Hunter smiled at me, but not in the murderous way he usually does. He was a complete mess. Pieces of skin were peeling off of his face and he literally looked like he was falling apart. I mean he looked worse than I did. And I looked pretty damn awful right now. 

"What do you want Hunter?" I asked in annoyance. "Seriously, dude, you're foiling my escape." He laughed wholeheartedly, sounding much different than he did before. I noticed that he was unarmed. What the hell? What is with this guy?

"Look I came to explain why I showed you how to get out," he smiled at me, pulling off peices of skin.

"That's great and all, but quit taking your face off, I mean EW!"

He chuckled, "Oh, this isn't my real skin, watch." I stared in horror as he took off an expertly made mask, revealing a totally different man.

"Assalamu Alaykum, my name is Aziz, nice to meet you sister."

I just stared, at a loss for words. So he wasn't a Hunter? He was a Muslim? WHAT?????

"Look, this is going to sound really weird, but I'm part of the UPO. The Universal Peace Organization. I'm an undercover agent, figuring out the Hunter's plans to try to take them down. I thought you had the right to know. I just have to gain their trust so sorry about all the torturing and the angry, I'm actually a good guy... I think, anyway," he gave me a half smile hoping for some sort of reaction.

"Woah..." I said stupidly, "That's really noble I guess. MashAllah, brother, um... good job." For the first time I, Malak Rahman, was actually at a loss for words. Aziz/Hunter pulled a red kuffiyeh from his jacket pocket and wrapped it around his head. 

"Listen, no offence but you're kind of a mess. There's a little shop near by with some nice Muslims and a first aid kit. Follow me." I hesitated. I mean I barely knew this guy, what if he tried to kill me? As if reading my mind he sighed, "Look, it might be hard to trust me but if you stay up here much longer you're going to die of blood loss." He was right of course, my foot was still shredded and my hand was bleeding everywhere because I punched the glass. I suddenly felt very sick. I sat down my stomach churning and my head swimming with pain.

"Oh Allah..." Aziz huffed and picked me up. I was vaguely aware of his huge biceps contracting under my weight. As I slowly faded into unconsciousness, I could've sworn that I saw a hawk fly and land on his shoulder. And I was out. AGAIN.

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 I woke up with a pounding migraine. I slowly opened my eyes, fighting back the pain. I tried to sit up but a woman pushed me back down.

"No, no love, none of that. You're not well enough yet." I looked up to see a nice old woman re wrapping my foot and hand.

"How long have I been out?" 

"About two and a half days. You're making significant improvements though." She smiled at me sweetly. But that meant, it's.... Thursday! Zahra will be expecting me tomorrow! I can't miss this she'll worry like a bankrupt millionaire!

"I-I can't stay here. Someone is waiting for me" She frowned down at me, thinking.

"AZIZ!" she yelled. He came running in. 

"Yes mama?" he took his mother's hand, kissing it like a gentlemen. I smiled to myself. It's good to know their's still some good in the world. 

"Is there anyway you can get Malak to wherever she needs to go?" He looked at me questioningly.

I coughed, my throat suddenly very dry. "My-my sister, She's expecting me. She's hiding in one of the safe houses. Ha-Harbor's Fish Shop I think."  Aziz's mom handed me a cup of water. I accepted it gratefully. Aziz put his hand on his chin calculatingly. He must have been working before he came in because his shirt was pulled tight against his shirt making him look... AstaghfirAllah (Allah forgive me)! I looked away embarrassed. 

"Okay... I'll see what I can do." Aziz walked quickly out of the room. His mom winked at me. 

"He's not married you know!" she casually mentioned. I nearly died, my face turning a tomato red. She giggled. "Don't worry your secret is safe with me!" I sat up and hugged her.

"Thanks for everything Auntie!"

"Anything for a beautiful Muslim girl such as you!" She winked again. Oh goodness...

In the next few hours Aziz found us a relatively problem-free route to the safe house. This wonderful family supplied me with some crutches and all bid me farewell. 

I thanked them all as I headed out with Aziz.

Zahra, here I come. Please don't worry.