"You know what hurts the most? The fact that I haven't forgiven him and yet he still took a bullet for me." -Adam Mathews, IASWAD.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX: The Rescue

Zamzam Amin

I felt a little bit of hope at the thought of someone coming here to rescue me but then it quickly vanished when it turned out it was just another minion. Ya Allah please save me already, I prayed for the 100th time. Mahmoud sat back down on the ground and laid back on the wall in front of me. "I'm sorry. I wish this was not happening to you," He said apologetically. "You don't deserve it. Nobody should ever have to go through this. I'm so sorry about my part in everything as well."

Before I could say anything Alec came through the door and suddenly grabbed me by the arm. He was on the phone with someone and by the looks of it he looked angry. "I have her with me so if you don't want anything to happen to her then I suggest you come tomorrow night. Don't you think it's time you and your brother actually acknowledge each other?" He had a cynical look on his face. Oh god how I wish I could just slap it off.

"Here's proof." He held the phone against my ear.

"Zamzam?"

I never thought I'd be so grateful to hear Adam's voice than I am at this moment.

"I'm here." I said in a shaky voice.

"Zam, I know you're worried but don't be." Adam stated. "I won't let anything happen to you." He reassured me. "You're strong and we'll get you out of this together, okay?"

"Okay..." I replied as a tear made it's way down my cheek. Only Allah knows just how much I needed to hear that.

"There, now you believe me? I'll bring her with me tonight but if I see you and your friends doing anything I will not hesitate to get rid of her." Alec threatened in angry tone. He roughly shoved me back on to the seat and left.

Adam Mathews

"Are you sure it's going to work?" Mr. Amin asked worriedly. "We can't be one hundred percent sure but this is our best shot." One of the police officers replied hastily. But that answer didn't seem to satisfy him. "My daughter's life is on the line and so are my son and Adam's! I need to know that this plan will work." He exclaimed. "H-How could something like this happen to my baby girl? It's all my fault. I should've paid more attention to what was going on in her life I should've been there for her. She's already lost one parent..." He trailed as he ran a hand across his face in distress.

"Baba everything will be alright, In Shaa Allah." Abdirahman said as he put an arm around Mr. Amin. "Yeah Baba, with the qadr of Allah she will come back home to us safe." Isa added as he approached his father. After a minute or so Mr. Amin managed to compose himself.

"Mr. Amin please calm down." The officer tried to reason. "We will surround the surface. Nothing will happen to any of these children." He added reassuringly. For some reason I'm not worried about what could happen to me. All I want is to get Zamzam out of there and finally end this for good. Isa placed his hand on my shoulder, "We can do this." He said with confidence.

"I know."

* * *

Over the past day a bunch of people came to Isa's house because they were worried about Zamzam. Aliyah, Sam and Amir went crazy after they heard about her disappearance which made sense because they are her best friends. It's hard explaining everything without telling about my family's involvement in it. Actually they're not my family, only the people I share some DNA with. The only one I can proudly address as my family is my mother. I also got updates from Alex about how Zamzam was doing and what my father and Avon were up to. I feel better knowing that Alex is there with her so he wouldn't let anything bad happen to her.

Amir seemed to know exactly what was going on at the moment as he approached us. "You guys have to be careful okay?" He said worriedly. Instead of talking both Isa and I just nodded our heads in response. We're about to go to meet with Avon and my father. I already told Isa and Amir about Avon being my half brother which they were surprised about. Now all of this makes sense. But the part that still leaves me confused is the part where he had to involve Isa. I mean at the time I didn't even know him so why involve him? I guess I'll find out soon enough.

"Wear these wires under your clothes." The officer instructed as he taped wires on me and Isa. "You guys know exactly what to do. Just get the information we need then when the time comes we will come in. Then you guys can grab the girl, okay?" He went over the plan once more.

"Got it." Isa and I responded in unison.

I'm coming for you Zamzam...

Zamzam Amin

"Grab her!" One of the minions demanded. Mahmoud quickly got up and grabbed me roughly. "Sorry." He whispered. He then lead me outside the warehouse and around the back of it. "You ready for this dad?" Avon said as he walked up to Alec. Dad? Avon and Adam are brothers!? I wonder if Adam knows...

Think about that another time Zam! I scolded myself. I looked around our surroundings and it was at the moment I saw two figures emerge from the darkness, they were Isa and Adam. "You guys are finally here." Alec said as he clapped his hands together.

"Yes now let my sister go." Isa demanded. The grip another one of the minions had on my arm grew tighter and tighter by the second. "I don't think we can let her go. You see you," Avon gestured to me. "Were just collateral damage. We knew that if you were in danger Adam would come running to save you. I've been waiting all my life for this moment." He suddenly pulled a gun from his back pocket.

