DUSTE,

JIGAWA STATE,

NIGERIA.

Zayn didn't know why he helped Batoulah.

Perhaps, it's the fact that she helped him too. Or maybe it's the fact that he hates seeing someone treated the way she is, especially by the woman who seemed to be giving off the bad vibes. Whichever it is, he did not regret helping.

His gaze moved to the man who called him, as did everyone else. The face seemed familiar, and it took a while for him to remember where he saw the man before. Unlike the other police officers, he was in a mufti; and standing close to Salma's husband who threw him a curious glance too.

The man moved away from that spot, heading towards Zayn before he saluted. Though they don't serve in the same country, he still respected Zayn as an individual and as his superior in the army. "Sir!"

Zayn offered the man who is a friend of Kamal, a nod. He then extended his hand out for a handshake, to which the man accepted quickly.

The man then turned to Salma's husband, "Bashir, this is Captain Ahmed Zayn Abdullah Danbatta, only son to Alhaji Danbatta, and a military officer in the US"

Bashir, Salma's husband felt his eyes dilate slightly. Sure enough, he has power. But it's nothing compared to Zayn's. And with the way they had been treating him in the past few days, he wondered if Zayn came for a payback. Nonetheless, he took in a supposedly discrete breath before he offered him a nod.

Zayn ignored him; focusing his gaze back on the man.

Salma's mother took a slow step away from Zayn, though her glare never wavered but just like Bashir, he paid zero heed to her. To him, they really don't deserve as much as his attention.

"What's going on?" Zayn asked the man, voice coming out gruff though he didn't intend for it to be like that. It must've been from the fact that the woman irked him, but he's trying to reign it in. It has been so long since he felt that much of an emotion.

The man sighed deeply, "Bashir's daughter went missing a couple of hours ago and there's no trace of her"

Zayn's brows drew in. Batoulah told him about it already but that didn't stop his mind from racing with different thoughts just like earlier. "Isn't there a footage from any camera around?"

The man shook his head somberly. "None. Most of the cameras don't work, and the ones that do...well, we got nothing from them" Everyone else has the same look, except Salma's mother who looked furious. "I know it's not in my place to ask this of you but can you help us? Now that you're here that is"

"Absolutely not!" Salma's mother answered before Zayn could. From what the man said earlier, she didn't need to be told twice to know that Zayn is the younger brother to Kulsum, her daughter's old best friend.

And after everything that she'd done to her, there's no way she would entrust to help them.

"That's not for you to decided" Bashir's mother, who had been quiet since she came spoke up, throwing a glare at her son's mother in law. Honestly, on more than one occasion, she thinks about how unlucky her son is to be married into such family. "That girl is my granddaughter too. And if this young man decides to help us, then so be it"

Especially with a family history such as theirs.

Why did they even agree to the marriage in the first place? If she had known this will be the outcome, then she wouldn't have bothered to give into her son's pestering.

"And how do we know he has nothing to do with it, huh?" Salma's mother threw back, raising her voice slightly as she glanced at Bashir's mother. Then she turned her gaze to Zayn and the lady behind him. "Or maybe..." She clicked her finger at her step daughter, "...he connived with that she-devil over there to plot all of this? They can't be trusted"

"Neither can you" Batoulah spoke for the first time. She had always minded her words towards her step mother so as to not sound disrespectful even after everything she had done to her but sometimes, the woman crosses the line. "We're not like you, Maa" She hated how she had grown to call the woman that, when she had never once treated her like a daughter.

"You imbecile..." The woman made a move to touch Batoulah again, but just like earlier, Zayn stepped aside slightly, blocking her again.

It made her ball her fist before she dropped it by her side, letting out a small hiss.

"Please stop!" Came Bashir's voice for the first time since the duo arrived. "All of this bickering is not going to help me find my daughter"

"I agree"

Everyone turned around to settle their gaze on Salma who had finally stepped out of her room, wheeling a suitcase along with her. "None of this will help us find her" She added, once she's within the sight of everyone.

"Where are you going?" Bashir asked when he noticed it, pushing himself off the wall he was leaning on earlier.

"To find my daughter" She answered simply, not sparing him as much as a simple glance. Her gaze remained solely fixed on Zayn. "I don't need your help" She stated through gritted teeth.

"I never offered"

She scoffed, a look of pure distaste towards him taking over her features. "You better leave. I don't care if you want to rot here, but I will never tell you anything"She kept her voice low so only he can hear her. She made sure he saw just how serious she is about her words.

