Hello, everyone! I know it's been hell of a long time and I have no one else to blame but my hectic and tough routine of uni life. I'm in the middle of my final exams (yeah, my semester is going to end. Alhamdolillah!) But I wanted to upload whatever I could write in between my revision breaks.

On the other hand, I don't usually say such things but today I'm: As much as I love reading comments but at times they are tiring when all they say is for me to update and nothing else. Don't get me wrong but I'll definitely appreciate your views on the chapter or what do you think is going to happen or blah blah because if you're a writer here on Wattpad, you somehow are like a leech towards comments, because sometimes you get your ideas from the discussions in the comments section. So please leave comments and a vote! I will be ever grateful to you all.❤🌸

This chapter is dedicated to a really close and dear friend of mine from uni iff_raah Happiest Birthday my friend! May You Have Many More. This Is Little Early Surprise For You! Love You <3 And enjoy battling the finals on your birthday! :p

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Here's the third last chapter of this book. Ahh! My Finals end on 13th December InShaaAllah and after that I'll upload the 2nd chapter ASAP! Goal is to finish this book by the end of this year! :p

Vote and comment as much as you can. It will mean a lot.

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Take care and Enjoy! <3

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RECAP (In case you forgot what happened! :p)

In the silence of the forest, we don't hear anything except ragged breaths and muffled animals cries.

The leader then barks out. " We want you all to come with us quietly or else we will harm this one." He gestures at me. The man holding me, applies pressure to my throat, making me whimper.

"We'll do as you say. Just don't..."Aayan's voice drops down.

"Fine, then. Seize them all. Wrap some gauze on that one." He motions at Jarred.

The one holding me roughly thrusts me away. I take gulps of fresh air. Before I can go up to Aayan, he envelops his large hand around my arm and hauls me away.

I see from my peripheral vision that each of us is being dragged away and I keep my fingers crossed wondering where our path is heading now.

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Chapter Nineteen

The Breaking Point

(Maahirah Furqaan)

As soon as my captive's hand envelops around my arm, I gag with displeasure. Aayan looks equally pissed off with the other guy's hand on me. I send silent prayers to the sky, wishing he wouldn't do something stupid that could get us killed.

They drag us toward the south. You can hear nothing except ragged breaths, and crunching of the twigs in the silence of the night. And, before anyone of us can think of our next move, Aayan has everything figured out in his mind. He turns around and knees the guy holding him.

I gasp at his rashness. Guy #1 who has suddenly tightens his grip on me and shouts, "Tanon, what the hell?"

Tanon is the guy obviously Aayan outsmarted. He mutters a curse and throws a punch at Aayan. Aayan ducks and with the edge of his hand, he strikes Tanon horizontally on the stomach making him sway.

Just as Aayan lifts his legs, the leader of the group comes forward, and grabs Aayan's arms and pin it to his back. He snarls something in his ears, which makes Aayan look at me and immediate regret and fear flashes in his eyes.

The Leader stops mid-sentence as his gaze falls on Aayan's neck. I stop struggling against my opponent's clasp.

"No freaking way." He backs away from Aayan shaking his head at him and looking between me and Aayan and mumbles, "Maahirah and Aayan."

Aayan just stares at him, and then a light bulb flickers in his head or something, he pulls out his chain that has a small key hung around his neck.

The Leader back steps and yells, "Sieze the girl as securely as you can and this guy too."

My heart pummels against my chest as two men jump at Aayan leaving their grips on Fakhir and Ian. Aayan lets them hold him without protesting much. I try moving towards him but Guy #1 simply twists my arms behind my back pushes me to the ground.

When Ian fumbles around his pocket for any ammunition, the Leader remarks, "If you all solely just listen to what I've to say then nobody gets hurt or dies. We're taking Maahirah and Aayan with us, letting you all go. You all are useless to us as this shit is getting crazier. We want the girl for she knows the answers and we want the boy for he is the key.

"Now, my men will free you, and you won't do anything to defy me because I'm telling you I won't think twice before shooting, for, I know how deeply you all care for each other. So, don't dare to disobey me."

