and if you are to love
love as the moon loves;
it does not steal the night-
it only unveils the beauty
of the dark.
    -isra al-thibeh

_____________________________________

'But Anna is not the sort to commit suicide. She loved life. She enjoyed living. She dove headlong into challenges, never giving up.' I argue.

'You don't think time would have changed that? You met her two years ago.' Maaz is apprehensive.

'Yes, I'm sure. I can't believe Anna would suicide. There is some missing piece to it.'

'Perhaps.'

Stacks of papers cover the carpet like dead leaves strewn across the autumn floor. Some newspaper reports, few journal entries and some other recorded papers. I set aside the stack I am scrutinizing.

'Show me her pictures.'

Maaz looks at me sharply, keeping his papers aside, worry creeps into his eyes and his jaw tightens. 

'I can handle it.' I convince him.

'If you insist.' He weaves through the papers on the floor and reaches the desk. He unlocks it and removes another file.

He hands it to me skeptically.

I flip it open and do not let my emotions get the better of me. I keep my face straight. Yet a sharp breath which sounds like a gasp escapes me, when I see her picture.

Maaz is on the floor beside me, already reaching for the file.

'No! Let me.' I stop him.

I stare at her pictures and compare the life filled Anna to the dead one. They are two different beings. Anna was synonymous with life.

'What's this on her hand?' I ask suddenly.

'It's a bracelet.'

'I know that, but why does she have it? Is this an identification tag put by the police?' I squint at the silver bracelet around her arm in the grainy picture. I can't make it out exactly.

'No, this is how she was found.' He responds. 'Before the police came.'

He looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to process my thoughts.

'Anna was a tomboy, she hated all kinds of girly things. A bracelet is something Anna would never wear.' I explain.

'Maybe someone gave her...'

'Still no, I know Anna and that's simply not her.' I say.

'Unless someone shoved it into her hand.' I add as an afterthought.

'Why would anyone do that.' Maaz rolls his eyes at me.

'All this reading is driving you nuts, let's go get some air.' He pulls me up along with him.

'Legs slightly apart. Relax. Don't strain your muscles, this is not hand combat.' Maaz guides me, screaming over the booming shots.

'I didn't know your idea of taking some air was shooting!' I scream back.

He laughs and adjusts my hands once more over the gun. I pull the trigger at his command, the recoil takes me by surprise. The bullet misses the target by a mile.

'Watch me.' Maaz mouths before taking his place. He aims and shoots almost hitting the target.

I stick my tongue out at him, 'You missed!'

'Still better off than you.' He smirks.

'How long have you been coming here?' I ask as we walk down the pavement.

The silence is astounding, an hour inside the shooting range has damaged my ears in spite of the ear muffs. I shake them and twist my ear lobe with my fingers.

'Almost six months.' Maaz responds.

'And you still suck at it.' I laugh.

'I was being humble so that you don't feel belittled.' He snorts.

'Dinner?' He asks.

I nod my head. All that shooting has made me hungry.

'Pizza?' I nod again.

Anna's family lived five hundred kilometres away, it would be a three hour drive if we drove with no stops.

Maaz decided we would stay the night in that town. He hoped we would find more information the next day.

I have packed our overnight bag and pictures of Anna. I am unsure how her parents would react to a stranger asking about their dead daughter.

'When are we leaving?' I twist on the bed to face Maaz.

'Arhaan will be here by seven.' Maaz replies.

I toss and turn but my mind cooks up probable scenarios of tomorrow. An hour later I manage to fall asleep.

The shrill ringing of the phone breaks my short slumber. Maaz grumbles in his sleep reaching out for his phone.

I grab it for him, it is two am.

'Who is it?' He mumbles.

'Aylin.'

He groggily gets up and receives the call.

'You better have a good reason to be calling.' He growls.

I wait with bated breath, my heart thunders in my chest as I watch him shake his head.

'When?' He asks sharply.

'Where are you now?' He asks again.

I fail to hear the other side of the conversation.

'What took you so long?'

'Okay we are on our way.' He shoves the blanket away in one smooth motion.

Sleep has been wiped out from his eyes, I watch him move across the room.

'Get dressed, we need to leave.'

'Now?' Dread coils around my stomach.

'Yes, I'll explain on the way.'

His tone tells me he is dreading having this conversation with me. I hurriedly dress up without much thought.

I can't keep my curiosity in by the time we are at the door.

'What happened?' I lock our front door.

Maaz is bathed in the yellow porch light. His eyes are dark and they penetrate deep into me. I know he is deliberating.

'Lisa...' He sighs. 'Aylin says she found Lisa.'

I open my mouth and close it with no sound. Lisa is found! Oh, how long has it been since I've seen her forest green innocent eyes and raven black hair framing her pretty face.

My thoughts come to a screeching halt as another word registers in my head. Found.

Does that mean dead or alive?

My short lived happiness bursts, the smile drops from my face and I shiver in the warm night.

Maaz reads my changing expressions, 'She's alive.'

My shoulders slump in relief. Maaz gently slips his pinky into mine and we walk to the car in silence.

Maaz cuts the engine in front of a small brick house. Wild uncut grass has been left to grow on the front lawn, the green growth has weaved itself upto the front door. The path leading to the front door is lost in the sea of green.

The small two storey is dipped in darkness , the host is oblivious to their uninvited guests lurking outside.

Maaz is alert, scanning the area, his eyes noting every detail. A sharp rap on the window makes me jump.

Mousy brown hair appear at my window, hazel eyes peer inside. I let out a sigh as I recognize Aylin.

