RISING TENSION

★★★★★

Before The Call

8:30 pm

Zayn had too many reasons to be upset with his father. The things he made him do. He had had it up to his neck with him. He was thinking about his weird exchange with Hannan. What stupid things did he say with his mouth like someone who was under a spell? He had taken the acting too far, he cursed himself. He could have easily acted normal but he chose to say things that he would regret later and now he wished to turn back the hands of time and undo everything. He had a feeling that Ahmad would probably be thinking that he was love-sick or something. What nonsense? He huffed, tightening his grip against the steering wheel.

After dropping Abduljabbar off at home, he and his old man went to a nearby mosque and performed their last prayer for the day. His father then decided to drop by at the hospital, just to check up on his patients. He hadn't seen Yusuf in a while. Too busy to attend to him now that he was almost fully recovered. Zayn was planning to discharge him but as soon as he recalled that there was a madman after his life, he dispelled the thought.

Yusuf had been moved from the intensive care unit back to the twentieth ward. Dr. Zayn and his father came in to see him in a self-propelled wheelchair and with him was his nurse, Naomi. The patient's hind limbs were paralyzed due to the damage of certain neurons after suffering an Ischemic stroke. He still struggled with memory loss, apart from that he was living and breathing, just like a normal human.

When they passed by the door, the professor saw a couple of hefty security men outside the ward. He looked at his son, intending to inquire about them but he was distracted by the voice of Noami who greeted them respectfully, then stood aside. They answered in unison and walked past her, up to the patient. 

Yusuf was looking at them with bright eyes. He appeared to recognize Dr. Zayn, but the old man with grey hair looked kind of familiar. His memory of Hannan was still very sharp, hence he had a recollection of her past now, while that of his family was still blank.

"I gave him NZT-48, a drug which allows the brain to generate new cells and boost brain health," Zayn explained, coming behind his father who stood very close to the patient, staring down at him.

"Have you noticed any visible change yet? Any side effects?" The old man asked.

"No side effects, but there has been a bit of improvement ever since we started using the stem cell therapy on him."

"What is that?" Absent-mindedly, his father asked him to elaborate, observing Yusuf.

"Oh, it's a new development where neural stem cells may be used for structural brain repair. In biology, this is called neurogenesis. This therapy can be used to treat a wide range of brain disorders." Zayn completed and noticed his father wasn't even listening to him.

 He asked the nurse to get him a needle. He pricked Yusuf on the hand with it and noticed he didn't respond. Then he pinched him on the same spot and noticed a slight movement. His response was slow and the professor wasn't pleased by the sight. He turned to Zayn and asked, "And you said he had recovered?"

"Compared to the way he was before," Zayn folded his arms across his chest, "trust me, he has seriously improved. We should be glad he's still alive."

"When do you intend to discharge him?"

"I don't intend to, not yet." Zayn didn't want to tell his father the actual reason for changing his mind."I need to monitor him a bit longer."

"What about those men outside?" His father threw a glance at the door. Zayn knew he'd ask this question and he had already prepared a reasonable answer for him.

"For security purposes, in case he tries to escape." He noticed his father was starting to get suspicious so he quickly added," Memory loss can sometimes make people lose their mind once they don't recognize where they are. He tried to run one time and it took the grace of God to procure him." He lied and he saw his father cast a dubious stare at him. No matter, it didn't stop him from making up stories to cover his tracks. Whether his old man believed him or not, he didn't care. At least that will prevent him from asking further questions.

"And you didn't tell me this?"

"I did try to tell you but you were always unavailable." Zayn turned around and picked up something from a nearby drawer. Despite his confidence, his father could see through him. Something wasn't right with his son. "You have a romantic affair with the Oasis, remember." He said, smiling at his father who didn't find his joke funny. It was his turn to make him feel miserable. 

The father kept quiet and before he could raise any more questions, Zayn headed for the door. "I'll see you in the car." That was his best bet to escape this inquisitive old man, who would do anything to fetch the truth out of him.

