Are you ready, kids!

AYE, AYE, CAPTAIN!

I can't hear you!

AYE, AYE, CAPTAIN!

A chunk of consciousness spiraled back into my head when I heard SpongeBob SquarePants theme song. I used to love the show. It didn't sound like the one on TV, though. Someone was mimicking the voices. The singing was so close, accompanied by continuous squeaks that grated on my ears.

My eyelids fluttered open to meet the sunlight peeking through a lace curtain. I squinted and rolled my incredibly heavy head to the right to see the source of the noise.

There was a little girl - about nine or ten - in a pink, floral dress. Her long hair was done into a chocolaty braid. She was cute with delicate features and doe eyes as she crossed her skinny legs on a rocking chair, swinging it back and forth while she sang.

My eyes fully opened, scanning the place around me. This wasn't Akram's room in Manhattan. I pulled myself up on the bed, feeling every bone in my body groaning with pain.

"Jan... Jan, where are you?" a soft feminine voice called, before a gentle looking lady entered the room, holding a tray in her hands.

The lady stopped and smiled when she laid eyes on me. "Sorry, dear. Did Jannah wake you up?"

I shook my head, staring at her in confusion. I must've looked pathetic, because the look in her eyes teemed with pity. Tiny wrinkles appeared around her eyes as she smiled kindly. She had ash-brown hair tied into a bun, frameless glasses, and a rather rounded figure.

The little girl continued to sing, the chair continued to squeak, and my head was hollow as I continued to gape at her. I couldn't remember seeing her before, but something in her eyes made me feel at ease.

The lady inched closer, placing the breakfast tray on the bed. She swept her hand over my hair. "How are we today?"

I nodded my head. Her touch was soothing, like the touch of the mother I'd never had. I tried to speak, but my dry lips trembled soundlessly.

Her smile grew more sympathetic. "I'll let you sleep in." She turned to the little girl on the rocking chair. "Jan. Come with me, dear."

"No!" I croaked, clinging to her arm. She raised her brows, the motherly smile more concerned. "W-where's Akram? Is-is he okay?"

A shudder coursed through my spine. The only memories I recalled was Akram telling me we had to go with Laila to his parents' home. The next thing, I was staggering in a doorway, leaning on Akram's shoulder when I'd noticed that his arm was bleeding again. Everything had gone dark afterwards. I remembered nothing in between.

"He's fine, dear. They're all waiting outside." She nodded reassuringly.

My bashed brain couldn't care less who they were. All I cared about was Akram.

"I need to see him," I rasped.

In haste, I threw the covers back and jumped out of bed. Dark spots began to pop into the air and my wobbly legs failed to hold me up.

"Careful, sweetie." The lady supported me with her arms, helping me sit back down on the edge of the bed.

"H-he was hurt." My voice trembled.

"My boy's fine. He's just concerned about you."

I stared up at her benign features, recognizing her eyes for the first time.

"You're Sophie?" I murmured absently, then my face heated up. "I'm so sorry! I mean... Mrs. Sadiq."

"You can call me Sophie." Her smile creased the corners of her eyes, the same way it did for her son. "It's nice to meet you, Melody."

"Thank you. I'm sorry, I'm just..." I let out a short breath. "Trying to remember how I got here."

"Don't you remember?" She drew her eyebrows together.

I shook my head slowly, rubbing my forehead. A nagging feeling told me something horrible had happened that my subconscious mind was blocking out.

Sophie placed a finger over her lips, looking down for a minute. "It's ok, dear. What's the last thing you remember?"

"Um! I remember... packing." I pressed my throbbing temples, attempting to refresh my memory. "And... Laila driving us in her car, then... I'm not sure what happened."

"Oh, it's all right." She smiled warmly. "You've been through a lot."

"What time did we arrive last night?" I asked, feeling disoriented.

"It wasn't last night, dear." She patted my shoulder gently. "It was the night before."

"What?!" My head snapped up. "I've been sleeping all that time?"

The idea that a whole day dropped from my memory didn't set well with me. It was like I got robbed of a private possession.

Sophie sighed and sat on the bed next to me, massaging my arm. "Sweetie, you needed rest. You were exhausted and the nightmares kept you restless."

"Oh," I whispered to myself. Akram's mother watching me having nightmares was an embarrassing prospect. But yeah. There were vague remnants of nightmares somewhere at the back of my mind.

"You must be starving too," she crooned and reached for the breakfast tray. "I didn't know what you like, but nobody ever said no to my cinnamon pancakes."

My stomach clenched at the mention of food, hands overlapping my abdomen.

