"the kindest hearts are the most blackened - derek"

Derek had just about settled down on a table for three at the mall of Janabiyah. It was a large and widely spaced building with over ten floors that held a variety of stores. Exquisite lighting brightened up the pathways and dark marble tiles were layed down.

It was busy with a lot of liveliness and happiness.

Although he had naturally expected to go into some actual restaurant, Faaris had told them that they had to try the Italian food from a stall at this mall.

It was a twenty minute drive and the stall was located on the ground floor. Just according to the setting, the stall was shaped into a mollusk within which - instead of a pearl - the counter was found.

Long lines indicated that it surely did sell some good food. Both Gabriel and Faaris had headed to give their order. On the other hand, he had chosen to take a table and get seated while enjoying the scene.

He did click a lot of pictures while awaiting their arrival.

Faaris had called him and Gabriel earlier in the afternoon so they could have a good dinner together for the last time since both of them were to leave early the day after tomorrow.

Resting his elbows over the table top, he fancied the welcoming smiles many passerby's threw at him.

He didn't see that much in England.

There was a large waterfall that went uptil the supposed roof of the mall. Water trickled down across the bounders and fell down into a large pond underneath with artificial rocks. From where he sat, raising his neck a but, he could clearly see some gold fishes swimming through.

Large glass slides rested a few feet high, serving as barriers to the little kids who kept swaying around that area a lot.

So mesmerising was the beauty of it that he got up with his phone and decided to click a selfie.

As he scurried past the people, his eyes narrowed at one specific person who caught his attention.

With brown eyes and hair, he seemed a lot more familiar.

His interest suddenly shifted as that lean man limped, his eyes wildly assessing the area.

Instantaneously, he clicked the record button and the video started getting recorded. He hurried through the large crowds, his eyes fixed at the head of his target.

He knew that if at all this person turned around or felt like he was being followed and tried to inspect his surroundings, he was sure to recognize him.

As a precautionary measure, he kept his head ducked most of the times and just followed his instinct.

For a few minutes, he wandered behind the man who kept gazing around to make sure he wasn't being followed.

Derek was certain that something wasn't quite right.

For fifteen minutes straight - as per his wristwatch - he seemed to be following him without any traces of suspicion.

By this point he had started to doubt his own gut. Only one thing made him keep up with the man ; the way he kept glancing around nervously every so often.

As if, he was afraid of being seen.

But why?

Derek steadied his steps and paused for a minute when he realised that they had reached into an unknown part of the mall. Scanning his vicinity, he decided to be silent and follow along now that he had come so far.

Following quietly for another five minutes, he abruptly came to a stop a feet away from him when he saw something disturbing.

This guy was meeting another man in a hooded jacket.

Derek had only started to squint his eyes to make out the dark figure when the mall was enveloped in darkness.

With the phone's light still illuminating his path, he tried to stay calm.

Both the men departed soon after and following the lead of the brown haired guy, he had soon enough returned to where he had been. However the scenario was much different.

People were running about in all directions, screaming.

Derek tried to dodge them all whilst being bothered by his thoughts. The lights had gone off during the same time the brown haired guy met his alias.

Was there something he was missing on?

The lights flickered back on. It took him a minute to adjust to the sudden illumination.

Sighing, he stopped the recording on his phone and proceeded to move along to the stall that was a little towards his left.

A large crowd had collected around a specific table which aroused his curiousity.

He pushed himself through the people and as he neared, he found a figure sprawled across the floor, a pool of blood around him.

"Faaris!"

Sarah sat down beside Derek. His fisted hands resting against his forehead, eyes shut with a frown.

During the time they had all been getting ready for dinner, Alexander received a call from Gabriel while Franklin was called by Derek.

Both of them were heavily shaken up and their voices kept breaking. Both the men pieced together what seemed to be bits from each conversation.

After a little while, they were able to discern with certainty that Faaris had been shot. He had been carried away in an ambulance with them.

Everyone had basically thrown themselves off the tables and headed for what was said as the King Saud Hospital.

Faaris had been getting operated on for the last one hour and across from the theatre were Inaya and Mariam. Valerie ,Elsa, Hafsa and Samantha were busy in comforting the duo and giving them moral support.

Tears fell down her eyes as she figured how numb Inaya was. Her eyes had lost life and she limply stood, not responding to any efforts. She juts couldn't bare to keep her own tears in and she was aware that she would just worsen matters for everyone is she tried to console Inaya.

So she headed to Derek who was leaned over his knees.

"Derek."

She softly called out to him and brought a hand up to his knee, patting it gently.

"It isn't your fault. Please calm down. Besides, Faaris is going to be okay."

Derek turned to her, eyes dark and red.

"But he might not be able to walk ever again! Do you realize that?"

Sarah flinched, not because she was bothered by his unwelcoming gaze but more so of what would become of Faaris.

A surgeon had walked out a while ago to grasp some instruments. Along the way he dropped the news that although Faaris would live, he might not be able to walk as before.

Three bullets had been taken out from one leg and one from the other. The fact of the matter was some veins were greatly damaged.

