That walked in pin drop silence, their throats now parched with thurst. The sun was on their heads now, the the temperature had increased by several farhenheit. Baraq held Layla's hand in his, and was dragging her.

Layla sighed, "I don't think so I can walk anymore." She collapsed on his arm and fanned herself.

"We should have some rest here," Baraq suggested looking at Nazreen who nodded her head and dropped down her bag and Hafsa followed the suit.

"I need shed," Layla said, her fingers loosening the knot of her hijab as it lazily stuck on her head.

"Talk about nonsense, in the wide land of sand, where will you find the shed?" Hafsa muttered, now irritated by the drops of sweat sticking to her skin, she was hating every minute she was spending here.

"If you can't let out the kind words, then keep your trash to yourself," Layla retorted back. Feeling the ick from sweat and hotness.

Before Hafsa could say anything else, Nazreena quietened them down with her tired tone.

"We all are tired from the journey, but it doesn't mean we have to be bitter to each other about it."

Baraq cut off her words with his sharp whisper as he stared into the far lands of desert.

"There's a village there, I can see a minaret."

Layla's eyes moved over to Baraq's and she could see he wasn't lying.

Nazreena instantlyrics went beside him to have a better look.

"If we just walk straight ahead, them we can ask for a place to stay there. I am sure they will help us." He suggested and and Nazreena nodded her head.

"But we have to be careful about it, we aren't exactly from here." Nazreena warned as they again started waking.

Nazreena was walking ahead of them, behind her was Layla and Hafsa, trying their best walk steadily and not collapse on the hot sand. They tightend their hijab properly on their head.

Baraq walked behind all of them, his yellow eyes narrowed as he kept assessing their surroundings and made sure no one harmed the ladies. It was his idea to walk behind all of them, that way he can keep his eyes on them and sense the harm more easily.

His tense shoulders tightended more as the neared the boundaries of the village. Layla turned behind, her steps hesitant as they walked further into hot sand dunes.

Few camels sat outside of the village with their owners. He could see those men's eyes lingering on the women. He instantly walked near Layla.

"Hafsa, walk with Nazreena." He ordered and took the place of Hafsa, beside Layla.

His fingers lingered on his face, as he loosen the keffiyeh, and let it fall around his neck. Hot breeze flew by, playing with soft tendrils of long and lustrous hair.

Long scar stood proudly on the left side of his face, glancing at Baraq, the men instantly changed their eye's direction and quietly exchanged a murmur against each other.

Nazreena stopped when the man infront of him stopped her by showing her palms. Her blood boiled the way he stared at her, as if it was first he was seeing a woman in his life.

"Who are you all?" The man infront of her questioned attracting Baraq's attention. His accent was rich and felt like he belonged to the land of Arabs.

"We are Travellers and need place to stay here." Baraq jumped into the conversation and held Layla's hand in his tight grip.

"We don't let anyone stay here." The same man replied with his gruff voice, leaning his head slightly to have a look at Layla.

"We have money," Baraq said showing a small bag to the man.

"My name is Jafar," the man said and gestured them to follow him.

"One thing, carve it into your minds." Kafar begin walking into the village, the huge wall had the canopy hanging from it, which was a relaxation for a while. Brown mud houses covered most of the place.

Kids played outside of the house, while man and woman was nowhere to seen at.

"Whatever happens here is none of your business." His voice grew grim and dark.

"You see nothing, you hear nothing and you don't talk about us at all." Something about his words made everyone feel uneasy.

Layla clutched her abdomen and and tried to lighten the weight of her chest, while Baraq inhaled sharply not letting anyone see his reaction. Nazreena narrowed her eyes when they entered the little soul market with in the boundary. There wasn't much people there, nor was any vendor calling out for people. It was quiet, unusual quiet.

A gasp escaped from Hafsa's lips as her eyes caught a glimpse of a black shadow looming over the shorter walls of the houses. Someone was following them.

Hafsa leaned near Nazreena's ears and muttered, "someone is following us."

Nazreena straightened her spine and muttered under her breath, loud enough for Baraq to hear.

"لقد وضعوا جاسوسًا علينا."

"They put a spy on us."

Baraq tightened his hold on Layla's hand as she looked at him in questioning manner.

"سنتصرف كأننا لم نرَ شيئًا."

"We'll act like we haven't seen anything."

Baraq suggested and everyone nodded their heads except Layla. She was confused what were they conversing about, because they talked in old Arabic which was slightly different from the modern Arabic language.

Jafar turned around and glared at Baraq, he showed him the shiny piece if metal blade and said.

"Try to act smart and you will know why we don't welcome here anyone."

"Just act like how Jaffar said." He said in English and nodded at Layla making her pass a curt nod. She was terrified of the scenario infront of her.

She wasn't in her society's playground. She was miles away from her home and didn't have anything with her. Also, no one would notice ismf she died here.

After crossing few alleys, Jafar stopped infront of a rusty old door and pushed it open.

"This is your room and there will be someone giving you food, stay in the room and don't roam out around, especially in night."

With that Jafar was out like a light and Layla collapsed on the nearest cot, heaving up a breath.