Sophie placed the tray on the nightstand and lifted a steaming mug in her hand. "Have some tea, it will help your tummy. I brought you Aspirin too."

She said 'tummy' like she was talking to a child and I couldn't help feeling content and grateful. "Thank you... for all the trouble."

"You're welcome, sweetie." She handed me the Aspirin and the tea, and started cutting the pancakes for me. No wonder Akram said he'd been spoiled.

Sipping the warm tea eased up my stomach cramps a little bit. The caramel glazed cinnamon pancakes tasted like heaven on a plate. I wanted to resist, but I ended up eating half of them, which was never a good idea.

"I'm sorry, can I use the bathroom?" I requested. "I hate to be a burden, but... I need a shower."

"Of course." Sophie got up and put the plate and mug back on the tray. "It's the door behind you."

Carefully, I raised to my feet. My body swayed for a second and I got slightly light-headed.

Sophie grasped my arm firmly. "Will you need my help in there? You seem dizzy."

My face burned. "I think I can manage."

"Okay, dear. Jan and l will stay here in case you need anything."

I found my bag, grabbed some clothes and stepped into the bathroom. I let the hot shower unknot my achy muscles and clear up my head little by little. Yes. Something awful had happened. The magnitude of it came crashing down as the water heater gushed its content all over my body. I had caused so much damage again. I had caused someone's death. Again! I survived, yet it didn't feel like a great victory.

I was lucky the whooshing of the shower was loud, or Sophie would've heard the convulsive sobs that wrenched my being until the hot water ran out.

****

Sophie and Jan were still in the room when I got out, my hair and eyes still damp.

"You feel better, Melody?" Sophie stood up and asked softly. "Can I help with anything?"

"I'm fine. Thank you." My tone was barely audible. I plodded forward and plopped on the bed, staring blankly at the floor. The worst had passed in the shower, but I was internally shaking.

"Oh, honey. Have you been crying?" A gentle touch stroked my back.

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and repeated faintly, "I'm fine."

"It's okay, sweetie. Everything is going to be just fine." She hugged me tightly and patted on my hair.

"Sorry for being such a nuisance..." I muffled a sob on her shoulder. "I just remembered something terrible."

"That's nonsense. I'm happy to be here for you." She kissed the top of my head. "If you ever wanted to talk..."

A quick triple knock interrupted the conversation. Then a warm, anxious voice asked from the other side, "can I come in?"

"Be patient," Sophie replied to him, then smiled at me. "Do we let him in?"

Jannah didn't give me a chance to reply. She uttered a high-pitched scream, jumped off the rocking chair, and popped the door open.

"Aku! Aku!" She squealed and jumped on Akram.

He chuckled and lifted her off the floor, while she wrapped her arms and legs around him. It reminded me of a cute Koala bear clinging to a tree. Except the tree looked like a handsome gentleman.

My lips curved of their own accord. They looked adorable together. Akram, the older brother, was a sight to behold.

He didn't take his eyes off mine as he carried his sister and walked through the door. He put her down next to Sophie. His mother patted his face, saying something I didn't understand - in Arabic, of course - then she and Jan left the room.

As soon as they went out, Akram rushed toward me, squatting on the floor at the bedside. He took my hands in his and scanned my face, his cinnamon eyes smoldering. He stayed silent for a long moment.

"Are you okay?" I asked him when he didn't speak.

"You're asking me?" His voice came out husky.

My eyes roamed frantically about the length of his arm. "Your arm was bleeding again."

"It's nothing." He lifted his freshly bandaged arm casually and frowned. "You were going to be killed. Twice. In the same day. I can hardly compete with that."

"I told you I'm bad news." I swallowed. "I should've left."

"What?!" His expression darkened.

"You know what I mean."

He rolled his lips into his mouth, gazing at me for another silent minute.

"I'm sorry." His voice broke.

"What for?!"

"I was there each time, and you barely made it safely." His jaws clenched, forehead puckered. "I failed you again."

"Akram!"

"I tried to protect you, but..." His throat moved, looking down.

"But you did." I pressed his hands in mine. "I owe you my life, over and over again."

"You don't get it." He raised his eyes to me, a pained look rippling in his irises. "I thought I could keep you safe all by myself. I was wrong. I was arrogant. And I've realized how helpless I really am. I had no idea what could happen next. Or... if I could do the right thing. I was stupid, and I'm so sorry."

He dropped on his knees over the carpeted floor, his eyes imploring.

The intensity of his expression wrung my heart. I pulled his hand and embraced it between my palms. "Akram, what are you talking about? I'm here... I'm safe. All because of you. You brought me here."

