Blood everywhere...

Tears everywhere...

Throbbing everywhere...

Everything swirled inside my head. A Maelstrom of gruesome, blood-stained images... Screams... Gunshots... echoes...

"Asha! Please!... Wake up!" The nerve-racking wails and the drums inside my skull continued to boom out in my ears.

"Ash! Don't leave me! Ash!" I cried, shaking her still body and hoping for a miracle to happen.

No! Asha can't die! She can't just die!

Placing my ear on her chest, I squeezed my eyes shut, my lungs burning with uncontrollable sobs and snivels.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

God, is this sound only in my head or is her heart still beating?!

"Melody!"

A faraway soothing voice called my name. It wasn't Asha... It was him! Akram!

How could this be?

Thump! Thump! Thump!

"Melody, please open the door!"

His sweet voice was anxious... pleading.

"Akram!"

A sudden sense of relief washed over me. I couldn't determine how long it took me to realize that Vivian was gone... The pool of blood was gone... Asha's spiritless body was gone...

Thump! Thump! Thump!

"Melody?!"

Lifting my racked body, I fumbled to find my bearings in the faint light peeking out of the window shades. My pillow was wet with tears, breath ragged, eyes sore and blurry, hair sweaty. A mess of a human being who occupied a place she didn't deserve; His peaceful bedroom.

I scrambled out of bed and faltered to the door. I had to make sure I wasn't delusional. It was hard to tell the difference between reality and illusion right now.

One more thump!

I yanked the door open and the vortex in my head stopped turning in a second.

Akram stood at the door, gorgeous and wholesome and tangible. His cinnamon eyes greeted me and a concerned frown weaved through his precious face.

"Morning." He scanned my face and his brows lowered. "Did I wake you up? I thought I heard you call my name and then... Were you crying?!"

Like a demented person, I stood still in front of him, clinging to the door knob and gawking at his face. I was afraid this might be an illusion. The vivid image of Akram beaten and injured in that photo was too much to bear. I couldn't imagine the thought of him being hurt. Especially because of me. The thought of losing him was suffocating.

"Mel, you're freaking me out. Please say something," he pleaded, an anxious line wrinkling his forehead.

Without a single word, I threw myself in his arms. I hugged him fiercely and buried my face into his chest. A series of ragged gasps were all I could manage to express how I felt.

Akram tensed up for a moment as I caught him off guard. I knew I might be crossing the line, but I couldn't let go. I needed to feel his presence. To make sure he wasn't a figment of my imagination.

It was reassuring that he didn't push me away, and eventually, I sensed the warmth of his arms embracing me ever so gently. Almost as if they weren't touching me. He let me soak his shirt with my tears for a moment that could never be long enough, reveling in the comfort of his touch and the fact that he was safe and sound.

"What?" He breathed over my hair when the tears began to ebb.

"A horrible... dream." Another gasp slipped out. "She hurt you and Ash... I thought..." I broke off and whimpered.

"Shhhh! It's all right, sweetheart. I'm here." Akram stroked my hair once. "Asha's fine too."

My head snapped up in an inquisitive look. He took it as his cue to pull away.

"Asha called while you were sleeping." He slipped back, keeping the tips of my fingers in his hands. "I guess your battery died overnight and she couldn't reach you."

"She called?! W-where's she? What did she say?" The resemblance to the nightmare made my heart sink.

"She's home safe." His thumb caressed the back of my hand. "She said her mother broke her leg, but she's okay."

"Thank Goodness," I exhaled and leaned on the door frame. "I need to hear her voice."

"I'll call her for you," Akram offered and I didn't object. He made the call from his cellphone and gave it to me.

"Ash!" My hand trembled holding the phone. "Can you hear me?"

The chirpy little voice came from the other end and my eyes began to melt once again. "Course I can hear you, Melo, I still have my superhuman hearing. What's up? I thought you forgot about me since you and Superman are now buddy-buddy and you let him take your calls and whatnot. That's a story I can't wait to hear!"

"Goodness, Ash, I missed you!" I smiled in relief. "I'll tell you everything later."

"Missed you too, my zombie," Asha crooned. "We'll be coming back ASAP. Mom's leaving the hospital tomorrow. Thank God! I was so scared!"

