"Not everytime we run from truth is to deny, but to bury the lies we have lived with."

♤

Layla blinked her eyes open and saw the big designed chandelier hanging on the ceiling. Her eyes followed the fined intricate done on the walls and pillars. Black curtains separated the window view from her eyes. Groggily she got up from her place and walked to the window.

"This place, it's like a dream." Her whisper echoed in the enormous room making her breath heavily. Slowly, her fingers curled around the velvet curtain designed by silver threads, she drew them away only to see the view which blew her breaths away.

The palace she was in was surrounded by the large piece of desert, not only that made her feel the dread. But the the way the palace was floating in the air took her breath away. She saw the huge shadow of the palace falling on the land, it was inclined in a way which made her realise, that it was after noon now. She spent the day here.

How could that was possible?

Not only that, but where the hell she was on the planet?

Curiosity churned inside her making take a step back from the window and walk out of the room. Her eyes widened in awe as she saw the finest work on the wall and the ancient lanterns paving the to the wide corridors. There were no guards. How could that be, she thought slipping into the mesmiration of the palace.
Raising her hand, she walked as if she was touching the materials. But in reality she was top scared to do that. She couldn’t touch them. Not because she didn't want to, but because she was terrified as if one touch of her would make everything vanish into a thin air. It was like as if she was dreaming.

Turning from one corridor to another, she reached the vast balcony and the view from the balcony was nothing compared to the window. She saw beautiful colors in the sky, like aurora. Raising her hands, she began to touch it with a small smile plastered on her face.

"What are you doing?" A deep rumbles of voice boomed, scaring Layla ans making her stumble on her feet.

Her eyes widened with fear, as she stopped herself from falling and turned around to see a black shadow appearing from the corridor.

Cold drops of precipitation formed on her head making her wipe away it the back of her hand and tighten her niqab on her face.

"I- th-this," she stuttered while her hands fidgeted by her sides.

"I asked, what are you doing here?" The voice boomed again, making Layla sweat with fear.

"Enough, Za'al. Don't scare the poor soul." Hafsa walked in the view with her own face half covered with a veil, bit she loosened it for Layla to see. Hafsa, really didn't wanted to scare Layla. But when things slipped out of her hands, she called Za'al and kidnapped her. She didn't wanted to do it, but the circumstances she and Nazreena was in was far worse than anyone can think.

"Why are you doing this?" Layla questioned in a small whisper.

Hafsa and Za'al exchanged looks with each other on her question. Clearing her throat, Hafsa begin speaking.

"We wanted your help with,-"

"My help?!" Layla exclaimed scoffing as her fear and sadness turned into her anger.

"My help for what? To do the dishes? Because last time I remember, I was a simple girl who lost her and with no super human powers to know the behind story of the very tragedy." She continued, her anger visible in her words as she crossed her arms on her chest and stood rooted on her place.

"You aren't useless. You have the power to change the things." Hafsa stressed on her words, trying to keep her point in the argument. It was harder than she thought, to argue with Layla.

"What things are you talking about?"

"The forbidden things you dared to touch."

"Za'al!" Hafsa voice boomed in the empty balcony as she glared at him. Her fingers tightening into a fist.

"Don't provoke me to remind you where you belong." Threatening Za'al, she turned to Layla and scolded her, "you are not a child Layla. Nazreena might stay silent on the mindless questions you ask, but not everything needs your anger to be understood."

"Your help will save the lives of innocent. Now, will you step back and let the innocents die. Because we will be not at fault, you will be."

Her words were like thunder making Layla's eyes moist.

"Will you help us or not?" She questioned with her no nonsense voice and eyes rooted on Layla's moist one.

"It is not like this," Layla begin, but was cut off by Hafsa's words.

"Yes or no, Layla." She pressed on making Layla's heart beat t the pace which made her terrified. She could almost hear it in her ears.

"Yes." She agreed making Hafsa clasp her hand in her grip an began running to Nazreena.

They ran from one corridor to another and finally entered, Nazreena's room.

Baraq's eyes found her's making him rush to her and cradled her face in his huge and calloused palm.

"Are you okay?" He asked making her nod at him with eyes full of feelings she denied to understand.

"Layla agreed to help with The Djinns Cave."
Something clicked in his mind and dfeaning silence spread around him as he remembered the day he took her to his village.

"Ugh!" He groaned repetitively hitting his palm on his forehead. As he thought about it all, he connected the dots and said out loud.

Layla's eyebrows drew together in confusion making her look back and forth between Baraq and Nazreena. Where Baraq looked like he could kill anyone right now, Nazreena possessed the power of killing with her eyes.

"That means that the statue captured there are Djinns." He exclaimed ceasing the silence with his words as his eyes fell on Nazreena, who slowly denied with her head.

"They are not the Djinns."

"Then who are they?" Hafsa questioned with her eyes shining in confusion and Baraq anticipated the answer with his eyes hardening on Nazreena. He could feel his heart beating in his ears.

"They are humans."

Tbc...