Chapter 25: Chapter 23

Altan and Joe were sitting comfortably in Hanane’s car. She was narrating a few Egyptian quirks not widely known outside the country. Joe, totally in his element, was showering her with questions while Altan was quietly listening and gazing out of the car window.

 From time to time, Hanane would glance at him.

‘’ Are you okay, Altan?’’ She asked, smiling. ‘’ You’ve been very quiet.’’

Altan smiled back. ‘’ I am fine, thank you for asking. I prefer to listen.’’

Joe turned back and jokingly said, ’’ he is a man of few words.’’

Hanane chuckled, and Altan nodded.

‘’ We are almost there.’’ She said. ‘’ Badr city is an industrial city with a lot of factories. But still, many young people flock to Cairo to look for work. Ali lives around the market.’’

She took an exit on the left and they ended up on the main road. They had arrived in the city.

They quickly noticed the difference between Cairo and Badr city. It was very tranquil compared to Cairo. It didn’t take them too long to spot the primary market.

Hanane drove around and parked her car on the main street. 

They got out and followed her through the stalls, then the narrow streets. Stopping in between for Hanane to ask for directions to the people.

They finally made a left again and ended up in front of a big wooden door.

Hanane knocked gently on the door while Joe and Altan stood behind her. 

No one answered.

“Are you sure you have the right address?” asked Joe, quite intrigued.

‘’ Yes, that is the address he gave me when he started working at the hotel. It is his family's home.’’ Answered Hanane. 

Altan stepped forward, knocked loudly on the door, and took a few steps back. After a few minutes, they heard the sound of several locks turning, then the door opened slowly. An old woman stuck her head out the door and retorted in Arabic, “Madha? (What?)”

Hanane politely bowed her head in respect and replied in Arabic, “Eimat asif! Ana abhath ean eali’ (Sorry auntie! I am looking for Ali).”

The old lady looked at them from head to toe, made a grimace and rumbled, “Udkhul! (Come in!).”

She moved to the side, holding the door, and pointed at a room on the left end of the corridor. Hanane, Joe, and Altan entered and heard the door closing behind them.

It was pretty dark in the corridor, and the only light was coming from that room. There was a plunging, flowery smell.

She yelled, “Ali! Ali! Ladayk zuwwar!’ (Ali! Ali! You have visitors!)”. She then waved them away, and they kept on walking.

‘’ Must be his grandmother,’’ murmured Hanane while leading the way.

The smell was getting stronger and stronger as they were approaching. They went in, but a lot of smoke coming out of diffusers made it very hard to see. Hanane then pointed at a silhouette sitting in a corner of the room and whispered.

‘’ I think he is over there.’’

Joe nodded and signalled to Altan. 

As they slowly approached the silhouette, Joe called, ‘’ Ali! We need to talk to you.’’

Hanane’s sudden scream made them turn around. The old lady was dragging her out of the room, pulling her by the hair. Hanane was trying to free herself.

“ Aleadui! (Enemy!)” shouted the old lady and before they could move, she had shut and bolted the door behind them.

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Joe rushed to the door, but it was too late. The old lady laughed loudly through the closed door and said in English, “Goodbye, my friends! You will regret the day you came here!”

Hanane’s cries could be heard from behind the room. 

‘’ Joe, help me!’’ She screamed. Her voice faded as she was being dragged away by the old lady.

‘’ Hanane! Hanane! Let her go!’’ Shouted angrily Joe while banging on the door.

Joe took some steps back; the smoke was blinding him. He started coughing. He then removed his glasses and tried squinting to see where Altan was.

He spotted him, standing in the corner where the silhouette was. holding a mannequin in his hands. 

‘’ It is a trap. Cover your eyes, Joseph!’’ Shouted Altan before destroying each diffuser with his shiny stare.

Altan then stared intensely at the door, trying to get it open. The door shook violently but unfortunately, even more smoke started to form and Altan, feeling dizzy, collapsed.

Joe ran to him, but as he squatted next to him, Altan’s body started convulsing. Then it stopped. He was completely paralysed but could still move his eyes and mouth. 

He started speaking but with difficulty, “ r…r…run Joseph.”

Joe swiftly turned the quadrant of his watch. He took off a lens with a metal ring around the circumference. He held it between his fingers towards the door, trying to use it to direct magic and blast the door. 

But moments later, he also felt weak and his body hit the floor; the lens fell from his hand and shattered.

By now, the smoke had become so intense that he couldn’t breathe. He looked towards Altan; he had lost consciousness. A few seconds after, he did too.

A couple of hours later, the smoke had disappeared and someone opened the door. Hanane, followed by the old lady and a group of men, came in.

Hanane stood over the men’s bodies. She sighed and smiled. ‘’ it worked, mother.’’

The old lady grabbed her arm. ‘’ I didn’t doubt it for a second. The benefactor knows all the tricks.’’

She clapped, and the men approached. ‘’ Take them to the island. We have a cell prepared especially for them.’’

The men nodded and quickly carried Joe and Altan out of the room.

‘’ I hope your sisters have the girl. We cannot wait any longer,’’ she said.

‘’ They have her.’’ She responded without hesitation.

Her mother gently caressed her cheek. ‘’ My beautiful girl, I am so proud of you. You will make a fierce leader one day.’’

‘’ Thank you mother,’’ replied Hanane, smiling. 

‘’ Come, let’s go and celebrate this victory with the others.’’ Said her mother, while leaving the room. 

Hanane smiled but didn’t follow her outside immediately. She checked her phone first and noticed that she had received a voicemail from Selma. Her face got tensed as the message played in her ear. 

When it was over, she quickly dialled a number, but no one picked up. She frowned and barked at the phone while pressing the record button.

‘’ You better be at the island with the girl by the time we get there or mother will have both your fangs hanging around her neck instead of a necklace!’’

She then hung up and joined the group outside.

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