"I didn't! It was Laila. If she hadn't showed up, you could've..." he broke off, shaking his head. "I'm really sorry. It was bigger than me. I didn't understand what we're dealing with... All I want is to keep you safe, Mel. I can't risk losing you."

"Akram, believe me. It's fine." I tried to convince him.

His head sagged, pinching his nose bridge.

I gaped in confusion. There was something terribly wrong with this. It didn't make sense for Akram to berate himself. Especially not now. He should be happy. Nothing in the world was worth the sadness in his eyes. Why was it hard for him to believe everything was okay now? That I was safe and sound because of him? Well, it could be that my pessimism rubbed off on him... maybe. I mean, he should be relieved, shouldn't he? Now that it's over, he should stop worrying about protecting me. He should be worrying about his well-being - focus on his studies and his music, and maybe allow me to be there for him sometimes... If he wanted.

My thoughts dimmed watching his agonized face. All I wanted was to make him see his worth. To tell him how much he meant to me. At the same time, I resisted a ridiculously strong impulse to take him in my arms, comfort him and pour all my desperate thoughts on his chest.

"Please forgive me," he whispered and started to get up.

"Akram, wait." My hands flew beyond my control to cradle his face. He froze in his position and closed his eyes.

"I-I need to tell you something..."

His face was so warm and it made my thoughts disintegrate and disappear into thin air. My thumbs involuntarily traced his cheek bones, his closed eyelids, his eyebrows, his temples. My nerves began to shake, forgetting all my words.

A sudden screech and thud echoed in the room as Jannah stormed in. I released Akram's face and folded my arms.

"Wanna play? Wanna play?" she asked in a shrill voice, jumping over Akram's back. The action looked a little out of place.

His intense features unruffled, opening his eyes and pulling her in his arms. "Okay, princess. We'll play, but not now."

"Wanna play?"

"We will, I promise." Akram kissed her cheek while she kept squirming in his arms.

He turned toward me, a half smile beaming on his lips. "Have you met my princess and my queen?" He pointed his chin to the door.

I nodded, mimicking his smile. "You have a beautiful family."

"Yes I do." His eyes lit up. "Would you like to meet the rest of them?"

"Your father?" My smile fell.

"No, the doctor's not home." I couldn't miss the slight wrinkle on his forehead.

"The doctor?"

"Yeah." He chuckled once. "That's what Akmal and I call him sometimes."

"Akmal?"

"My older brother. Remember the white Toyota?" His eyes returned to serious mode.

"Oh!" My eyes expanded. It made perfect sense why he'd looked familiar.

"He and Laila want to talk to you." He ran his fingers nervously through his hair and got up to his feet. Janna was squeaking and pulling him by his shirt toward the door. "You don't have to, if you're not feeling well."

"I'm okay," I assured him.

"Are you sure?" His concerned eyes examined my face again.

I got up and nodded, giving him a tight smile.

"Oh, Jannah. I've been looking for you," Sophie crooned, peeking through the door. She walked in, grasped her daughter's hand, then cocked her eyebrow at Akram. "Are you coming? Your brother's asking."

He nodded. "In a minute."

"Melody, sweetie, they can wait if you need to rest," she addressed me softly.

"No. I'll be there."

"All right, dearies." She took Jan with her, shooting Akram a meaningful glance as she left the room.

"Are you in trouble because of me?" I asked, biting the tip of my thumb.

"Nah. She's just making sure I'm on my best behavior." He rolled his eyes.

"She's so sweet. I wish I had a mother like her," I admitted.

"I don't think there's anyone like her, but I'll be glad to share." His lips curved fondly.

I'd never heard anyone say anything like that before. It was one of the nicest things he'd ever said to me.

"Mel, I was... uh..." He scratched his eyebrow once. "You... wanted to tell me something?"

"Umm, maybe some other time," I replied, avoiding his eyes. "We shouldn't keep them waiting."

"Ok. I should fill you in, though." He made a face. "Akmal is a bit... off-center."

"S-should I be worried?" I asked, already worried.

"Just don't mind him." He offered me his hand. "Shall we?"

Gladly, I accepted his offer. I took a deep, calming breath, clinging to his hand as we stepped out of the room.

-----------

Hey there , dear ones!

Am I a good friend now? I don't think it's a month past the last update, is it? XD

I really hope you enjoy this first part of the chapter, introducing new characters. I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

*So, you think Akram was being overdramatic in this part? And why?

*What do you think about Akram's family?

*What are your guesses about Akmal, his older brother? Why do you think Akram meant by 'off-centre'?

*Any idea what Akmal and Laila want to talk about?

Please share your views. I would love to know how this part made you feel.

Much love

Most_bay