"There's a verse for every situation in life..

A miracle may manifest in and of itself, or come as a lesson and way out,

But in either ways,

One's belief must not waver. "

-Zayn

•••

A group of red-robed men gathered at the entrance to the sewers. Dressed with large black turbans which they used to conceal their facial features, not one of them but had a military physique.

"It seems Nine Flowers have beaten us to finding this entrance."A man amongst them, who was obviously their leader, said. He had the most imposing stature, towering in height and well-toned in muscle.

"They might already be several steps ahead in locating the kids.."

He turned to the rest, among whom were their captives, and signalled.

At this, the other men pushed the boys forward so they were staring into the darkness of the pit,

"Move!"

Irshâd and Jârullah looked at them as if they had just gone mental. The stench was really suffocating even from where they were at the top..

How could anyone have gone down there!

"There's no way we're going down in there"Jârullah sneered."Even if you were to bribe us with mountains full of gold and valleys of silver, we sure are not that stupid."He added as an afterthought.

"Heh.. Who said we would be bribing you. Young man, I think you've gotten your whole situation turned upside down.

We're mercenaries, people who work in the dark. You should know by now, your lives are in our hands and we'll treat you as seen fit."

Irshâd looked at Jârullah and saw the gleam in his eyes. The men didn't know it, but the boys had picked up certain subtleties along the way.

"We know you're not gonna do anything unwholesome to us.."Jârullah smirked,"After all, how would the King explain four missing youth and signs of attacks in the Hâ Mîm neighbourhood?"

At this, the man in lead eyes narrowed at them for a split second, returning to normal once he noticed his mistake. But that was all they needed to confirm their theory.

The Crimson Sentinels!!!

"How did you know?"The leader asked, actually impressed. He knew he couldn't hide it any longer.

This time it was Irshâd who talked.

"It was quite obvious, considering you dared to work so audaciously out in the open.. I'm quite disappointed."He chuckled. Of all the shadowed attacks and pursuit which they had just witnessed, this group were most daring in their every move, like they had a supreme authority to do whatever they wanted. No underground groups were that stupid!

"I always thought the Crimson sentinels were actually experts in stealth and attack..being the King's henchmen and all.. Didn't know you guys actually sucked at it - horribly.

Aside that, you treated us quite well for hostages.."Irshâd smiled smugly. For the moment, he looked like a great detective, but he was actually quite disappointed considering their legends always baffled him as a kid.

"But I believe your similar red attire was what gave you out and triggered the recall..the urban legend about the King having a secret group working his underhanded jobs for him, called - The Crimson Sentinels!!"

"I could give you an accolade, boy. But you know, you're even now more entangled with us.. To avoid this event from going out, we can't easily let you go. At most, your contribution would earn you a safe getaway from the King..

Since you know we work for the King, you're even now more obliged to do as we say."

"And if we refuse?.."You can't soil your hands with civilian innocents' blood after all. Irshâd thought.

Seeing the undecided looks on their faces, Irshâd sighed. What a terrible excuse for mercenaries."As my pal here said, we're not doing anything,..since you can't harm us, and we're not willing to be bribed, you can as well give up."

The man who was in the lead spoke, sincerity seemed to coat his words,"Don't worry. We won't be bribing you.."

The boys looked up at him, sighing in relief. Only to see the dark smile he had, unconcealing his dark intentions.

The kids seemed to have miscalculated as to what they were capable of. Most civilians would..

"Your friends are down there, and they'd probably be dead by now. I think it would benefit you to know that assassins from a very dangerous international criminal group are after them as we speak.

You do know we're the only ones who can save them now, right? It's only a question of who you prefer to hold them captive - those who would treat them quite well, or those who would not batt an eye to drive a katana through their hearts."He lowered his face in front of them,"Don't you want to save them..?"

Jârullah looked at Irshâd. He knew how his friend recently seemed so attached to the Tâ Hâ boys. He was the one to be most concerned about.

The tanned boy had a thoughtful look on his face. He looked back at the faces of their captors. Their sombre eyes could not be mistaken. Whatever it was they were after, it was no small deal.

He always believed the King was never too honest a man, as rumours always had some element of truth in them. But he'd know the King never did anything to the adverse of his people. If anything, his cunning nature made their nation to be what it was today.

But this moment, he wasn't doing it for the King!

Hesitating for only a few minutes, he held unto the metallic ladder, - and stepped down.

Oh no.. Irshâd.. Jârullah looked down. Now he had no other choice.
He didn't even understand why he held unto this guy this way.

..Maybe it was his caring nature. Irshâd never made many friends. But when he did, he easily chose good people, from intuition alone, and stayed loyal to them.

Once he decides to pursue you as a friend, he never lets up. Once you're his friend, he always got your back.