Zayn strolled into the hospital parking lot, stuffing both hands in his pocket. God knew when life would reach his soul. He was far from happy. How could he allow his father to trick him into making such a huge decision? And he'd have to convince her to marry him which seemed to be getting difficult every minute. Everything he thought reasonable was getting on his nerves and even the idea of pretending throughout the entire course was starting to sound disgusting to him. These were the kind of thoughts that troubled him when he forgot the reason he was doing this in the first place.

He stood in front of the car and when was about to open it, he found a small note that was stuck on the door, where it was noticeable. He removed the piece of paper and internally read what was written on it.

Some people die of shame by making them bow their heads rather than beheading them. When the time is ripe, I will make you and your father crawl on your knees while you weep in shame. Remember this and remember to return what belongs to me, for your days are numbered.

Zayn's heart fell into his stomach, letting the paper drop mindlessly. He looked around to see if he was being followed. He had the feeling that whoever left that note there didn't know where he lived. That was why such incidents kept occurring at the hospital.

The sound of footsteps reached his ears and he turned around to see someone heading his way. It wasn't his father, it was that strange figure that had threatened him with a gun the last time. It had been two months ago and he was given 48 hours before then to hand Yusuf over to them.

"We meet again." The figure stopped in front of him. It was a man, quaint of one eye. He was wearing an eye patch, unlike the last time."You remember me?" He extended a hand for a shake.

 Zayn refrained himself from accepting his gesture."How could I forget, you almost ruined me." He thought back to their first encounter and he vaguely recalled his name. "Huk Strange," He mentioned if that was what he was called.

"Really?"The man chuckled. "You are lucky I wasn't permitted to end you today." He had been tailing Zayn throughout the day and if he wanted to do it, he would have done it fast.

"Do you have personal issues with me?"

"I have only come to deliver a message. If I have issues with you I will sort it out. It is that demon you call a father that I'm after and unlike you, he seems good at hiding." Zayn shot him a look that had him thinking his words might have snapped the wrong nerve.

Through a slightly hardened jaw and creased eyebrows, he warned, "Any utterance that has the specks of belittling my father in it, I don't want to hear it. Let it rot in your stomach."

"And what are you going to do about it? You don't seem capable of doing anything. You can't even hurt a dead rat." His words cut deep and it hurt Zayn in a sensitive spot. How was he still standing there listening to this stray freak of nature? He hadn't taken a good look at the man from the last time, and now that he saw him clearly, from the streetlights cast upon his face, he noticed his parched skin. He appeared to have escaped a fire accident or something worse than that. 

"How could a monster like you know what I am capable of?" Zayn felt insulted because truly he couldn't do anything. He couldn't even kill this freak even if he had the weapon in his hands.

"We are but the monsters your father made of us." The man laughed humorlessly. He wrapped his calloused hands around his rifle. It was not his intention to kill Zayn that night but his hands itched to blow him up."And I just can't wait to show you how much of a monster I truly am. If my master wanted you dead, trust me, I will cut you into pieces limb from limb and feed your carcass to vultures." He looked Zayn straight in the eyes. He wanted to threaten him to break his spirit and he thought if his upcoming words didn't do it, nothing would.

"See, I have been tailing you for a while now. I know the woman that has the flash drive and I also know where she lives. Your soon-to-be wife will be dead in the way you least expected if you don't hand over what belongs to my boss."

Zayn felt a cold chill creeping up his spine as the words rolled out of his tongue. He could almost feel himself quaking in his shoes at the mention of her. Had this man been following him about? He feared for Hannan's life which was in grave danger."Contrary to what you have in mind, I'm not your enemy. Please don't hurt that innocent girl, she has done nothing to you and whoever sent you here."

"My job here is done." The man said and turned away from him. He was about to walk away when Zayn stopped him.

"How about we strike a deal?" He offered, waiting for the man to reply. Zayn knew that the only way they could get to him was through Hannan and he would never forgive himself if anything happened to her while he knew. He was well aware that whoever this stranger was, he wouldn't harm him because he had been ordered not to do so but he couldn't say the same about Hannan.

"What deal?"

"I'll return the flash drive and you leave her out of this."

"And the boy?"

Zayn didn't have any plans concerning Yusuf but one thing was for sure, he didn't intend to hand him over. He wanted to find out what they needed him for. He figured it might be hard to bargain with this man because he was nothing but a messenger. Only his boss could give such orders.

