“Go ahead and make your ablution, Zaid. We’ll eat after salat.”
“Are we going to go pray at the masjid?”
Abbi thinks for another short moment. “Let’s pray at home today, Zaid.”
We almost never perform our afternoon prayers at home. I nearly ask him if something is wrong, but I stop myself. His eyes are already telling me… and their answer frightens me.
Chapter 3
Night Of Terror
Hearing a sound, my eyes slowly open. The first thing I feel is soreness. My bedroom is dark as only a bit of starlight spills in through the window. Enveloped in my bed’s warmth, I almost don’t want to look up. But I force myself to do so and notice a silhouette in the darkness. She’s rummaging through my closest and is tossing some items and clothing into a bag.
“Ummi…”
The silhouette turns around, revealing my mother’s face. I can barely keep my heavy eyelids open and can hardly make out her features, but I see her eyes clearly. They seem concerned… more than they were before. My weariness is so intoxicating that half of me thinks this is a dream.
“Go back to sleep, Zaid.” Her voice is a soft whisper.
“What are you doing?”
“Please, Zaid. Rest.”
My body doesn’t want to argue with her. Leaning my head back, I let the fatigue drag me back into a slumber.
“Wake up, Zaid!”
Feeling a hand shaking me, my eyes wake with a jolt. For a long moment, I’m in a daze of confusion. I can’t even see straight as my mind goes wild. My gaze slowly settles on my mother’s face. The nightlight reflects off of her gentle features. A look of concern is washed over her. It’s the same expression she and my father wore all evening. Except now it’s much worse.
“It’s time to get up.”
“A—already?” I must be hearing her wrong. Is this a dream too? My head feels even heavier than before. Wiping my eyes, I look over at the clock as I let out a yawn. “It’s only 10pm, Ummi.”
“You have to go to your ammu’s home.” Gently putting her hand behind my head, she doesn’t allow me to lie back down. “Get up, Zaid.”
My uncle’s house?
She takes a step back as I sit up and release another exasperated yawn. My eyes are begging to close, but I fight it. She turns the bedside lamp on with a click. I’m suddenly shielding my eyes from the light, trying to shake off my confused stupor.
“I’ve already packed your things, Zaid. Bilal is waiting outside with everything.”
“What’s going on?”
Her voice. It’s as sweet as always, but tonight it holds something else: urgency. She sets out some clothes on the foot of the bed. “Come on, Zaid.”
“Ummi—”
“Get dressed, Zaid. Quickly now.”
I’m slow getting dressed. No doubt, all this weariness is from playing football under the scorching sun. I wear what my mother left for me: a pair of jeans, a thin but nice collared shirt, and dark blue sneakers. My mind is still waking up, still half clinging to the hope that this is just a dream.
I’ve hardly even tied my shoelaces when Ummi knocks on my door.
“I’m ready.”
She opens the door, allowing the bright hallway lights to spill into the room. Ummi walks over and takes my hand in a motherly way before guiding me out of the room and into the corridor.
“Quickly, Zaid.”
How many times has she already said that? Holding her hand, I follow her down the corridor and onto the creaky staircase as I let out another long yawn. We hastily descend down to the lower level. It’s a struggle just to keep my eyes open. We’re on the second floor within moments, but we keep going down. We continue past the photos and into the empty shop. A few lights are dimly illuminated, but it’s mostly darkened. The shop’s doors are open, and I see Bilal’s rickety car rumbling outside as it waits.
Stepping out of the shop, I see Salman and Fatima standing next to the car. They’re awake too? Their mother is hugging Fatima. Is she… crying? Their father has his hand on Salman’s shoulder and is telling him something. What’s that look on Salman’s face? I’ve never seen him look that way before.
I suddenly notice Abbi and Aisha waiting for me as well. Why does Aisha have tears welling in her eyes? Is this a dream? But it feels so real.
Stepping out onto the sidewalk, my mother again speaks, “You’ll be going to your ammu’s house. You’ll be safe there, Zaid.”
Safe from what? I’m so confused and tired that I can’t even talk right now. We stop right by Bilal’s car. He’s already in the driver seat, both hands on the steering wheel. I look back at my mother, finally able to speak. “Ammu… he lives close to Salaheddine, doesn’t he?”
“It’ll be safe there, Zaid.”
“Safe from—”
Letting go of my hand, Ummi gently kisses my cheek before clasping both hands around my face. Why are there tears in her eyes too? Have they been there this whole time? Leaning forward, she rests her forehead against mine. Her touch is cold. I’ve never felt it like that. She’s trembling. I hear her whisper a prayer: Ayatul Kursi. She’s asking for Allah to protect me. For what feels like a long moment, everything is at peace as she holds me like that. It’s like I’m wrapped in a warm blanket of protect—
The sensation vanishes when she pulls away and takes a step back. Everything returns to the way it was. Aisha tightly hugs me next. But it’s different from before. There’s a coldness in her. I can feel her shivers too. Is this some sort of hallucination? She whispers something, but I can’t understand her trembling words. She says Nabeel’s name.
Just like Ummi, she finally lets go after kissing my forehead. Abbi puts one hand on my shoulder and the other on my opposite cheek. His powerful hands are so warm. “I know you’re confused, Zaid. I am sorry. Know that we’re doing this for you. Don’t be afraid, Zaid. Never be afraid. We will see you soon, God-willing. Be strong for your friends. Watch over them.”
My gaze locks with his. His words and voice are strong, but I see what rests behind his eyes: fear.
“God-willing, we will see you soon,” he repeats. “And remember that Allah is always with you. Those who put their trust in Him always fulfill their purpose. Do not lose faith, Zaid, no matter what.”
“…yes, Abbi.” It’s all I can say.
He squeezes my shoulder. “Go, Zaid… go. And have no fear.”
I watch my family as we pull away. They start off right outside my window, close enough for me to reach out and touch. All of their eyes are locked with mine. The longer my gaze stays with theirs, the more fear courses into my veins. Am I really suddenly leaving them? I see the tears they’re holding back. Something tells me to reach out, reach out and grab ahold of them all one last time. A voice compels me to embrace them and refuse to let go
But then we begin to leave. With every second, my family begins to grow smaller, more distant. I keep my gaze trained on them: father, mother, and Aisha. Ummi suddenly clutches Abbi’s arm. She’s shivering. As we continue to pull away, something washes over me. A weight drops onto my heart that’s too heavy to bear. And with each passing moment, it crushes down on me with more unrelenting force.