharah shall come over to your place by tonight." exclaimed Adam before he hungs up. And then Adam decides to call Zaharah however breaking this news to Zaharah is simply agonizing moment for him cause he knew how much her children meant to her....they are her life..her spirit. Adam clenched hard on his stering as he drove while he dials up his home number.

"Hello, Zaharah..pack our stuff. We shall leave for Zaki's apartment by tonight." utters Adam.

"Why the rush? Is something wrong?" asked Zaharah as she tries to sound as calm as she could.

"I shall tell you on my our way to Zaki's place alright." replies Adam. "I'm approaching home soon...so just get ready." said Adam as he hungs up and calls for Aden. He waited for few moment however there seems to be no respond. Adam tries again for several time but it was in vain. Adam could almost feel his heart was beginning to palpate, cause it is so unlikely Aden not answering his call. Next he frantically dials Aleeya's number and prays hard at least one of his kids will just answer.

"Dad!" cries Aleeya who was already in tears as she sat trembling on the couch all by herself.

"Aleeya, baby are you okay?" asked Adam as he felt alarmed knowing that his beloved daughter was in such a tearful state right now.

"Aden! Dad, they took Aden. I don't know who those people are..but I saw them .." cries Aleeya as she choke with her words in between her sob.

"Aleeya, where are you?" asked Adam as he drove in front the garden of his home and he saw Zaharah was already anxiously waiting for him. The moment Adam stop his vehicle, he usher Zaharah to get in.

"I'm at uncle's apartment...Dad I'm scared what if they do something terrible to Aden?" utters Aleeya as she trembles with her words.

"Stay calm, wait until your uncle gets back home. Me and mummy is coming over right away. Have you call the cops?" asked Adam as fear runs into his thoughts...cause he knew Ilhan had gotten his son.

"Yah..I did on my way back to uncle's home." replies Aleeya as she wipe her falling tears on her cheeks.

"Okay, stay calm alright..we will be there soon." said Adam as he tries to soothe his daughter's fear's away before he hungs up.

"Adam, what's wrong?" asked Zaharah as she looks worried upon seeing that fear look on Adam's face. Adam knew it will be a heartbreaking moment for him to tell Zaharah about this whole horrific incident but he left with no other choice. Zaharah tears well up in her eyes after receiving those details from Adam as she rub her hands across her chest and cried silently.

"There's no sign of Aden's bike!" exclaimed Zaki worriedly as he enters his car into his front porch. After stopping his vehicle, they step out of it and rushed towards the front door. Nadia notice, not a single light was lit on. Zaki rang the bell and called out for them. Aleeya who was still in tears as she pulls her sheets close to her body was not aware of the sound of the ringing doorbell. Zaki took his house keys from his side pocket and begins to unlock his front door. The moment they enter their home, Nadia turns on the light and they were shocked as they saw Aleeya all alone crying tearfully to herself.

"Aleeya, oh God!" cried Nadia while she came closer towards Aleeya and embrace her as she tries to calm her fear down.

"Aden...they took him."cries Aleeya as she can't get the scene off from her mind. Nadia heart felt numb and almost froze as the thought of Ilhan darkened soul run through her head.

Zaki sat by Aleeya's side. "Aleeya look at me. Nothing will happen to Aden. I'm sure about that okay." utters Zaki as he tries to console his own emotion as it will be heartbreaking knowing something terrible might befall his only son. "Do the cops know?" asked Zaki again as he holds and caress Aleeya's tearful face. Aleeya nodded much to Zaki's relief. "Alright, now we shall wait for the cops to call us...cause there's nothing much we can do if we were to rushed to that scene which you had last saw Aden being hurt. I've tried to call Aden several times but it was useless."

Umyrah excused herself as she needs to carry on with her report on Maya and Nadia let her used the guest room so that she will feel more comfortable to do her task there. Zaki went towards the kitchen and prepares some hot tea while Nadia sat by Aleeya's side when suddenly Aleeya's mobile rang. Aleeya stood up as she get her phone from her side pocket and she saw it was Aden's number.