But somehow it felt like they were siamese twins, for they'd known each other for the longest. Consequently, whatever decisions Irshâd took, affected them both in the long run.

He stepped down.

...

Some few minutes later, another group approached.

The few men the Crimson Sentinels had left behind to stand guard as they entered, suddenly went on guard.

"Who goes there?!!!"

The leader of the new group laughed, his face held a malicious stare.

"We're minions of Malaikal Mawt(Angel of death) come to send you to Saqar(a name of hellfire)."

This group were obviously from Den of Thieves, from how roughly they were dressed. They laughed disdainfully at the guards of the Crimson sentinels as they surrounded them.

Since those left behind to guard the entrance from the King's group were only a few, they were easily subdued by the sheer numbers of this new group, than from brute force.

The thieves tied them to a nearby post, in case they could use them as leverage.

Then they gathered around the opened manhole, each looking down into the pitch blackness.

"Ya sure they went down in there..

Yaa Salaam! The stench!!"

"Master, I think we should take another route..

Let's say - wait for them at the next ex---i--ittttttt!"His words hadn't even landed when he was kicked down from behind. Falling fast forward, he entered into the manhole, head first.

"Anymore objections?"Their leader asked.

Naturally, there weren't anymore. Following his display, he assigned a group to follow their comrade into the sewers.

The rest, headed by their very leader, stood at the entrance to guard it from anymore rogues who were after the saint stone. They naturally knew there were many others after it, aside the Crimson Sentinels.

No one was to enter, and if anyone left, depending on who it was, they would either attack, or keep away from them.

After all, there were some against whom they couldn't matchup...

The last group who comprised several different people saw that they couldn't go in by the entrance at the crossroads.

So they moved out into the other sections of the city where they descended into the sewers by other entrances, according to their groups.

•••

An eerie silence enveloped the place as Zayn's world was filled with a numbing darkness.

Yet, with each step taken in difficulty, he proceeded along the sewer walls as he held Urwah by the shoulder, clinging tightly to the surfaces as support, to navigate his way.

They've gone silent for a time now..

Zayn thought, facing the other direction in the dark from which he was retreating.

He took another step forward, only to tumble, falling prone on his face, Urwah with him.

Yaa Salaam.. That hurt. His body was already bruised from all the commotion, and he was weary.

He dragged himself to sit against the damp walls, with Urwah's head on his lap. His weak frame obviously could not hold the physical strain anymore.

Once he couldn't feel their presence anymore, then they were safe..for the time being.

He couldn't deny the tiredness and exhaustion that hit him in waves, the moment he slumped against the walls to rest.

Pangs of pain..radiating through every joint..

A blinding darkness..making him feel overwhelmed and helpless.

The biting cold..reminding him of how much he disliked such weather once it came.

Malodorous odours..and yet, he couldn't hold his breath, for dear life.

Most of all, the sickening feeling of nausea and,

..the eerie silence, reminded him of their presence.

The exhaustion he'd been holding back, came flooding into him all at once.

The nature of the place was wholly unsuitable for him, and he knew that. His immune system was not the least strong.

He wouldn't say he was a neat freak, but there were certain situations he'd plainly avoid, since childhood, and it always had to do with unclean places. His blindness increased that fear even more.

He held unto his shawl tightly, in a bid to keep out the cold.

He felt so constricted at the moment.

Then suddenly, he heard the screeching sound from the direction he had just evacuated from. It was drawing closer with a more sinister ostentatiousness than ever.

His stiffened for a moment as he slowly turned to face there.

Ya Allah...

Even as he was facing there, he heard Urwah murmur. This was the first time he had uttered anything since he blacked out.

He quickly placed his ear close enough to listen.

"Okāsan(Mother).."Urwah called out. He suddenly was shaking all over. Zayn placed a hand on his forehead.

His temperature was gradually rising, and sweat dampened his thobe all over.

Zayn couldn't see the worry that was etched unto his face. Yet, the tension in Urwah's voice was enough to make him feel the pain the Asian boy was going through. He didn't know how long they'd be stuck in this situation, but Urwah needed help...

Those darts must have been poisoned..

Darts.. Poison! No!

He felt for Urwah's right shoulder. He felt the warm liquid oozing at a point on his shoulder.

So he really was hit.

It was just a haunch, but Zayn had accounted for all the darts passing by them, by sound. Only one had seemed to take a slightly different trajectory after drawing infinitely close, whooshing at an angle to its closest point in their path.

He immediately took down his long white shawl. Hastily, he palpitated at where Urwah's wound was, and began bandaging the whole wound securely.

Next to the poison, the thing he feared most was for the wound to be infected and far beyond saving.

After all, they had just entered a place teeming with all sort of infectious agents.

Though he was a lazy student when it came to the science of At-Tibb(Medicinal Arts), he couldn't prevent the knowledge of spending years travelling with Inaayat, from seeping into him.

