"At that moment I couldn't help but feel a little bit of hope." -Zamzam Amin, IASWAD.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE: When Danger Lurks

Zamzam Amin

The man roughly yanked the blindfold off of my face, making me squint my eyes. The place we were in was dark and full of men in masks. I continued to look around and noticed there was only one door to escape from and they were blocking it. "So this is the famous Hijabi." A man who sounded like he was in his late thirties said as he approached me. I immediately recognized that voice, I remember hearing it that day when he sponsored the event Mrs. Mitchel held to feed children all around the world. Even though he was wearing a mask I could still tell that this was indeed Alec Mathews standing right in front of me. Just the sight of him was enough to make me want to puke my guts out. This man disgusts me.

"What do you want from me?!" I couldn't hold in my anger at this point. He is the worst kind of human being. He pretends to be caring and kind but on the inside he's evil. He hurt Adam in so many ways yet he never apologized even once. He tried to kill his own wife! Who does that? He laughed as he crouched down to where I was sitting handcuffed to a wooden chair. "What do I want from you? Well I want my son to come and find you. You see Adam is the type of guy who'll fiercely protect any one he loves. And he without a doubt is in love with you Ms. Amin. I wish it didn't have to come to this but if it weren't for him snooping through my stuff and finding my letters then this wouldn't have happened in the first place." He paced around the room as if the whole world was his.

And he is without a doubt in love with you... Those words rang in my ears. Adam is in love with me? No. Wait what am I doing!? This isn't the time for this Zamzam. "You have no idea how ridiculous you sound." I laughed mirthlessly. Suddenly he slapped me hard against my cheek, I felt a tear drop roll down my cheek as it throbbed in pain. "Do I sound ridiculous now?" He replied with an evil smirk plastered on his face.

"Watch her while I go take care of things." He ordered a guy with a mask as the others followed Alec out the door. There was something about this masked guy that was familiar but I couldn't pin point what it was. "What are you guys going to do with me?" I asked in a small voice. At this point I was terrified of what could happen next. Ya Allah please save me, I cried once again. He suddenly took a blade out of his back pocket and brought it up to my neck. "If I were you I'd be quiet." He growled angrily. Something about how he quickly pulled out the blade was off. It's like he was trying to be scary without knowing how.

All I could think of right now was my family and how they're possibly freaking out right now. After a couple of seconds he took off his mask and to say I was surprised to see Alex, Adam's best friend, standing in front of me would be an understatement. "Listen, don't ask me any questions okay? Just know that you'll get out soon. I'll do everything in my power to help you. Just stay put, okay?" He said as he looked me in the eyes. I slowly nodded my head as tears stung my eyes. "I can't set you free now but I will soon, just stay strong. We'll get through this and you'll be home safe and sound with your family before you know it. I have a plan." He added reassuringly.

Knowing that he was here trying to help me make me feel slightly better but there was still a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something told me that this wouldn't end well. Ya Allah please let everyone I care for be safe, I silently prayed.

* * *

A day has gone by yet it felt like an eternity already. I laid my head back against the hard wood of the chair I was handcuffed to. The door creaked open as another masked man walked in with a plate of food and bottled water. "Eat fast." He demanded as he set the food in front of me. He freed one of my hands and handed me the plate. I scarfed down the food and chugged the water down my throat quickly before he could rush me even more. "You know you don't have to do this. If you guys let me go I won't tell anyone." I pleaded. I know that he wouldn't set me free but it worth a try. I still can't believe that Alex hasn't helped me escape yet, how many days do I have stay trapped here until he sets his plan into action?

"Nice try." He scoffed and took the remains of the food. There was something about this guy that didn't make him seem as scary as the rest anymore. I don't know what it is that makes me think this but it's like I could feel it, you know? It's like there was an ounce of goodness left in him. "Since I'm going to be here for a while then can we talk?" I pressed further. He gave me a dead stare but then soon caved in. He sat down across from me and laid his back against the hard brick wall.

"About what?" He said in a bored tone.

"Anything. What's your favorite hobby?"

"Playing soccer."

"Oh really? That's my favorite sport. I used to play it all the time with my two brothers. Sometimes they'd let me win thinking that I didn't know but I always did. I really miss them," My throat felt tight as tears welled in my eyes. I missed Baba, Grams, Isa, Abdirahman and Ihsan. I missed my friends and even Adam. I missed my my life, I missed being home with the people I love and care about.

"I have three older brothers but I never really have gotten along with them. I guess that's what happens when we all didn't grow up together." He let out a frustrated sigh.

"Why didn't you guys grow up together?" I questioned curiously.

"That's enough." He got up and put the handcuff back on my hand. "You don't need to do that. I promise I won't run I mean where can I run to?" I tried to persuade him. "Nope I can't take that chance." He then sat back down on the floor.

