I curled myself  into the smallest ball I could possibly form sitting on the rungs of a ladder.  I was out of breath and my heart was beating rapidly, making it more and more difficult to avoid screaming. There was that sound again.

The scuffling about like someone was moving things.

My knuckles ached from the fist I was making, but I couldn't let go.

Fear was eating me.

I heard a hissing sound and thought I might pass out. What if it was snakes? Or radioactive rats? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

I almost giggled at the ridiculous thought.

I couldn't handle it anymore.

I stretched out my legs, unclenched my fists, and jumped off the ladder. Happen what may, I was tired of hiding.

"Alright, whoever, or whatever, is out there. SHOW YOURSELF. I'm NOT AFRAID OF YOU,"

"Clearly. Which is exactly why you huddled on that ladder for four hours," a voice replied.

"Show yourself," I repeated.

"Well that would be pretty difficult seeing as it's pitch black in here,"

I almost face-palmed at the realization. "Well, at least tell me who you are."

"I don't think you would much enjoy my company if you knew anything of me,"

"Was that supposed to comfort me? Because quite frankly it's done the opposite."

"I don't cater to anyone else's needs, dear Zahra..."

"My name... How do you know my name?"

"I know many things,"

"Are you going to kill me?"

"Well if I wanted that your breath would have stopped hours ago, love,"

" Then... Are you going to help me escape?"

"That depends,"

I waited for him to finish but he had clearly stopped there. "On...?"

"Whether you can handle this," he whispered, lighting a match and illuminating the small room.

I gasped at the sight of him. His face was wrinkled and grey, a scar stretching from the top of his forehead to the bottom of his chin, his eyes both shut as though the sockets were empty. There was a cobra wrapped around his neck and a python at his feet. They hissed at me, but he soothed them with his touch.

"They call me Pythios,"

I hesitated, "...They...?"

"Yes,"

I breathed deeply, "I can handle this. Please. Help me get out of here."

"You are desperately worried for your son and your dear Salma, I know."

"I--Uh--Wha--"

"You happen to be in a very convenient safe house, nothing more. I am not a wizard or a magician nor am I working with the Jinn."

"Of course..."

"Now follow me." He extended his arm and the cobra slithered down it and led the way deeper into the underground hospital. I thought about turning around and staying near the ladder until someone came, but I knew that this was now or never.

The snake entered a hole in the wall which I hadn't before realized that belonged to a dust covered door that nearly disappeared into the wall. Pythios grabbed the hole where the handle was meant to be and yanked it open. I was overwhelmed by the smell of mold and rot.

"Cover your face with something before coming this way,"

I grabbed the corner of the scarf tied around my head and pulled it around my face. My knees nearly buckled at the sight of a skeleton, but I held myself together. For Abdul-Karim.

"Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem. Ya Rab help me in this journey and give me strength and patience," I begged, my hands beginning to shake.

"Don't worry, dear. Nothing can hurt you here."

I practiced inhaling and exhaling as I continued forward.

I couldn't see very well but I followed the sound of congested breathing and hissing.  A light began to show at the end of the tunnel, quite literally. I heard the sound of the wind and finally got a breath of fresh air, free of mold and dank tunnel smell.

"This is as far as I go," Pythios whispered.

"How can I ever thank you?"

He paused for a second and then reached his hands up to my face. I didn't know what to do, so I stood still. His course, calloused hands ran across my entire face, examining every inch of it.

"You are much younger than I thought you were," he whispered, almost to himself.

"Is that of importance?" I asked.

"Of course..."

I paused for a moment. "Who are you really?"

"I told you. They  call me Pythios."

"Yes, but what do you call you?"

"Ah, yes, the name my mother gave to me. You would not like it."

"How do you know?"

"You would not like who it connects me to."

We sat in silence for another moment. His snakes made their way back up his arms and I got the sudden urge to pet one. Pythios allowed the cobra slither down his extended arm until the cobra and I were staring straight into the windows of our souls.

"May I?"

"Of course," he replied, lowering his arm so I could pet the snake.

I extended my arm and placed my hand carefully on the neck of the cobra. It hissed, but it didn't move. I shuddered and removed my hand, never having imagined I would be in this position.

"Too often we fear what fears us. Too often we let our fear destroy us and everything beautiful we touch. Be careful where you place your fear, dear. There are many things in this  broken world to be feared. Don't waste it on what fears you far more than you fear it."

I puzzled over his statement.

"You should go, love. People await you on the other side,"

"Are there no  people awaiting you, Pythios?"

"No. I have been long forgotten by those who matter most. So I will remain here and await my death,"

"How did such a good man get dealt such a horrid card?"

"There are much better things to wonder, dear."

I grabbed his hand in sincere thank you.

"Thank you. Truly."

He squeezed my hand in response.

"If you see my son, tell him his father hopes he has made the right choice,"

He turned around and began walking back into the tunnel.

"Wait! What is your son's name?"

I looked after him and heard him very faintly whisper,

"Falcon."