Although what he had done was not enough to avoid infections and alleviate the poison, it was better than nothing..

His attention went back to the incoming sinister presence.

The screeching sounds have stopped.. Their presence also seemed to lose its progress, and halt.

To Zayn, the sounds they made were enervating.

Sometimes, it came like bone grinding bone. Other times, like something sharp was being dragged across the wall. Sometimes, indistinct whispers could be heard.

Either way, Zayn knew the jinns only used these to instill fear in others. However, he couldn't prevent his heart from lurching whenever he heard them.

This wasn't his first encounter with jinns after all. When they attacked Tâ Hâ six years ago, he'd witnessed how they'd almost toppled the entire city.

The Jinns of the Dark meadows..

He should have been immune after having such a firsthand experience, but this condition only triggered his remembrance of that time. And, - his remembering that time, sent an involuntary chill down his spine.

Tapping the now disproportionately big bundle on Urwah's arm, he turned to him again. Urwah was still shivering..

He must be fighting to break out from this state.

Zayn knew Urwah very well. He'll always protect his own..

Absentmindedly, the words flowed from his mouth even as he refaced the darkness,"Urwah.. May Allah keep you safe..

Once you protected me bi'iznillah, I'll also do my best, so we both get out of this alive...with Irshâd and Jârullah!!"

Perhaps, it was his worry for Zayn that kept him struggling fiercely against the poisoning effect.

But these words Zayn spoke, had a calming effect on him as he relaxed visibly.

"Okāsan.."

Urwah dived deeper into the state of subconscious mind, allowing the waters to swallow him, taking refuge in obliviousness to everything happening around him.

At the moment, he was in a garden of dreams and memories - mixed affairs of the heart.

Within his memories, he remembered himself as a small boy. Sitting on a meadow on the hill, he looked out to the blooming chrysanthemums and the open blue sky. Their colours were so nice.

The peninsula presented an enchanting view under the fiery rays of the rising sun. This was his innocent childhood days.

Even as the boy looked out, his present self appeared here, a faintly sad smile playing on his lips as he looked at his younger self, in the way that a guardian would over his ward,

We're all born as innocent children, free from sin, with purity from the One whom we originated from.

But not everyone gets to leave it..as free as the day they were born..

Some leave the world with unfulfilled wishes.
Others, with great hatred and resentment.

But we were all born innocent children, ..free from sin.

We were all created with purity,
and brought our giggles of joy from that world to this world,

..Perhaps..to relieve the world a bit of its silence and,..dread.

Sora means 'Sky'..
My parents named me after the sky,

hoping that, just like the sky, I'll be free from all earthly fetters..be free to fly to the farthest horizon.

Because they said, when I was born, an immense joy flooded their hearts.

And as I reached my tiny hand, grasping for the sky, they predicted I'd be a source of freedom and liberation for everyone around me.

Sora means the sky. The sky has no boundaries. It has no anchor.

The sky is free..

•••

Screeeeeeeeeeeech!!!!!

"Yaa Zayn, we're here for you.."

Yaa Allah! Zayn's mind went blank with fear. What's going on? Where was he?..

As he realized his surroundings, cold sweat poured from his body, dampening the back of his thobe.

For some reason, he was no more underground under the sewers. He was standing on a steep cliff. The moist and fresh sea breeze blowing against him.

The sky was deathly pale.

Where is this??

He was wavering dangerously close to the very precipice. He looked down. The sea below was dark and murky, crashing its waves violently against the shoreline.

Like alluring sirens, they advanced and receded, calling him towards his doom. He thought he saw humanoid forms in the waters.

Ilahi..

His voice was soundless, as he ended up mouthing the words rather. What happened to his voice?

He touched his throat, and tried speaking again.

But nothing came out.

When he tried to back away from the precipice, he realized to his dread that his whole body seemed not to respond to him, completely drained of energy.

As the seconds moved on, he found that his strength was gradually leaving his body in an abnormal way, making him lethargic.

"Zaynnnn..."The voice called again, maliciousness dripping from its every pitch. He turned his head to face it, eyes wide.

It was coming from behind.

He turned. Slowly, from the sides of his eyes, he saw it...

A graveyard.

Standing in the middle of it was a boy in a white thobe. His eyes were closed, soaking with blood.

The boy stretched his hands out. Both were bleeding."Zayn, help me."

That voice..

"Urwah?"No.. This is impossible. This can't be true.

He reached out to touch his own eyes. Since when could he even see?.. Yes.. He was blind. This must only be a dream..

A'uudhu billahi minash-Shaytânir-Rajîm.. He cried, repeating it several times.

For some reason, the more he forced to externalize these words, the more he felt his vocal abilities making a breakthrough.

The moment he realized he could do so much as a murmur, he proceeded with the Basmallah and the next aayah.