"So good to know everyone is okay." I exhaled in relief and wiped a silent tear from my face. "Ash. Please take care of yourself. I can't survive without you."

"Sure you can't! You need me, kiddo!"

"I really do! Please just... be safe." my voice broke.

"Hey, I'm alive and kicking. What is it with the Melo - drama?" She emphasized the last part, making sure I get the pun.

I choked a low chuckle. "I was just... so worried."

"Don't worry, Melo. I don't plan to die anytime soon."

I winced. "Be careful, Ash... and text me a lot, okay?"

"You don't need to ask! Nobody needs to pay for international calls. Unless I want you to, then it's a different issue," Asha said and my face drained. I realized that was why Akram had offered to call her. I was charging him extra money.

"Okay, Ash. I'll text you too. Gotta go now." I ended the expensive call and swept my eyes over the hallway.

"Akram!" I called out and stumbled to search for him, the effect of the dream still poignant, especially when he disappeared from my sight.

Akram stepped out of the living room door. "I'm here."

I almost ran to him again, but stopped myself at the last minute. Taking a ragged deep breath, I walked over to give him his phone back.

Akram scanned my face again, his brows furrowed. "Mel, if you don't feel like going to the police today, I'll go get the car and we can file that report later."

"No!" I exclaimed. "You're not going alone. I'm coming with you. "

Akram's features softened as he cracked a gentle smile. "Are you still worried about me?"

"I'm always worried about you... and Ash." I fiddled with my hair and my face dropped. "I've never had someone to worry about before and I'm not gonna give her another chance to hurt any of you. If this report will help, I'll do it."

An hour later, after a fabulous shower and Akram insisting that I'd eat breakfast, we walked to the nearest police station.

The walk was short... Too short to ease my tenseness. It didn't make things better when some red-haired guy slammed into my side as we crossed the road and almost knocked me over.

Akram muttered something under his breath and grabbed my elbow to stop me from falling, which seemed like his full-time job now.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his expression concerned... again. The good thing was, my nervousness evaporated as I was completely distracted by a new happening .

"You just cussed the guy!"

"Uh! What did you hear exactly?" He pulled his eyebrows upward and twisted his lips.

"You called him 'A blind jerk'." I stared as his face colored up.

"That wasn't cussing." He tilted his head and gave me that innocent puppy look. "It was a factual statement."

If someone had told me I'd be holding back laughter as I entered a police station, I would've questioned their mental state.

The female officer at the front desk took Akram's information about his car , typed something on her computer and gave him a printed paper.

"I'd like to file another report, please," Akram requested. "I've been mugged last May and I hope it's not too late."

"If you can still provide the details, then it's not too late." She nodded and raised her eyebrows into a go-ahead-I-am-listening kind of a look.

After Akram had explained how Vivian set him up and the actual mugging by some other guy - which gave me the shivers and a strong urge to hug him again - the cop led us upstairs to meet with a 'Detective Miles' who invited us to take a seat in front of his desk.

"So, this girl, Vivian, or Velda Zimmer, came to you in a public place and asked for donations and then for you to follow her to some orphanage." The detective steepled his hands on his desk, his face blank. "And you believed her."

"Yes, Sir, I did." Akram nodded.

"And your friend here worked there and knew that girl, but she didn't say anything for over two months?" The detective glanced at me blankly.

"I-I was afraid," I stuttered, kneading my hands on my lap. "She threatened to frame me and... I was ashamed to admit I knew her."

"Mr. Sadiq, you're an American citizen."

"Yes, sir. I am." Akram's brows furrowed.

"As an American citizen, you should've reported this incident immediately. Why the long wait?" Detective Miles leaned back in his seat.

"Excuse me, Sir. Why am I being treated like a suspect?" Akram's tone was calm but I sensed an irritated undertone.

"Let me be honest," detective said. "Something sounds fishy about this story."

My heart began to hammer and I choked my fingers.

"Fishy?" Akram narrowed his eyes.

"We don't appreciate false reports for personal retaliation." Detective Miles raised an eyebrow and tipped his head, as if to prove some obvious point.

"Sir, I don't understand. What personal retaliation?" Akram maintained his collected attitude.

