“You’re lying,” I said.
“I’m not,” he replied. “But if we don’t leave now, it won’t matter. Do you want to die here?”
His words hit me like a slap.
Did I want to die here?
The truth was, I didn’t know anymore.
But the thought of the warlord’s hands on me, of being bound to him for the rest of my life, made the choice clear.
“Fine,” I said, my voice trembling. “But if you’re lying, I’ll kill you myself.”
A ghost of a smile flickered across his face.
“Fair enough.”
10
KHALID
Her defiance was a spark in the darkness, a reminder of why I had come.
As I helped her to her feet, I could see the mistrust in her eyes, the way she flinched at every sound.
She didn’t believe me yet.
But she would.
I led her out of the tent, my heart pounding as we slipped past the guards.
The camp was a minefield of danger, every shadow a potential threat.
As we moved, I couldn’t help but glance at her, taking in the details—the way her hair fell over her shoulders like a raven’s wing, the way her hands shook as she clutched the chains still dangling from her wrists.
She looked like a ghost, a shell of the girl I had seen in the photograph.
But beneath the fear, I saw something else.
Something fierce and unyielding.
We would make it out.
We had to.
11
NOURA
The world outside the tent was chaos—shouting, gunfire, and the acrid stench of smoke filling the air.
My heart raced as Khalid pulled me forward, his grip firm but not cruel.
He moved like a shadow, quick and deliberate, his eyes scanning every dark corner for threats.
I didn’t trust him.
Why should I?
He claimed my father had sent him, but he could just as easily be another man looking to use me, to break me in ways I couldn’t even imagine.
The cold night air stung my face as we ducked behind a stack of crates.
My bare feet scraped against the rough ground, leaving streaks of blood in our wake.
Every sound—a twig snapping, a voice calling out—felt like the prelude to my death.
“Keep moving,” he whispered, his voice low and urgent.
I wanted to scream at him, to demand answers, but the fear lodged in my throat like a stone.
All I could do was follow, my body trembling with exhaustion and terror.
We slipped past a group of armed men, their laughter cruel and careless.
My knees nearly buckled as one of them turned in our direction, but Khalid’s hand tightened around mine, steadying me.
“Stay quiet,” he mouthed.
I hated him.
I hated his calmness, his certainty, as if he had the right to drag me out of one hell and into another.
12
KHALID
The camp was a labyrinth of danger, every turn a potential death trap.
I had planned this escape for weeks, studying the guards’ rotations, memorizing the layout.
But plans meant nothing when bullets started flying.
Noura was dead weight in my arms—terrified, fragile, and stubbornly silent.
I could feel her mistrust like a physical thing, a wall between us.
She didn’t believe me, didn’t believe her father had sent me.
And why should she?
I had seen what these men did to women like her.
The scars they left weren’t just on the body but in the mind, festering wounds that never fully healed.
“Move faster,” I hissed, glancing over my shoulder.
The guards were distracted for now, but it wouldn’t last.
She stumbled, her legs buckling under her, and I caught her before she hit the ground.
Her eyes met mine—wide, dark, and filled with something I couldn’t quite place.
Fear, yes, but something else too.
“Leave me,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “You’re going to get us both killed.”
“Not an option,” I said, pulling her to her feet. “You don’t get to give up.”
Her glare was sharp enough to cut, but she didn’t argue.
13
NOURA
We reached the edge of the camp, where the shadows deepened and the noise of the guards faded into the background.
My chest heaved with each ragged breath, my body screaming in protest.
