'Deal?' Dylan says and Nur's heart falls in the pit of her stomach.

Right at this moment, a speck of doubt bursts into her stomach. 'What are you do—ah,' she closes her eyes as the nib of the knife presses into her neck more and the rivulet of blood drips down to her shirt.

'Stop messin' with us,' One of the man, holding Nur, says. 'I swear, I'll kill her.'

'Alright,' Dylan says and lowers his gun and his guards do too. 'Do it.'

'Dylan?' Nur says unbelievably but Dylan does not cast her a single glance. Fear spreads inside Nur like a plague.

'Come on,' Dylan urges. 'Do it. Kill her.'

'What do ya think, lad? I will buggin' kill her.'

'This is exactly what I am asking you. Kill her.' Nur feels the hand of the man shaking against her neck. 'Kill her, mate. Come on. She is useless, has nobody. Kill her,' Dylan speaks. 'Or you want to save her for your "pleasures"?' Dylan tucks his one hand in his pocket as he awaits.

'He's trappin' us,' The other man whispers. 'Don't fall his trap.' But the one whose holding Nur is shaking terribly.

Dylan gives them a loop-sided smile. 'Look at you, shaking with fear. You can't kill because you might think it's wrong. Then tell me, mate,' he walks closer to them. Nur expected the pressure to increase but now she fears that the shaky fingers of the man might end of slitting her head. 'What rape is to you?'

'You think I care?' The man asks.

'Of course. Look at you. I have not seen a man this brave to intrude into a woman's home and but coward enough to not kill her. Because such men are not men.'

Before the men could react, Dylan snatches the knife and punches a man hard on his jaw, freeing Nur. When the other man charges, Nur whirls around and hide herself in Dylan's chest out of fear but Dylan's guards are quick enough and take the both men down in a minute. 'Take them away,' Dylan orders as he catches Nur by her waist who is about to fall. 'Go back and do not wait for me.'

'Yes, sir,' One of the guard says and leaves.

'Nur?' Dylan calls for her but she only cries. The sheer thought of what might've happened if Dylan would not have show up makes her cry more.

She slides down that wall and bringing her knees to her chest, cries more. She cannot control it. All she sees is the horrible tragedy that might've happened and tears roll down more. 'Nur are you alright? Did they—did they do anything to you?' Nur clutches the fabric of her shirt and cries harder until she can't breathe anymore. 'Nur, look at me. Tell me you are alright.' Finally hearing Dylan's voice other than the thoughts that scream in her mind, she looks up as she detects the worry that ravels in his voice. He ducks his head, his eyebrows knitted. 'Are you alright? Did ... did they do anything to you? Please, tell me you are OK.'

Nur only nods as she sniffs. Dylan heaves a sigh of relief. He looks at Nur and Nur shrinks into herself. 'Oh,' Dylan says as he gets up and picks up Nur's hijab from the floor. He comes back and lays the hijab on her head. He retrieves a handkerchief out of her pocket and hands it to Nur.

Nur sniffs again as she takes the handkerchief and wipes her nose. A thick curtain of awkwardness lays between both of them. Seeing the worried Dylan looking at her constantly, she says with her croaky voice. 'I am alright.'

'Oh ... ahem ... yeah,' Dylan stands up and outstretches his hand to Nur she plainly stares at the hand. Realising what he did, Dylan tucks the outstreched hand into one of his pockets. 'I... er ...' Dylan clears his throat again and steps back.

Nur had never seen Dylan this awkward before. If the situation would not be like this, she might've laughed but her face was so tired from crying that it was hard to muster up even a small smile. 'Where is the first-aid kit?'

'Huh?'

'You have a bruise,' he points to his neck, 'here.'

'Oh, I will clean it up myself.'

'I can do it.'

'No you rather not.'

'Right.'

Nur adjusts her scarf around her head as she tries to haul herself up. When she stumbles, Dylan reaches forth and holds her hand to help her gain balance but once he realises he has touched her, he lets go and Nur stumbles again. 'Shit,' Dylan curses but before he can make the situation more awkward, Nur holds herself against the wall.

'Dylan, they intruded my house. Not yours,' she says as she closes her eyes. She has cried too much. 'What is with you?'

'I am sorry.' Nur knows that it is pretty hard for him to control himself from touching her. He has lived with girls who touch him openly and he has done the same so preventing himself to do even causal touches in the situation where he wants to help is not easy.

'It's alright,' she leans herself off the wall and find him staring at her from the distance. The moment their eyes meet, he looks in other direction. 'Do you want to say something?'

Dylan opens his mouth to say something but closes it. He then walks towards her and gathering the fabric of her hijab in his hand, wipes off a tear from her cheek with the fabric.

He looks her in her eyes and opens his mouth again but, to Nur disappointment, closes it. 'Nothing,' he says.

Liar. Nur thinks.

——————

What did you think about Dylan in the beginning of the chapter?