"Yeah, but that....that is unsure right? The doctors didn't say anything yet."

She reminded him with a hopeful smile.

He shook his head gently, a sad smile reflecting his fear.

"He's most likely to lose one of his legs in the best scenario."

Sarah gasped, feeling her insides run cold.

Even so, she didn't think - or rather didn't want - to believe that he could be hurt so fatally.

"I'm....sorry Derek."

She breathed out, making him return to his position.

"It's my fault. I should've known something was wrong."

Sarah knew what he was referring about. He had even shown her the video that - in her opinion - shed a lot of light on the otherwise indecisive matter.

In it, she saw the head of a tall lean man. Derek repeatedly told her that he looked recognisable but he wasn't sure why or how.

Sarah knew it why though.

Along the video, several times the figure turned around in a state of turmoil. But of course, she couldn't quite point out the fact assuredly but there came a clip where he had turned around fully, thereby exposing his entire face.

And she knew it almost immediately.

"Waasay."

She whispered.

Derek turned around, taking both her hands and squeezing them. His eyes were widened.

"Sarah, what did you say?"

She looked at him and nodded sincerely.

"We met him a few days ago at Prince Sulaaymaan's party. It's the Prince's couisn, Waasay. Unfortunately we didn't get to be with him much, but I do recall him well since he was quite unnatural to me. Plus, he was limping just like the one in the video."

Derek thoughtfully registered the facts, his hold loosening over Sarah's.

Sarah recalled how he had instantly sent the news to Prince Sulaaymaan. The video showcased a good amount of Waasay's insanity and Sarah hoped that it could serve the whole case rightfully.

"Let me tell him that it is his cousin Waasay."

Derek murmured, lifting himself a little off the couch to pull out his phone from his back pocket.

"He must have figured that out already."

Derek froze.

"Yeah, but what if he couldn't see him that Well. It took you long enough to figure out too."

Sarah agreed.

"Yeah, right. Just quickly notify him of that."

Faaris was a respectable and dignified man. One of a kind who never turned his back to the needful. It had taken him a long period of unwavering faith and commitment to finally be living his dream.

To think that he had become the target of a hideous crime, made her reconsider humanity.

Once Derek toppled his phone over the table ahead of him, she turned to face him although he kept staring in the air.

"Derek, can you tell me what you think of the other figure?"

He slowly turned about, his brows knit tightly.

"Now that I think of it, I think he's the man who was responsible for that power cut off."

Sarah bit on the insides of her cheek.

"Hmm....and no one else was shot except for Faaris?"

He stiffened in his seat, his head jerking to face her with bloodshot eyes.

"Oh my god, you're right Sarah. This was meant to specifically hurt Faaris. Prince Sulaaymaan and Afra should hurry up! I'll go and call them once again. "

"Wait!"

She grabbed his arm and prevented him from getting up.

"Let's get the facts straight. You go to a mall for a dinner. You see Waasay acting weird. Following him leads you to a part where he meets another hooded guy in secrecy. All this while you've recorded the video. Just about at that time, the light goes off. My question is, who tampered with the switches? I mean to say if both the men were right in front of you, discussing whatever it was, then how did the lights go off ?"

Derek's eyes widened, his mouth partially open.

"You mean....."

"There is a third involvement too !"

Her voice progressively got louder and Derek sighed aloud.

For a few minutes, both of them fell silent.

Sarah hadn't thought that Faaris would ever be in danger. Why would anyone wish to hurt him ? From the looks of it, he never seemed to be involved in any dark activity.

But then again, what could one say these days.

What was so important to whoever it was that he had taken the risk of targeting Faaris in a public place ?

Was Faaris, perhaps, posing danger to someone ? Was that why they attempted to get him out of the way ?

Sighing loudly, her head starting to ache, she ran a hand through her hair.

"Do you think we should leave?"

Derek asked and she took a minute to nod.

"I think they need to know this. It's necessary that justice be served."

He quickly nodded and got up, moving in front of her. She hadn't got up yet, staring hard at the floor.

"Sarah? You alright?"

She looked up and gave him a smile.

She got up and walked up to him. Close enough for her to hear his heart pound. His eyes never left hers as she neared him. Really slowly she interwined her fingers with his and dropped her gaze.

The proximity held enough emotions to brighten up their smiles. She rubbed the back of his hands with her thumbs and smiled at him sweetly.

"Look, I know things could be difficult for you at the moment. I think I can say how it feels to be helpless in a situation. But just so you know, this was not your fault. I'm sorry that you have to go through this."

He remained quiet, his fingers pressing against hers comfortingly.

"Thank you, but I find myself quite responsible."

His voice barely a whisper as he pressed his lips in a tight smile.

"You're not to be blamed Derek. Please believe me."

She looked at him, her eyes filled with pain.

"It's alright Sarah. Thanks for being there though."

She smiled widely.

"I'm always going to be here for you."

« Assalaamualaikum Princesses ❤

I'm so sorry I took so long to update. I was sort of busy with college.

I won't take much time from now on in Shaa ALLAH. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.

I love you so so much. ❤

Please stay safe and blessed.

Much much love,
Me ;) »