Bismillahir-Rahmânir-Rahîm

...

Yâ Sīn..
Wal Qur'anil Hakîm..

Innaka Laminal mursalîn.. 'Alaa siraatim-mustaqîm..

Tanzîlal 'Aziizir-Rahîm...

Subconsciously, his lips had began moving even in his sleep state, in hymn of the holy verses of his Rabb.

Suratul Yâ Sîn.. The heart of the Book.

His hymn was incredibly low, as though he were humming the words. But at the same time, it was incredibly audible and distinct.

As time went on, he became increasingly aware of his surroundings.

Consequently, he awoke.

It was just a dream. A bad one.
Urwah was still there. He felt his head on his laps.

His world was still dark.. There were no colours ..of seas and graves.

Zayn didn't move from his reclining position against the walls, but he realized the tears flowing incessantly from his closed eyelids.

Gently closed, but filled with slowly subsiding emotions, ..of fear and loss and desperation. All these had burdened his heart when he was faced with helplessness in the nightmare, and were now only just dissipating.

It made him realize something about himself..

When he realized the desperate situation he had just been put into and how long it took before he was reminded and had to rely on the verses of Ar-Rahmân, he knew that he still had a long way to go, in his journey to his Ilah..

Yaa Allah, Forgive me.. This slave of Yours is unworthy..

This silent imploration filled his head. Whenever he felt overwhelmed, it was the only name he could think and call upon, when he saw no other way.

He continuously recited the aayah used by the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam the night of his hijrah from Makkah.

It's said that he alayhis-Salaam was concealed from the Quraish who had set out to kill him. He ended up even casting a handful of dust at them without their knowledge.

He hadn't stopped reciting that particular aayah again and again.

He hadn't stopped, the moment he'd reached it in his hymning of the verses..

Wa ja'alnaa mimbayni aydihim saddaa wa min khalfihim saddaa, fa aghshaynaahum fahum laa yubsirûn..

"Zaynnnn..."

He heard the whisper receding. How did it even know his name? Then he thought about the Qareen.. It was his only explanation, unless they were jinns of the event that year in Tâ Hâ..

He realized that along the tunnel, the screeching sound has long since passed him, moving in the other direction of the tunnel. It seemed to have only stopped for a while when it had reached them. That was when he had fallen asleep. It had lasted there for only so long.

From the moment he had started reciting, was the moment their hold on him was lost.
As though confused, the bizarre voice moved in the other direction.

"Zaynnn..."He heard the voice again as it moved away. The voice sounded as though..the possessor could not see them.

They can't see us..

He remembered his first time facing them. It had left psychological trauma on him!!

The event..six years ago.. In Tâ Hâ.. The jinns first attacked and wreaked havoc upon the islanders..

•••

Even as the several groups were moving down within the dark and foul-smelling tunnels, they heard the screeching sound.

It was as if a sharp metallic object was dragging all across some metallic walls. But down here was mostly brick.

Suddenly an eerie laughter filled the sewers..
Then it stopped..

A sordid voice called out,

"Den of Thieves, anyone of you who enters here, shall not leave alive!"

The voice called out with vicious hatred.

There were several reactions among the different groups. However, one feature was common..

Everyone was cast into a maddening fit as they ran about, now in chaotic mayhem, shouting,

"Jinn!"

"Jinn!"

"Jinnnn!!!!!"

Some began reciting the Holy Qur'an and Ta'awwudh loudly. It was a total chaos, and nobody was thinking about finding the stone again. Right now, what was most important was to get out of the sewers alive.

The Den of Thieves gang, most especially were frightened witless as they frantically searched for the exit.

However, when they heard the clanging of metallic pans from different directions, they all went silent for a moment, soaking in the understanding of what that meant.

...

"What happened???"Those guarding the opening for the Den of Thieves at the cross-section were at a loss.

They tried lifting the cover to no avail. It was shut tight like cement had been used to harden it.

All possible exits were barricaded!!!

•••

Jârullah held unto Irshâd, he didn't realize how badly he was shaking.

"Are you afraid? Be a man! What jinns? What would they be doing here?"A man from the sentinels said.

The leader though, kept quiet.

After a while seriously thinking, he turned to the boys.

"Hey kids, can any of you recite the Qur'an?"He asked.

The boys looked at him in question.

"Please recite, for dear life.."

________________________________

Please forgive me.. I know this update was kinda late.. and, probably dark..

But it's all part of the narration:DD

Next update sooner than you can expect in shaa Allah:)

Thanks for the patience.

Whilst we're waiting, please check out Niqabi_Secrets's book "OBLIVIOUS". I've read it, and it has serious and important reminders for us whilst here on Wattpad.

Expect me again within these two weeks in shaa Allah..

Till then, I'd like to know your favourite characters so far:)))

Please comment.. It'll inspire me to work harder in shaa Allah