"I give you the flash drive, and you leave the girl alone. Do we have a deal?"He tried to reach an agreement. But the man made it evident that he wasn't interested in his offer. He said nothing and when he saw someone coming, he moved faster and disappeared.

Strange couldn't let the professor see him because he once worked at the Oasis and seeing meant doom for him because he couldn't kill either the Professor or his son. His boss needed both of them alive to accomplish his mission. Every move he made was deliberate and Zayn was the perfect tool to get back at his father.

*****

The drive home was quiet and unbearably awkward. As soon as they arrived, Zayn made his way to his room without saying a word to his father. The old man knew something was wrong with his son but he deliberately refused to question him.

Staring at the cup of tea his mother made for him, there was a void feeling in his heart. He sat under the roof of the gazebo at their family home by himself. He knew he had started a risky game from the moment he agreed to marry Hannan, but he didn't expect things to get so lethal quickly. He had done some investigation to get to the root of the problem but he didn't seem to be getting closer to the truth. 

For some reason, a lot of him was worried about Hannan, even though he didn't like her. Her safety mattered much to him. Thinking about how to get her under his protection, he was certain that she wouldn't want to marry him. She didn't seem drawn to him and considering what he saw of her earlier that day, she gave the impression that she was bothered by his presence. Her belated reply gave him the impression that she might refuse. After further consideration, he realized that he had to be extra nice to her to make her change her mind.

Even if his spirit didn't accept it, he'd make her fall for him. He couldn't just sit back and watch these people destroy the life of an innocent girl. If her father knew the gravity of what he had done, leaving her with that flash drive, he wouldn't have left her without any protection. Something also told him that there was a message in that flash drive that the father wanted his daughter to see. Why didn't he give it to Teslim, the mature one, he thought as he picked up his phone and dialed her line.

She didn't pick up, giving him the feeling that she felt bothered by him and intentionally didn't want to pick up his call. The last thing he wanted was to make her feel any form of inconvenience or give her the impression that he was obsessed. He just wanted to do what he had to do and leave the rest to God.

After dialing her line for the third time, he called Ahmad when she didn't answer her phone. After exchanging greetings with him, he asked him to give Hannan the phone and who knew she might be sleeping. During the entire call, the only falsehood he spoke was telling her that his father said that the flash drive belonged to someone. He and his father never discussed such and he didn't even know the owner of the device. All he wanted to do was to retrieve it from her and find out what secret it held. 

They spoke for about five minutes before Zayn ended his call with her. He plunged back into his thoughts alone, accompanied by nothing but fear and uncertainty.

"Basking in solitude, are we?" Came Aliya's voice as she walked into the gazebo and headed to where her brother sat. Zayn put his phone aside, where he had been pretending to read an email in order not to look lonely. He looked up at his sister and smiled at her genuinely, despite his puzzled feelings."Tell me, in one simple sentence, what are you doing here alone?"Aliya asked, taking a step closer to him.

"Just taking fresh air," Zayn took a sip from his cup of tea.

"It's past nine already and you are still taking in fresh air outside?" She knew her brother was usually straight-faced and serious but that night, she saw him looking troubled and aloof, and she was concerned about the reason for his change in disposition."Why do I feel like you are going to be the only loser in this game?" Aliya said, making her brother turn to her.

"You tell me, Aliya." Zayn retorted sharply, knowing exactly what she meant. "You seem to know everything these days."He looked at her closely, with a slight frown.

"Aside from what you are thinking right now." She stated, taking a chair opposite him. "I can't compete with your wit, Einstein."Aliya tried to maintain a jocular tone as she swept her hair and threw them over one shoulder.

"Have you seen your brother today?" Zayn decided to change the topic in her favour, recalling that he hadn't been around him lately, and when he saw him earlier during the day, he was with some troublesome boys. That was alarming. Merely thinking of Imran made him ashamed. The truth was that he was avoiding him because he couldn't stand him, not after what he had done.

"I saw him on my way here," Aliya nodded. "I haven't seen him this disheartened." She paused, "Ever since the incident, I think," even she was ashamed to mention it.