Maaz unlocks the doors and she slips into the backseat.

'I followed him here.' Aylin rasps.

Maaz hands her a bottle of water. She takes it from him gratefully.

'Who was he?'

'I don't know, he is young-ish maybe in his twenties. Blond hair, tall, kind of cute. He doesn't seem like a bad guy.' Aylin sighs.

Maaz shakes his head, 'Focus Aylin, looks can be deceiving.'

'Sorry. Last week, I saw them at the supermarket. He was holding Lisa's hand. She had a baseball hat pulled low over her face and he kept adjusting it as if he didn't want others to see her. But I'd recognize her anyhow. She's been under my care since she was a kid.'

'You are sure it was Lisa?' I can't help confirming.

'Definitely.'

'I was not able to follow him last week, I waited for him to visit the supermarket again. Though, Lisa wasn't with him today.' Aylin chews on her lips.

'And now?' I ask.

'We break in and take Lisa ' Maaz states staring blankly at the iron gates of the small sleeping house.

'As in un-kidnap her?' I say unsurely.

'Taking him by surprise is our best option. If he finds out we know he may try to take her away. We don't know his intentions yet.' He says.

'That's what I've been thinking... Lisa is not a child who would bring a ransom. I don't understand why she was kidnapped.' Aylin says.

The derelict brick house before us beckons with a promise of answers.

'You stay in the car. Take it down the street. If we don't return in thirty call the police.' Maaz twists towards Aylin and instructs her.

His eyes move over to me, softening with concern, he touches his palm to my hand, a fleeting touch of reassurance.

We quietly slip out of the car. The unkept grass pads our footsteps. The heavy iron door revolts to our touch. The soft purr of the engine disappears as Aylin drives down the lane leaving the road in darkness.

Maaz picks up a stout fallen branch from the ground and pushes it into my hand.

'What am I going to do with this?' I whisper harshly.

'We can't walk in unprepared.' He places his finger over my lips, silencing me.

He takes the lead, threading between the tall weeds and I follow him. The street lamp is left behind and darkness looms around us, beetles hurry out of our path.

I duck as a bat circles over the lawn. A faded wooden door looms in front. Maaz tries the handle.

'Sure the front door would be open at three am!' I huff.

He shrugs, 'Doesn't hurt to try.'

He retrieves his wallet and slides out an amazon gift card.

'I'm sure Arhaan didn't mean this when he said I can do anything with it...' Maaz mumbles.

He slides the card into the sliver of space between the door and the frame. He begins to pull and jiggle the lock. I stare at him aghast.

After ten minutes of, letting mosquitoes suck my blood, I hear the pins click, the door opens an inch, and Maaz turns to me smirking.

But it stops there not opening further. A ancient chain strung behind the door, keeps it closed in place.

It is my turn to smirk at him.

'Your hand is slim, trying sliding out the chain.' Maaz whispers to me, taking the heavy piece of wood from my hand.

I step forward and slide my hand into the gap, twisting it behind the door I reach for the chain. My hand scrapes the wood as I slide it.

'Not working.' I whisper as the chain once again slips from my hold.

I feel exposed as Maaz moves from my side leaving me alone at the door. I move my hands to get his attention but he is staring intently at the ground.

This guy is going to get us both arrested! I idly wonder if that is what Aylin wanted to do.

Before my vivid imagination catches up Maaz is back with a small twig forked at one end.

'Use this.' He hands it to me.

The chain gives way with a clunk. We wait with bated breath. I crane my head around the side of the house but no lights flicker open.

Maaz pushes the door open and slides in.

I begin to search the other side of the house for Lisa. I do not know what is going to happen if the man wakes up. We don't know who he is but Maaz walks with ease. He lifts up a photo frame and is squinting at it in the darkness.

Leaving him I move into the room nearest to me. The dim night lamp illuminates a small desk  and a tiny white wardrobe beside it. In the center is a baby pink bed which seems to be the only new piece of furniture here. A stained red rug is thrown on the floor.

My heart skips a beat as my eyes land on the figure on the bed. Nestled in between the white pillows, Lisa's stark black hair are a striking contrast.

My eyes stay riveted on her peaceful sleeping form. The wounds her disappearance had caused seal themselves up. I tread towards her unable to stop myself.

I press a soft kiss on her forehead. She snuggles into the pillows with a small smile, my heart bursts with joy and I stop myself from taking her into my arms.

A crash emerges from outside followed by a shout, I hear Maaz's low voice. I retrace my footsteps and peer outside.

Maaz holds the branch he had handed me earlier pointed at a man whose back is towards me.

My eyes spot a dictionary lying on the desk and I lift it, testing its weight. Deciding I wouldn't get a better weapon I slowly approach the man from behind.

Preparing to use all of my force I bring the book up.

'No!' A small white figure darts past me hugging the man. Startled, I drop the dictionary from my hand.

'No don't hurt my uncle.' Lisa says strongly, her face buried into his back.

Maaz mirrors my expression of shock on the opposite side.

***

A/N ; Hello everyone, It has been a while. Two weeks to be precise. But what can I do? Life gets in between!

I usually put up announcements when an update is late. I know how annoying it is when authors don't update on time :D

But you guys have stuck with me through all of it and I fail to find the words to Thank each and everyone of you. Your votes and comments is like a ray of sunshine on a rainy day, bringing cheer and brightness to me.

Please follow me if you want to stay informed about the next update. But let's hope there aren't anymore delays.

Communicate.