"A report was filed yesterday against your friend, Ms. Melody Summer accusing her of physically assaulting Ms. Zimmer... Then you come today." Miles rubbed his chin. "Sounds like bad blood to me."

My eyes expanded in horror and I stared at Akram's face for reassurance.

Akram didn't flinch and kept a steady eye contact with the cop. "Does this make... Zimmer the victim just because she came to you first?"

"No. We'll still investigate both reports." The detective shook his head and showed a lopsided smile. "But if we pulled the tapes of the mugging and we didn't find what you said happened, both of you will be jailed."

My breath was shallow by then. Akram kept glancing at my face, which must've looked like a lineless sheet of paper.

"Of course, Sir. You're doing your job," Akram spoke in a formal apathetic tone. "Now may I have a copy of the report?"

As we left the police station, the tension returned with a vengeance. We were supposed to get his found car from another precinct's garage.

"Akram!" I choked and clung to his arm, treading through the New York morning rush.

"It's Okay, Mel." He patted on my hand. "They'll find the truth in the tapes."

"She's right," I whispered. "I attacked her... I don't remember the details but..."

"I'll do everything to stop her." Akram eased my hand off his arm and interlocked our fingers. "Try not to worry."

He wouldn't understand how difficult it was not to worry. It was impossible not to imagine the consequences. Asha was the only other witness, but she was hundreds of miles away. If they investigated Vivian's claims, she'd easily bring a dozen of her goons to back her up. The shelter management wouldn't be on my side either. I was kicked out for a really good reason. And now I'd dragged him into this deep hole with me.

We continued to hike silently until we rounded an isolated corner of a construction scaffolding. It cast long shadows ahead of us and somewhat separated us from the bustling street.

Akram's fingers pressed mine and he suddenly came to a halt.

"Melody, stay behind me," he demanded.

"Huh?!"

"Don't... move." Akram spread his arm and literally pushed me behind his back.

My hands clutched at Akram's shirt when I glimpsed a red mane of hair and a lanky shadow peeling itself off one of the wooden poles of the construction site. A shadow that I'd seen before.

A sense of deja Vu nudged my brain into consciousness.

He's the blind jerk! ... But... why does it feel like I've seen him before today?

Akram spread his legs and lifted his arms, assuming a protective posture.

The guy tottered towards us in fast faltering steps. He crossed a sunny spot and something sparkled in his swaying hand... Something metallic and sharp.

I gasped and held my breath, my whole body stiff with terror.

"Ya bish killed mah baby sister!" The redhead slurred and careened to one side, waving his cold weapon in the air, and it hit me like a storm why I was the target.

Akram spun around to face him. He shoved me back, shielding me with his body as the guy attempted to plunge his knife into mine.

Things happened in a flash...

When the redhead raised his armed hand again, Akram jerked his arm with both hands, knocked the guy down on the ground and got on one knee beside him. He pulled the guy's arm and popped it sharply right over his bent leg. The knife dropped with a clink, I heard something snap, and the guy howled in pain.

"Oh God!" I uttered a short cry and smacked my hands over my mouth.

Akram jumped up and rushed to me. He cupped my face and looked into my eyes. "Let's get out of here."

"I-I can't... M-move... my legs!" I croaked, gawking at his flushed face.

The painful howls continued in the background.

"It's okay, sweetie," Akram assured me and wound his arm around my shoulders, dragging me away. "But we have to hurry in case he's not alone."

Still gawking at him, something frightening caught my attention.

"Akram!" I shrieked. "You're... bleeding!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N

YAY!!!!! SHE'S ALIVE!!! SHE'S ALIVE!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎆🎆🎇🎇

Aren't we all happy Asha is fine?? 😆😄

'Emotionally hurt' readers. How do you guys feel? XD

Yeah I know many of you guessed it had been a dream. I didn't want to spoil it, but you got it right. 😜
You probably hate me more right now, but I guess I'll survive . 😌😌

~So, have you caught on the red-haired guy before? in a previous chapter, maybe?? Hmm! Anyone?

*Anyone can guess who that guy is?

*Why do you think he wanted to attack Melody and how is he connected to all of this?

*What do you think about Akram as a fighter? Were you surprised?

*Do you think the police might charge Mel and believe The cobra??

Please share your thoughts and views. Your feedback means the world.

Much Love

Most_bay