"Yeah, I have noticed that too, "Zayn took another sip of his tea with a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice which his sister didn't fail to notice.

"And what about you?"

"What about me?" Zayn raised a questioning brow, placing the cup on the table."How do you mean?"

"How do you feel about all these? Are you happy?" Aliya decided to raise a probing question, now that she had his attention. She was trying to have this discussion with him earlier during the day but he didn't even spare her a minute of his time.

"Do I look sad?" Zayn feigned a smile, sitting straight in his chair. He tried to dodge her question. He seemed to be smiling a lot these days and Aliya noticed it never reached his stomach.

"You look depressed, Brother." She playfully replied, making a bored face.

"Then why do you ask?"  

Aliya sighed, "I thought our family was a happy polygamous home. Now because of you, Imran doesn't talk to me either."She wanted to tell him that their younger brother was keeping malice with the elders as well since they all supported Zayn. He found their action unjust.

Aliya noticed her brother was silent. He never wanted it to come to this. He had nothing to say.

"Ya Zayn, can I ask you a question?"She uttered innocently after a while. Her brother nodded encouragingly as he scrolled through his phone, he was trying to send a text message to his bodyguard. "Are you in love with Hannan?" Aliya's question made Zayn stop whatever he was doing and raise his face to look at her. He thought about it for a second.

"Why do you ask?" Zayn was surprised at her question. They both stared at each other as if they were able to read each other's thoughts. Aliya already knew the answer to her question but she wanted him to clear her doubt himself. She was starting to question his taste in women. She hadn't known him to be someone whose emotions could cloud his judgment.

"I just thought our father might have convinced you to marry his friend's daughter." She guessed right. Zayn didn't reply but he smiled at her. She was smart to figure out the truth on her own. But he wasn't about to give her the benefit of the doubt.

In the absence of his reply, Aliya went on with what she had in mind." We all thought you were going to marry Aylin. You two were very close. But ever since father returned, you've changed and not just that," she paused, weighing her next words carefully, not to sound rude, "the person that was chosen for you seemed not to be your type...She's not even in your class." She finally let the words out, looking at her hands on her lap.

"Her social class doesn't matter, Aliya."Zayn simply said, leaning forward against the table and heaved a sigh. She was right again but it was too late to weep over spilled milk.

"I didn't mean to put it that way, but I highly suggest that Mum's choice would have been better." Just like her mother, Aliya was in favour of her brother ending up with Nadia, but that wasn't her only problem. "At least, it wouldn't have torn our family apart."

Zayn remained silent because he saw her contemplating something else and he wanted her to finish.

 "I'm sorry if I sound nosy. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation with Dad. It's just that you have so many options and you made the wrong choice and I will never forgive myself if I watch you make such a terrible mistake.

"Where are you going with this?"

"Look, all I'm trying to say is that you would have been much happier with Yasmeen."

Zayn shot her a look that screamed 'I will not marry any of your stupid friends.' But his sister ignored it and continued.

"Don't you see? She has been in love with you ever since we were kids. Do you not find her attractive?"

"What do you know about love, Aliya?" Zayn raised his eyebrows at her, and she avoided his gaze. If not that she mentioned it, her brother hardly noticed Yasmeen, let alone become aware of her feelings toward him. Aliya, on the other hand, believed that her brother was better off with any of the three people she had suggested. If Hannan wasn't in the picture, she would have been very pleased if he took the plunge with any of them.

"If Imran is at all important to you, brother. Help him out of this misery. You know what to do. For goodness sake, you have Aylin, Yasmeen, and Nadia. What more do you need in a woman that you can't find in them?"Zayn frowned at her suggestions and assumptions which didn't seem to surprise him.

"Did you come here to advertise your friends?"He wanted her to get lost. She was not in the right position to lecture him. She had no idea what was at stake.

 Aliya shifted uncomfortably in her chair now that her brother's mood had shifted. She figured it was time to change the topic before things got ugly.

"That's not why I'm here, by the way." She uttered, now revealing an envelope from under her scarf which she held in her hand. "I came to show you this." She handed the white envelope to him. It had a seal on it.

"What is it?" Zayn opened it and saw an invitation letter from the school, inviting their family to witness Aliya's convocation. She had the highest CGPA since the inception of Baze University. Upon reading it, Zayn's expression softened.