"Aden, where are you?" asked Aleeya in between sob. Zaki brings in the tea and place them on the coffee table. He had his eyes focus on Aleeya's every word. Nadia seems to know the fear and anxiety which Zaki must have felt about his son.

“Aleeya, I’m at the police station now. How about you? Where are you?” asked Aden anxiously.

“I’m already at our uncle’s apartment.” replied Aleeya as tears fall on her cheeks while she held on to her mobile phone as close to her ears as she could.

“Praise to God, you are safe too.” utters Aden with a sigh of relief cause that what matters to him the most.

“You hang on there, I’m sure uncle Zaki don’t mind bringing you back home.” utters Aleeya as she looks at Zaki who nods his head as he agrees with Aleeya’s words.

“It’s okay Aleeya. I’ve already book for a cab. So just wait for me to arrive alright.” said Aden with a smile, however as he looks at the puntured mark of the needle on the vein of his right arm which had cause some bruises, he becomes worried and sense some fear in his thoughts. His mind kept on pondering about that cold stuff which Ilhan had merciless jab into his vein. “Could it be drugs?” thought Aden to himself. And then he shakes his head as he decides to brush off all that negative thoughts which had begins to sip in bit by bit into his soul.

“Alright Aden, we all shall wait for you. By the way our parent are on their way to uncle’s home.” cried Aleeya as she stood up and walk towards the window while she gaze up towards the cloudless night which seems to have pour down it’s blessed rain upon the vast land. The strong gushed wind has been subdue and was replace by the gentle breeze instead…..blowing it’s soothing miraculous hush wind calming Aleeya’s fear and anxiety as she awaits for her parents and Aden’s arrival.

“Okay then. Aleeya I’ve got to go now alright as the cops needs to take down few more statements from me.” utters Aden as he hung up and followed one of the cop there towards their desk and finalized his report before he headed towards the cab which had already waited for him outside the police station to bring him back home.

The moment Nazril step out from the van upon reaching Dante’s their leader of all the underworld in that state, he rushed towards one of the bushes there and started to retch and puke.

“Hey! If you need the restroom, there’s one right at the corner of the garden over there.” exclaimed Yazid as he felt annoyed with Nazril being such a nuisance. Nazril headed towards the restroom. As he enters the restroom, he slammed shut the door behind him and crept slowly towards the sink. And then he turn on the tap full blast and begins scoping the flowing water from the tap and splashed them hard onto his face as he tries to fight back the tears which has been welling up in his eyes…..the frantic look on Zhorif face begins to haunt him whenever he shut his eyes…and it’s killing him. He look at his trembling hands and clenched his fists….suddenly he hit them against the laminate wall as he tries as best as \he could to control his emotion.

“This is what I have choose, so this is the pain consequences which I need to dealt.” thought Nazril to himself as he looks at his reflection on the mirror which was hung just above the sink. He looks at his grayish blue eyes intensely staring back hard at him from the mirror and all he could see is guilt and sin. Suddenly, the restroom door swung open. Nazril turns his attention towards the opening door and he saw Ilhan was standing by the door staring hard at him with a smirk on his face. And then he came in slowly walking towards him.

“This is nothing, compare to the task which I need to accomplished before I was accepted to be one of Dante’s man.” utters Ilhan as he looks at the knife which he had apparently being holding it in his hand. Nazril remains silence as he let Ilhan finish up his sentences. “With this, I had decapitated a young girl…and you want to know why?” asked Ilhan looking straight into Nazril dark set of eyes. “Because her father was a rat….!” continues Ilhan as a wicked smile broke on his face.

“Without any feelings of compassion and guilt?” asked Nazril sarcastically.
Ilhan laughed upon receiving that question from Nazril. “Compassion and guilt…huh! Those words has left me for such a long time.” utters Ilhan with pride. “This is just the starting point…cause once you get yourself involved in this kind of deep shit…there’s no turning back.” utters Ilhan again as he looks intensely towards Nazril dark set of eyes before he left. Nazril turn back towards the mirror and look back at his own reflection and all he could see now is darkness and intensity begins to sip in, penetrating into his heart and soul.