Fakhir takes a deep breath, and mutters, "We understand. We won't do anything here. You've our words." He looks painfully at Jarred with his wounded leg and then at Aayan and I.

"Very good! Release the rest of them," He orders.

I gape at each one of them across from me, fearing this that maybe this will be the last time I'm seeing anyone of them and when my eyes fall on Aayan, he stares back at me with guilt, remorse and dread.

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We're thrown in the back of the truck. Tanon and Guy #1 stand by the tailgate making sure our view is obstructed. Two of the men, sit across from us, avoiding looking at us.

I turn my head to see Aayan and just like how I anticipated in my mind, he is unclenching and clenching his fists and his lips pressed in a tight line.

I scoot closer to him and grab his knuckle in my cold hands. He immediately snaps his gaze to mine. I convey the silent message with my eyes to not do anything that will make you pay a heavy price.

He takes a deep breath, and looks away. Sighing, I think, yet again Aayan knows something concerned with Elton and he didn't tell a single soul. If he had maybe this wouldn't have had happened. We would have taken extra cautions, I know, at least Fakhir would have had.

I frown. He knows something that is why he isn't meeting my eyes. He knows something which is making him uneasy. Oh, my God. I pull my hand out of his grasp and put some distance between us.

Few minutes later the bumpy ride stops. Tanon and Guy #1 jump down and they both look at me.

Beside me, Aayan muttering a profanity roughly takes me by my arm. He gets down first and then gives me hand. For a second, in my head, I picture ignoring his outstretched hand and getting down on my own accord; but then, I quickly terminate the thought, not wanting the guys to think that we two are weak in our relationship.

I place my hand on his and let him pull me down. I expect him to leave it, but he doesn't, instead he squeezes it and presses me to his side.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

We're standing by the frozen river, which I guess is the Elton River. On our left is the woods and on our nothing else beyond the river. Across from us, the Ivy plant hides whatever is behind it.

The leader stands in front of us and says, "Follow us. No need to hold them as captives. Just stay close to them."

He walks towards the ivy and vines and pushes him against us. We trail after him. We're in the cave, illuminated by lanterns posted at nook and crooks.

"Welcome to our abode," He suddenly goes easy on us like we're some far of relatives. "We've been leaving here for almost nineteen years now and so we like to call ourselves as 'The Free Wanderers.'" He takes a turn to the right and stops, rotating around to us; he pauses, almost as if he's relishing the chatter that is echoing from the right in the quiet cave.

"Gentlemen, you go in and don't let anyone who is here. I'll make the announcements myself. Meanwhile, I need to discuss few things with our guests here." He gestures us to walk with him.

He enters another cave within a cave. He pushes the rock to shut off the entrance and lights the lantern.

He asks us to sit on the chairs by the desk.

"Firstly, I'll like to make my deepest apologies to rough handling you all back there. I thought it was some of the Wiltonians hiding in there."

"It's fine. We understand your concern when you got your home close by." Aayan smiles.

What is going on?

"I'm Johns, and you two have no idea how long I waited to officially meet you two. Do you have the gifts Aseer left with you, Aayan?"

Aayan nods.

"Very well, we know how to crack them. Let's hope it's the answer to our problems." He sighs with a forlorn smile.

Aayan glances at my nonplussed expressions and closing his eyes, he speaks, "Johns, can you give us an hour before meeting your family? We need to discuss few things."

The leader stares between us two and nods. "I trust you Aayan a lot."

"And, I won't break it at any cost." He shakes his hands with him.

Aayan sees him out and pushes the rock back to its place. I stand with my back to him.

"Maahirah, give me a chance to explain....."

I twist around. "What the hell Aayan? You keep on expecting me to know things when you're the one who hides them from me? Who are these people? How do you trust them? How do they know you? Me? Mum? Ugh," I stamp my foot. "Mum, told you about this, didn't she?" When he doesn't say anything, I lean in closer and almost shout, "Answer me, Aayan." He nods slowly.

"It's almost like you're her son and I meant nothing." I slump down heavily on the ground.

Instead of saying anything to me, Aayan sits across from me and digs into his backpack. I seethe at his nonchalant sight.

