Emerging from the room and heading to theirs, she bumped into someone, making her almost lose her balance. "Habi—" raising her head, her gaze met with that of someone who wasn't Sa'eed, nor Manal. Her eyes bulged and she took in a sharp, sudden intake of breath. Every single word Sa'eed had said about her, resurging into her mind. She gnashed her teeth as her gaze trailed the bag she was holding and Sa'eed's cellphone in her other hand. "Nafisa?"

She gasped and attempted to run away, but Maryam was quick to get a hold of her hand. "Where do you think you're going to?" She questioned, bile rising in her throat. She couldn't believe the effrontery in her — after what she did to them, she felt sneaking into the house and stealing from them is as normal as a singer, singing.

"Just let me go. Please." She beseeched

"Or what?" She inquired. "You're going to have to tell me why you maltreated my daughter in my absence. What did the little girl do to you, to warrant such treatment. Haven't I been kind to you? TELL ME!"  She yelled.

"Just let me leave in peace." She repeated, all traces of fear disappearing from her demeanor. In fact, she seemed confident about something Maryam couldn't quite put a finger on. "Get your hands off—" She was cut off by Maryam raising her hand to hit her. She shut her eyes and awaited the impact of the slap.

One second...

Two seconds...

Three seconds...

Four seconds...

Five seconds...

She felt nothing, so she reopened her eyes.

Maryam's hand stilled midair. She wanted to slap her so badly, but she managed to control herself. She wanted her to feel all the pain she made Manal go through. She wanted her to be genuinely sorry and beg Manal for forgiveness and to repent, but with the way she was acting, she knew it wasn't going to be anytime soon. "Leave in peace?" She asked sarcastically. "Not until the police arrive."

"If you don't let me go right now, I'm going to hurt you." She threatened. "I'm serious."

The anger that suddenly surged into Maryam was immeasurable. She grabbed her by the collar and started moving towards hers and Sa'eed's room.

"Leave me." Nafisa began to struggle for freedom and when Maryam's grip on the collar of her shirt wasn't loosening, she stepped on her foot, hard.

Due to the pain in her foot, her grip on Nafisa loosened.

She took the opportunity to push Maryam to the ground, making her fall with a loud thud. She fled from there afterwards.

Winching in pain, Maryam placed a hand on her abdomen and got up. With the help of the walls, she maneuvered towards her. "Stop! Come back here, Nafisa!"

Turning to take a look at Maryam behind her, Nafisa didn't realise she was already close to the stairs. Taking a backward step, she rolled down the stairs.

Maryam gasped and her hand flew over her mouth. She was even more surprised when Nafisa began to make attempts to get up and fleeing from the house. She hurried towards her and before she could be able to stand to her feet, she caught her. "Your game is over. You can't escape from me anymore." She took a hold of her foot and dragged her towards the guest room, like some bag of potatoes. Pushing her in, she swiftly locked the door with a key. "Let's see how you're going to escape now." She muttered to herself.

Sweating profusely, she thought of what to do next. She couldn't possibly keep her in the room for a long time. She was bound to break the door open with the way she was banging at the door from inside. Call. "Yes. I need to call habibi right now." She hurried to the kitchen, where she left her cellphone. Thankfully, it was still lying there. She picked it up and dialed Sa'eed's number, but it wasn't going through. "The number you're trying to call is switched off, but you can send an insta—" she ended the call. "Why is his cellphone switched off?" Just then, realization hit her, like a moving truck — his cellphone wasn't with him, because Nafisa had it.

Groaning in exasperation, she was about to throw her cellphone to the wall, but stopped midair. "His other number." She muttered. "Yes. I should call him on his business phone."

"Pick up! Pick up!!" She chanted as the phone kept ringing.

"Hel—"

"Where are you, habibi?" She asked, hyperventilating. "Please leave everything you're doing right now and get home with the police."

"I'm on my way back home." He replied. "What is wrong, habibty. Are you alright? Please talk to me." He remarked in extreme worry.

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Please just get home with the police." She beseeched.

"But why?" He questioned.

"Nafisa is here. I caught her stealing from us. She attempted to run away, but I managed to catch her. She's currently locked up in one of the guest rooms. Please come soon." She breathed.