"Congratulations," he said, folding the letter. "You've made this family proud." Zayn looked at her with a light smile playing on his lips. She smiled back with satisfaction shining bright in her eyes, even if she didn't get the kind of reaction she was looking for. At least she could see her brother was impressed.

"Has Dad seen this?" Zayn asked, putting the paper back into the envelope.

"Yes, he asked me to show you."

"I'm sure, he'd be so proud of his Gimbiya." He said. His tone was unintentionally mocking, making Aliya roll her eyes.

"What? Isn't that what he calls you?" He sneered, seeing the annoyed expression on Aliya's face.

"Please, don't call me that in front of my friends."

"Why? It's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Not everyone likes to be called by some ridiculous nickname."

"I'll tell Abba you don't like his special name for you." Zayn taunted. 

"I never said that,"

"Why then?" Zayn inquired. His cell phone vibrated, indicating that he had received a message from his bodyguard.

Veem: Sir, I'm at your family home.

Zayn: You know where to find me.

He texted back, not paying attention to what Aliya was saying. After that, he put his phone away and returned his focus to her.

"Put something over your head so you'd look decent. Someone is coming here any minute and I don't want him to see you like this." He instructed. Aliya thought it was Omar, so she ignored her brother. 

In nothing less than thirty seconds, Veem appeared on the stone path that led into the gazebo. When Aliya heard footsteps, she turned around and saw him coming. She dashed for her scarf, quickly throwing it on. Zayn ignored her madness and ushered the man in. 

Veem walked up to his boss and offered his greetings. He was about to greet Aliya as well when he saw her adjusting her veil. This made him look away quickly because part of her hair was exposed. His gaze accidentally bored into her brother's. Zayn gave him a look that almost seemed as if his eyes were saying, 'I'm going to snap your neck if you take a second glance at my sister.'

Aliya got up, wanting to disappear from there.  Veem stepped aside for her to pass. She left without saying a word. Zayn watched her as she walked away. 

When they were left alone, Veem took in his boss's view to see him wearing a pair of blue jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt. His casual appearance gave him the idea that Zayn did not put much thought into choosing his clothing that night. He was always looking smart from what he remembered.

"Femi Adebayo," Zayn called him by his real name, leaving Veem flustered and wondering how he knew.

"How did you know my...?" He trailed off, getting curious at the smug smile on Zayn's face.

"And I also know that that tattoo is fake." Zayn leaned back and crossed his legs."I've been building a profile on you, watching your every movement." He waited and saw Veem looking perplexed.

"Sit down," Zayn gestured at a nearby chair. "You don't look very bad for a secret agent."

"Well, should I be glad that you've given me an appraisal?"Veem took his spot on the chair where Aliya had left, fully aware that he had been found out. Now that Zayn had blown his cover, there was no need to pretend anymore.

"You shouldn't. I'm not generous with compliments, I don't know why I'm giving you one." Zayn said, trying not to sound hostile.

He didn't perceive Veem as the enemy but he had trust issues and at the moment, the only person he could trust was himself. He started probing him after Yusuf's jaw-dropping revelation at the hospital. During his investigation, he discovered that Veem was a DIA officer and not a combat machine as his father had described him to be. He worked with the army and for some reason, he appeared to be loyal to his father.

"What's your angle?"

"Exactly what I should be asking you." Zayn's expression was beyond serious. He wanted answers as to what Veem and his father were playing at. "Now tell me, what are you and my father up to?"

Veem had always known his boss to have a very dry sense of humor and he wasn't above making sarcastic remarks to people. Although he tended to be polite rarely, like the time they were at Omar's office and he could seem condescending at times. Among his servants, there were some he respected such as Thomas. Working undercover to serve him proved more difficult than he thought. And he always knew they could never be friends but he never foresaw this moment coming, when he'd confront him. This could thwart his mission.

"Do you think you can handle the truth?" Veem said, laughing and making light of Zayn's tactics. In reality, he was impressed by his bold moves, yet he couldn't spill the truth, even if Zayn was holding a gun over his head.