Zayn didn't press further. He didn't let any of his emotions reflect on his face knowing she wanted to see a reaction. "I never wanted to say this but..." He dropped his voice, "...now you know how she felt"

Salma shook her head, "I don't regret my action. I never will" At that point, she didn't care if they all heard what they are talking about. She wouldn't deny her words ever. "She got what she deserves. And yours...it's coming too" She took a step back, and ignoring her mother's yell calling for her to come back, she turned around and left the house.

Bashir stared at her figure leaving their matrimonial home. He wanted to go after her, but his mother placed a hand over his shoulder, stopping him. "Let her go" She said, "She needs space to think too" He didn't agree with her, especially after he didn't apologize for his earlier fight with her but still, he did as his mother said.

Zayn turned to the man he knew. "It appears I have nothing to do here again. We'll take our leave now" He exchanged another handshake with the man before she turned to Batoulah, "Shall we go?"

She nodded, throwing her step mother a glance before she turned around and headed out, with Zayn following after her. He saw how she visibly relaxed once they were out of the house. It was clear as day that she had thoughts running through her head from the way she was absentmindedly walking. She made her way to the driver's seat, but he stopped her.

"Let me" He said, outstretching his hand. He doesn't trust her to drive in that state.

She didn't argue. She simply dropped the key in his hands before she turned around and made her way over to the passenger seat, before she got in. He did the same, revved the car to life and then drove out, ignoring the gateman who still threw him glares.

That old man has issues. And the minute the two left, he picked up his phone and informed his boss that both Salma and Zayn had left the house.

"Where'd you want to go to?" He didn't know where she lived, and he certainly did not plan on heading back to the hospital.

"Just drop me off in New G.R.A" She muttered.

Zayn nodded, sending a quick text to his driver to meet him at the area. Since he doesn't know where it is, he inserted it in the google map and used it to direct his way there. A couple of minutes into the drive, he decided to speak since Batoulah clearly doesn't want to.

Normally he would love the silence more than talking but she seemed bothered. And after everything that she had done for him, he owes her that form of sympathy. Though he's sure she hates it but still. "Are you okay?" He asked.

He felt her shift from her seat, before she released a sigh. "I'm fine, why'd you ask?"

He shrugged, "You mother seemed nice"

That made Batoulah crack up, bending slightly over. When she calmed down, she turned around to face him, "That sarcasm thick dude"

Zayn felt a small smile made its way on his face, but he shook it off. "Well..." He muttered.

"She's not my mother" She said, leaning back on the seat. "Step mother actually"

Zayn nodded in understanding. "So, half sister to Salma?"

"Yup" She nodded, "unfortunately we share the same father. But I do have another sister whom I share the same mother with"

Zayn simply hummed.

Batoulah took in a small breath, then thought over what happened earlier. "So, you're really a soldier huh?"

Zayn glanced at her, "Why do you say it like that?"

"Because I've always had a hunch, since the first time we met" She shrugged slightly. She's wasn't kidding. It had been her first hunch on him, "turns out I'm right"

"So what? You scared of me now?" Zayn joked. His sub-consciousness was wondering who this new Zayn is for he can't remember the last time he tried to joke one bit. But here he is, making a joke to a woman he met a couple of weeks back.

She glanced at him again, before she scoffed lightly. "Of course not" She offered him a smile, "now I know who to call when I'm in trouble. And trust me, I get in a lot" She noticed that they had arrived in the area, so she started telling him the directions of where she stays.

Amidst her words, her phone pinged. She excused herself and fetched it, brows drawing in at the caller. Nonetheless, she swiped the answer call and brought the phone to her ear, "Hello"

A couple of seconds passed before she dropped her phone on the floor with no words said. As if frozen, she stared into space with eyes wide and body shaking slightly. Her breathing came out heavy, and he could hear the sound of it from where he sat.

Zayn turned to stare at her, "What's going on?" He asked, eye brows drawn in and lips, tugged into a frown.

She blew out a shaky breath but no words came from her slightly parted lips.

"Batoulah..." He called out again.

That snapped her out of whatever trance she found herself lost in. "It's Salma" She mumbled, and he barely caught unto her next words. "She got into an accident"

"What?"

"Zayn" She turned around to stare at him, before she gulped.She then said the words that had his swiveling with the car slightly. "She's dead"