"What're you doing? This wasn't a part of the plan!" Alec panicked. Immediately fear started to seep into my heart, ya Allah this can't be happening!

"This wasn't a part of your plan dad, but it was always a part of mine." He pulled the gun out and aimed it at Adam. No! I tried my best to free myself but it was no use. No he can't die! This can't be happening! "Have any last words?" Avon asked as he took a step closer to Adam. For some reason he didn't seem all that scared, it was like he was accepting this reality. "You're going to pay for everything you've done, you son of a bitch." Adam responded with nothing but hatred in his tone.

"Yeah? Let's see if you live till then." He said as he took a step closer to Adam.

"No!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I tried to free myself. This cannot be happening, I repeated. He cannot die! Please Allah, please save him. Ya Allah I beg of you to let us all out of this situation. I can't witness the man that I love die right in front of me. Avon then picked the gun up higher and pulled the trigger but just in time another person pushed both Isa and Adam away. The loud boom of the bullet pierced the air.

"Alex?" Adam ran to Alex who was laying on the ground. Ya Allah please let him be okay, I silently prayed. "Alex!" Adam yelled as he held on to him, tears streaming down his cheeks. My heart broke into a million pieces once I saw him crouch down on to the floor as he stand on his knees. "He'll be okay In Shaa Allah." Isa reassured him. In that moment there was nothing I wanted to do more other than run up to Adam and give him a hug. "I found a pulse!" He exclaimed with hope.

"N.Y P.D! We have the place surrounded." A bunch of cops ran up to the scene but they were too late. Alec had already run off to god knows where. Suddenly Adam got up and tackled Avon to the ground while managing to get the gun away from him. He threw punches left and right until Avon was unconscious. I managed to run to where Isa was and crouched down to where Alex was laying in a pool of blood. The ambulance quickly came to where we were and put him on a gurney.

"Let's go with the ambulance to make sure he's okay!" I said with worry. Adam was pulled away from Avon by a cop. He looked like he wanted nothing more but to kill him which scared me. "Come on!" Isa exclaimed, catching his attention. Adam quickly ran inside the ambulance and held  Alex's hand.

Adam Mathews

At this moment, I can't really put into words what I'm feeling. Seeing my best friend lying on this gurney so lifeless...is a feeling I can't describe. You know what hurts the most? The fact that I haven't forgiven him and yet he still took a bullet for me. This was supposed to be me! Not him. For as long as I've known Alex, anytime I'd mess up big time he'd always forgive me. Yet I wasn't able to do the same for him when he only messed up once... What kind of a friend does that make me?

"I'm so sorry Alex," I said as tears continued to stream down my cheeks. This was all my fault! I've never hated myself as much as I do at this very moment. It was my ego that got us into this situation. If I had forgiven him then he wouldn't be laying on this gurney fighting for his life.

"It's okay..." He said in a tone so low it was barely above a whisper. He's okay... Zamzam is okay... Everyone is okay... Everyone I love is finally okay.

[1 month later]

After a couple of weeks the cops were able to find my father due to my mother's help and he was put away along with Avon. Alex has gotten a lot better as well, I've been visiting him everyday. So have Zamzam and Isa. "I'm going to go to the cafeteria. Anyone want anything?" Zamzam asked as she opened the door.

"I'll come with you." I got up from the chair and followed her out. We both started walking together side by side towards the cafeteria. For a while neither of us didn't say anything and for once the quiet silence between us wasn't awkward. It was actually peaceful.

"How're you feeling?" I asked as I turned to her. She let out a sigh as she stared down at the tiled floors. "I'd like to say that I'm fine but we both know that I'm a bad liar. But I'm thankful that everyone got out of there alive, Alhamdulilah." She added with optimism. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger right?"

"True, you're the strongest woman I've ever met."

"Well look who's being nice." She added as she playfully placed a hand on her heart. I couldn't help but let out a laugh which was something I haven't done in awhile. She smiled back at me then turned around as a blush made its way across her features. Yup, I still got it. The old me would've made a remark about it but for some reason I decided to leave it alone today.

"So, it's over right?"

"Yup." I replied, popping the 'P'.

"Is the bet officially back on now?"

"I guess it is," I know that she's already won but I can't seem to get the words out of my mouth. A part of me just wants to keep it going to see how much she could change me. "So bring it, Scarfy." I smirked at her reaction."It's already brought, Cocky." She retorted, skipping away from where I was standing. I can't believe how much could change within just three months. Before I was the guy every girl wanted and every guy want to be. I was shallow and full of myself but it all changed when she entered my life.

I can't believe I'm saying this but for once I'm thankful for History. Without being paired with Zamzam I never would've dared her to change my ways.

STAY

QURUX

MY

QURUXLEYS

MWAH!!:)😘