"What!" He exclaimed. "Why did you even attempt to catch her? She could have done anything to you." He reprimanded. "Tell me, are you alright. She didn't hurt you, did she?"

"No. I'm fine."

"And Manal?"

"She's fine as well."

"Alhamdulillah." Maryam could hear him muttering from the other side of the line. "I will be back. Keep the door front door locked as well. Don't let her flee. I will be right back, okay?"

"Okay." She replied and ended the call.  Her breathing became uneven and she felt pain at the lower region of her abdomen. She groaned lowly and wrapped her hand on her abdomen. "Ya Allah! Please keep my baby safe." She prayed.

"Open this damn door!" Nafisa yelled. "You're going to pay for this, I swear!!!"

Maryam swallowed a lump in her throat and walked towards the locked door. "That would be over my dead body." She seethed. "The police as well as my husband are on their way here. I can't even imagine what will happen to you afterwards. You will probably be in prison for a very long period of time."

"Really?" Nafisa asked and her laughter echoed throughout the hallway.

Maryam's face scrunched up in confusion — perhaps she was running mad. She shook her head.

"If I'm going to be in prison for a very long period of time, what will happen to you afterwards?" She questioned.

"Maryam's eyebrows furrowed. "What could possibly happen to me?"

"If I end up being miserable, then you will be miserable as well." She chuckled.

"What are you talking about?" Maryam asked, perplexed.

"Oh! Come on! Don't pretend to be oblivious." She laughed again. "Where is Manal?"

Maryam's chest fell and her eyes widened in a horrific way. Her breathing skyrocketed and her hands began to quiver. It couldn't possibly be what she was imagining. Tears prickled her eyes and her legs wobbled. She had to place her hands against the walls for stability. "Where is she?" She queried through gritted teeth. "What have you done to her?" The tears lingering in her eyes, streamed down her cheeks.

Her imagination drifted to Manal lying in one of the bathrooms in the pool of her own blood. "NO!" she yelled and collapsed on the floor. "What did you do to my baby? What has she ever done to you? You didn't—" she cut herself off, not wanting to even mention the word. She would die of quilt if anything was to happen to her daughter. A vicious person like Nafisa wouldn't have been in their lives, if it wasn't for her.

"I didn't kill her, if that's what you're thinking." She remarked.

Relief washed over Maryam.

"How can I kill a small, sweet,innocent girl like Manal?" She asked. "I am not a witch, you know?" She laughed. "Or do I look like one to you?"

"Where is she? Where is my daughter, Nafisa? Please tell me." She beseeched.

"Answer my question first!" She boomed. "Do I look like a witch to you?"

"I don't care. Just tell me where my daughter is!" She yelled.

"It seems you're not ready to find her, but let me give you a tiny hint; her life is in danger."

"No, please. Please don't do this to me, Nafisa. Please tell me where my daughter is." She cried.

"Then answer my question. Do I look like a witch to you?"

"No...no, you don't."

"What do I look like then?"

"Please just tell me where my daughter is." She cried even more. She suddenly felt lightheaded and the need to pass out, was strong.

"Okay. If you so badly want to know, I will tell you. I'm holding your daughter hostage."

"Subhan'Allah!" She exclaimed. "Why are you doing all these? She's just a kid for crying out. She will be traumatized. Aren't you afraid of the wrath of Allah? Please let her go. I'm willing to give you any amount you want. I will do anything. Just don't hurt my child. Please."

"I won't hurt her, but only on one condition."

"I will do anything."

"Is it? Then let me go."

"Alri...alright... I will do that, but promise me you will return my child to me."

"I will. Now open the door or I'm going to change my mind."

Oblivious to what Nafisa's true intentions were, Maryam was about to turn the key in the keyhole, but stopped abruptly. "You can't fool me, Nafisa. The police must be nearby. They will surely make you tell us where you're hiding her. I won't let you go."

"Why are you so foolish?" Nafisa sighed deeply. "I will never confess to anything and you know what's more? I'm not alone in this. My boyfriend has Manal and do you know what? He is even more villainous than me. He wouldn't think twice about killing your precious, little daughter and as it is, I didn't come unprepared. If I don't return in the next hour — I think it's remaining just some few minutes — he will kill her. Now tell me, are you going to let me go or sacrifice the life of your beautiful, little princess? The choice is yours to make."