"Don't test me. I didn't invite you here for a random chat." Zayn warned monotonously. He, like his father, had a very sensitive pride, being afraid to be wrong in his deductions and theories. It was the reason he hadn't questioned Veem about this sooner. Now that he was doing so, he seemed to be running out of patience.

"I can't tell you, I gave my words to your father. My job is to protect you. I'm not allowed to have this kind of conversation with you."

Zayn sighed, getting tired of this dialogue which was taking an unnecessarily lengthy amount of time. When he started his investigation on Veem, he tended to second-guess every evidence he was presented with and he was extremely meticulous and analytical. That was why he couldn't have been wrong that Veem wasn't an enemy, seeing that he was dedicated to serving his father.

"Someone very close to me is in danger." He finally said, after a short while. "I need your help to protect her." 

"Is it Saleh's daughter?" Veem asked, guessing that he and his boss might be treading the same course.

"Yes," Zayn said and told him about his earlier encounter with the strange man. He figured that to get Veem on his side and make him open up, he had to tell him everything he knew. This would help them build trust. That was why he had invited him there in the first place.

"She has a flash drive in her possession that these people want." He finished saying and saw Veem considering something. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he took his time, piecing the information together.

"That must be the same flash drive that was stolen at the army resource center in 2016." He finally put forward, helping Zayn to solve part of the puzzle. He had a hunch that it was what his friend Jake had stolen from the army. "From what I could remember, Saleh was the last person to hold on to it before it went missing." He paused, refraining himself from speaking further. Zayn wanted him to say more but his next word revealed just how dedicated this agent was to his job, his old man to be precise.

"By the way, I work for your father, not for you. So I can't tell you everything I know." Sitting in front of Zayn, observing him closely and wondering how he found out the truth, Veem thought this man could make a good detective. He'd like to know how. He did a very fantastic job. Maybe he could use his help too, to unravel the face behind that mask.

"But we can join forces to unveil the masked man's identity to hide his culpability." The agent offered. 

"Stop wasting my time, I have no intention to pledge allegiance to someone who doesn't want to share with me simple information."

"I'm merely suggesting you try a different approach. You can't catch him alone. Moreover, these are sensitive information you inquire about. I can't share them with you. But I know someone who has the answers you seek."

"What difference does it make? Eventually, I'll find out the very secret you swore to protect."

"The difference is that I won't be the one telling you." That way he didn't have to break his promise to the professor.

"I'm almost afraid to ask, is this how you intend to prove your loyalty to my father?"

"If he could trust me with the most precious thing in his life, then I don't need to prove anything." By that, he meant Zayn was very dear to his father. Zayn took a few seconds to reason his words. He had shown his disinterest in his offer through his words, but inside he was rethinking it.

Seconds ticked off, and none of them said anything. After further consideration, Zayn felt they could reach an agreement. But before he could say a word the other man beat him to it.

"Admit it, you don't trust me?" He said, his gaze locking on to Zayn's as though he was trying to read him.

"Hold on," Zayn said, his tone softer this time but still steady. "I trust you. And even if you end up turning on me, I won't blame you or regret my decision. Because I watched you, spoke to you, and decided to trust you. But I'm not about to trust others just because you trust them. Do you understand me now?"

Veem nodded, seeing reasons with him. "She's someone you know very well, so you don't have to be afraid. She is a very close friend."

Zayn wondered who that might be. "If you say so."

"So what do you say?"

"I also have allies, do you mind if they come in?"

"I have no problem with that."

"That settles it then," Zayn said and informed Veem that he'd book a hotel room where all five of them would meet and regularly do their investigation. With that, he stood up.

As he walked out of the place, he sensed Veem walking slowly behind him. Upon which he turned around swiftly, leveling a hard gaze on him.

"If you forget the current resolve and slip. I will make your life miserable."Zayn whispered, his voice dropping seriously low. Veem himself was confused. Judging from what he saw in his eyes that night, it wasn't just a threat. Zayn was ready to take drastic measures to get to the root of the matter.

"You can live in peace knowing that."He added, smiling. He said farewell, took two steps toward the exit and then he was gone.

 
★★★★★

♥THANKS FOR READING♥

Please Vote, Comment, and Share...✍