Seconds later, he holds out an envelope for me. "Take it. This will be the answer to your question. I was given this two days after her death."

I stare at me. He wiggles his hand again for me to take the thing. With hesitation, I prick it out of his hand.

Aayan is written on cursive on the outside.

I peel it open and pull out the letter. With trembling fingers I unfold it. It says:

'Dearest Aayan,

It saddens me to bestow this responsibility on you when I know the state of your relationship with Maahirah. But, I've no other option left since my time is limited and any day now Allah SWT will call upon me.

I haven't been a great mother to Maahirah, Aayan. I haven't watched her mold into teenager. But, I do know from where she gets her temper and stubbornness and that is from me. But, her patience and kind heart, her Dad gifted it to her, and for that, I'm glad that I walked out of their life.

However, if little did I knew, that somehow Maahirah will be dragged into Elton, I wouldn't have had chosen to abandon them. Because, now even if I want(ed) to I cannot get close to my own daughter. My conscious isn't allowing me, Aayan. I cannot tell her the things I've to tell her because she won't get me. So, I leave this responsibility in your hands, my dear. She won't admit it but I can see the concern, the worry and the love that reflects in her eyes for you. She will do anything to protect you, to fight for you and to keep you safe. For, you'll do the same for her.

Aayan, I've seen the prophecy that has been made about you, Maahirah and......Tianis, the head of the Wilton. According to it, the two forces will join together to kill the other.

And, as far as I can remember I received Tianis letter a month ago in which he told me this that my daughter agreed to meet him but she didn't come. If he could he would have had killed in her within few days. And, I don't know why Maahirah didn't go or what kept her from not going but she didn't go which means she somehow trusts us.

Tianis wanted her to join forces with him and kick you out of the picture. He knew or he still knows about your jeopardizing relationship with each other.

Now, the main point is that you have to stick with her no matter what. You've to go with her and find a guy named Johns Anderson. He's Darren's grandfather. He lives on the other side of the Elton River inside a cave that is hidden behind ivy plants and vines.

He was once upon a time an Eltonian, but then he left everything and grabbed some of his closest relatives and friends and went into hiding to keep them safe. We met often discussing our moves and safety. He is a good friend of mine and he knows about both of you. I trust you Aayan to go to him as soon as you can.

The last thing, the key that is around your neck and the emerald Maahirah has is a lock and key model for you. When it will flick open, it might be empty, or it might be not. Whatever the case will be you've to figure it out what it means. Use your brain and think.

My prayers and love is always with you two. Cherish each other. Stop bickering over everything!

Stay Safe,

Aseer.

Dated: 17th January.'

A fat blotch of tear falls on the paper. I sniff and quickly fold the paper and put it back in the envelope.

Aayan whizzes closer to me. "When did Tianis ask you to meet him?"

I swallow. "The day, Iris was killed."

"And, you didn't tell me this because.....?"

I peer into his eyes. "He threatened to end you if I didn't agree to his proposition. I had no option Aayan. His men were ready to finish you right now if I said something otherwise. And, I had no idea he was....planning to make me go against you."

He rubs his eyes with the back of his hand. "Oh man, Maahirah."

I cry harder. "I'm sorry for yelling at you and just about everything."

"Sssh!" He places his finger under my chin and lifts it up. With his other hand, he wipes my tears and says, "This is going to end Maahirah. This whole mess will end within 24-48 hours as soon as we unlock this clue, everything will return back to normal. You've to be strong now just for 24-48 hours and then we'll talk about everything. Okay?"

When I nod, he continues. "For starters, you've to trust me fully and completely. And, then Johns, because he is the guy that will help us solve this. I'm meeting him first time that is why I didn't immediately recognized him. But, I'm sure he has already alerted Fakhir to stay vigilant for we might need them. "

"I...tr...trust you, Aayan." I shudder.

"Good, because things are about to get nastier," He mumbles with a far off glint in his eyes.

The rock displaces and Johns enter. "Are you guys ready?"

Aayan glances at me and says, "Yes, we're."

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8 pages long on MS Word! 

What do you think the emerald contains? What kind of clue?