"Can I ask you one more question?"

"No."

"Please."

"What is it?!"

"What are you guys going to do to me?" I repeated the question.

"I don't know."

"Will you kill me?" I was afraid of the answer.

"Possibly if you keep running your mouth." He said as he left the room and made sure to lock it. All I could do at this point was pray that everything is going to turn out alright. That everyone I love and care for is safe and that I will also be safe. This is just a test from Allah. He's trying to see how strong I could be during this situation and I was not going to lose.

I know I've been talking a big game of being strong. Now it's time for me to prove that I am not only to Allah but also to myself.

Adam Mathews

When Isa told me that Zamzam had been missing the first thing I did was drive all the way to his house. The moment I did I noticed two cop cars in the drive way. As I stepped inside I saw Mr. Amin talking to two police officers while two ladies were in the background crying. I immediately walked over to where Isa and his brother were standing.

"Still no news?" I asked worriedly.

"No and I'm freaking out. They're putting out an Amber Alert later on today." He started pacing around frantically. "I think I have an idea of who took her." I said with certainty. Without a doubt it was my father and Avon. They think by kidnapping her they'll be getting to me and they were right. "Wait, you know something?" Abdirahman asked eagerly. I knew at this point that I had to come clean about everything so we could help find Scarfy. I nodded my head as I walked up to the officers and told them everything.

"You think your father took her? Where do you think he could've taken her?" Officer Daniels asked as he wrote everything down on a notepad.

"I don't know, he wouldn't be stupid enough to take her somewhere that's written under his name. I think if we go to my house then we could find clues there." I suggested hoping that there's something that could give us a lead on where they are. Suddenly an idea popped in my head and I pulled out my phone. "Hello?" Mom picked up on the first ring. "Do you remember the name dad used when he used to check into the hotel to see her?" I cut right to the chase.

"It was Steve Jacob. Why?"

"He kidnapped Zamzam and I'm trying to figure out where he could've taken her." I explained. "Don't do anything stupid, okay? I'm already building a case against him so don't try to get vengeance on your own or anything. The moment you figure out where he is then tell me. It's time we both take that bastard down for good." She then hung up the phone.

"Check any warehouses or shut down places under the name Steve Jacob." I told the cops the moment I hung up the  phone. "Thank you for your cooperation." Officer Smith said as the two of them left the house. I hope Scarfy is okay wherever she is.

Zamzam Amin

It was night time by now and mostly everyone had went to sleep. I kicked the guy with the mask who's name I figured out was Mahmoud, on the shoulder. "What?" He asked in an half asleep tone. "I need the rest room." I lied. What I need is get out of here and go to my family. That is what I need. I can't wait any longer for anyone to come and try to save me. I know that I'm being reckless but at this moment I couldn't careless. I need to go home and reassure everyone that I'm still alive. He lazily got up and took the handcuffs off of me. He then opened the door and followed me to the rest room. "Hurry up." He said as I locked the door behind me.

Looking around, I noticed a half cracked open window. I turned on the water before heading towards the window. I slowly started to open it hoping that it wouldn't make a sound but sadly it did. I stood there for a second and noticed that no one barged in here. Bismillah, I whispered as I crawled up the window.

"Hey!" Another man with a mask ran in. I quickly squeezed the rest of my body out of the window just in time before he could grab me. As I started running I looked around my surroundings. There was no other place insight, just a bunch of trees. Alhamdulilah I brought my phone with me, I thought as I grabbed it out of my jilbab.

"911 what's your emergency?" The operator on the other end said.

"I was kidnapped and I don't know where I am. Please find me! I was kidnapped by Alec Mathe-" Before I could finish my sentence someone grabbed my phone and threw against the wall. "Get over here you little brat!" Alec threw a hard punch against my cheek making me fall on the hard cement ground. I winced as I noticed I was bleeding on my arm and cheeks. A sharp pain made its way up my arm once I tried to move it.

"Your going to pay for this and all of the things you've done. I hope you rot in hell!" I shouted with all of the courage I had left in me.

"You're lucky that I need you and that I didn't kill you yet. Take her back in!" He ordered. His minions immediately did what he said and grabbed me.

* * *

"I shouldn't have trusted you." Mahmoud said as he paced back and forth in the room. I felt bad that I did that to him but I had to. I couldn't just stay here without trying to escape, I couldn't let the people I love worry about me. "I'm sorry but I had to." I responded. He trusted me enough to tell me about how he got into this whole mess. His family was broke and he needed money fast so he told Avon and he offered him a job. He immediately said yes to it but he didn't know that this was the job. From what I could tell Mahmoud was a good person and Muslim. He was just trying to take care of his family but he did it the wrong way.

"Someone's outside," One of the men in masks announced. At that moment I couldn't help but feel a little bit of hope.

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