“Stay close.”His voice was strained, his usual composure fraying at the edges.I wanted to scream, to cry out for someone—anyone—to answer.But the silence pressed down on me like a shroud, suffocating any sound.Khalid led me through the carnage, his hand never leaving the knife at his side.My legs felt like lead, each step heavier than the last.“They did this,” he muttered, his gaze sweeping the destruction.“Who?”“The men hunting us.”My stomach churned.The thought of being dragged back into their clutches made my skin crawl.“We can’t stay here,” he said, his voice firm.“But—”“No.”He cut me off, his tone leaving no room for argument.“There’s nothing left.”I wanted to hate him for his coldness, for his refusal to grieve for these people.But maybe he was right.Maybe survival meant leaving the dead behind.As we left the village, I glanced back one last time, the weight of their silent screams settling on my shoulders.For the first time, I wondered if Khalid’s protection
The mention of my father hit me like a blow.Memories of his voice, his laugh, and his steady presence fought their way to the surface, battling the image of his lifeless body.I wanted to believe Khalid, but the knot of mistrust in my chest refused to loosen.“Maybe you’re lying,” I said, stepping back.“Think what you want,” he said flatly, his hand twitching toward the knife strapped to his thigh. “But if we stay here, they’ll find us.”There was something unnerving about his calmness, his ability to calculate even as death chased us.I hated the way he seemed invincible when I felt so weak.17KHALIDShe didn’t trust me.That much was clear.The way her wide eyes darted toward every shadow, her fingers clenched around the torn hem of her dress, ready to run at the first sign of danger—I recognized the look.I’d seen it in women before.They always expected a betrayal.But I wasn’t their enemy.The way she looked at me, like I was no different from the men we’d left behind, sparked
“Wait here,” Khalid said, crouching low behind a pile of rusted barrels.He disappeared into the darkness, leaving me alone.I wanted to run, to take my chances in the wilderness rather than place my fate in his hands.But where would I go?The mountains were vast and unforgiving, and the warlord’s men would hunt me down before I got far.Khalid returned moments later, his expression grim.“The path is clear, but we have to move fast.”I didn’t respond, didn’t even look at him.I followed because I had no choice, because the alternative was worse.The sound of shouting behind us sent a jolt of panic through me.“They’ve noticed,” Khalid said, his voice tense.He grabbed my arm and pulled me into a sprint.The next moments blurred together—a chaotic mix of running, hiding, and the deafening crack of gunfire.My ears rang, and my vision swam with tears and fear.14KHALIDWe were close—so close I could taste the cool, untainted air of the forest beyond the camp.But the guards were clos
“You’re lying,” I said.“I’m not,” he replied. “But if we don’t leave now, it won’t matter. Do you want to die here?”His words hit me like a slap.Did I want to die here?The truth was, I didn’t know anymore.But the thought of the warlord’s hands on me, of being bound to him for the rest of my life, made the choice clear.“Fine,” I said, my voice trembling. “But if you’re lying, I’ll kill you myself.”A ghost of a smile flickered across his face.“Fair enough.”10KHALIDHer defiance was a spark in the darkness, a reminder of why I had come.As I helped her to her feet, I could see the mistrust in her eyes, the way she flinched at every sound.She didn’t believe me yet.But she would.I led her out of the tent, my heart pounding as we slipped past the guards.The camp was a minefield of danger, every shadow a potential threat.As we moved, I couldn’t help but glance at her, taking in the details—the way her hair fell over her shoulders like a raven’s wing, the way her hands shook as
I stared at the flickering lantern hanging outside my tent, the faint light casting twisted shadows that danced like ghosts.This was my reality now—a captive bride-to-be for a monster.I closed my eyes, desperate to escape, if only in my mind.I thought back to when I was a little girl, sitting at Baba’s feet as he told me stories of grand love.He always spoke of how he’d dreamed of seeing me in a white dress, glowing with happiness, standing beside a man who adored me.But deep down, I knew love was a luxury people like us couldn’t afford.My family had lived on the edges of ruin for as long as I could remember.Our village, nestled in the shadow of the mountains, was a place where death lingered in the corners, waiting to pounce.The sounds of distant gunfire and the echo of bombs were constants in my childhood, lulling me to sleep like a twisted lullaby.I had always known my life could end at any moment, but I never imagined it would come to this—sold like cattle to a warlord.I
He leaned forward, gripping my chin between his thick fingers.His touch was cold and rough, his nails digging into my skin.“Good. I like my wives with fire. It makes breaking them all the more satisfying.”I felt bile rise in my throat, but I swallowed it down.“I am not your wife,” I spat, my voice trembling but defiant.The room fell silent.For a moment, I thought I had gone too far.Then he laughed—a deep, cruel sound that sent shivers down my spine.“You are now,” he said simply. “The ceremony is tomorrow. You will wear white. And if you try to run, I’ll make you watch as my men slaughter the rest of your village. Do you understand?”I didn’t answer.I couldn’t.He leaned closer, his breath hot and foul against my face.“Do you understand?” he repeated, his voice a deadly whisper.“Yes,” I choked out, my voice barely audible.Satisfied, he released me, motioning for the guards to take me away.As they dragged me out of the tent, I felt the first tear slide down my cheek.I want