Seven Chances In Another World

Chapter 11: Small Family. Big Family.

"GUYS!" Feyruz ran into the room. "Guys. Ahlem is giving birth!"

Fahd and Shadi exchanged glances. They all ran back to the main hall of the cinema and found Ahlem lying down on a large couch, Jassem by her side. Joud and Talal were supervising the whole thing. Fahd blinked slowly, hearing her scream. He frowned and walked towards her. He stared at her, screaming with tears in her eyes. He thought his racing heart might stop. Shadi watched him silently. Fahd felt his eyes watering as he turned away, wiping his tears away.

The screams weren't similar to those of his mother; those were different screams that didn't scare him. He didn't wish to run and hide in the darkness when he heard them. He smiled weakly and shut his eyelids.

They were not the same screams…

A few moments later, Fahd's heart skipped a beat, hearing the sound of a baby, crying. He turned back to Ahlem to find her holding her baby, crying with joy and happiness. Jassem smiled and held them both, kissing his wife's forehead. “We’re a small family now,” he whispered with tears of joy.

Fahd frowned and smiled, staring at them cuddling. A thousand emotions fought inside of him, and all he could do was smile.

Is this what it feels like not to be a child of rape?

"How do you feel?" Shadi stood next to him. "Are you okay?"

Fahd didn't answer and stared at the small family with stars in his eyes. "I… want to do that too," he whispered, "I want… a beautiful family too."

Shadi smiled weakly and lowered his head. "Me too." He clenched his fists. "Me too."

Fahd’s heart melted, watching the tiny hands of the baby, its fingers wrapping around Jassem's finger. The noises of the happy people around him marvelling at the miracle of birth seemed to get further away. He blinked again, feeling someone grab his shoulder. Glancing behind, he saw Zain staring at him angrily. However, before saying anything, his world went black.

Zain's eyes widened as Fahd abruptly fell to the side. He caught him and protected his head. He sat down on the floor. "What's wrong?! What?"

"What?" Talal frowned and glanced at them. "What have you done to him, Zain?"

"N-Nothing, I promise! He collapsed suddenly!" Zain looked almost guilty. "What? I didn't do anything! Did I do something?”

"It's okay." Talal leaned down and lifted Fahd in his arms. "I will check on him. You two, come with me."

He glanced behind at the anxious faces. "Take care of the baby and the mother."

"O-Of course."

Talal picked another couch and started checking on the black-haired. Zain gazed at Fahd, frowning.

"Are you worried?" Shadi asked.

"N-No way! He… He's not someone I would worry about! We're enemies!" Zain looked away.

"But you still caught him when he fainted. You're a bad enemy." Shadi teased.

"Sh-Shut up! That was a natural reflex! Anyone would do that! It can get worse if he hits his head, not that I care or anything." Zain pouted.

Shadi shook his head. “Tsundere…” he whispered under his breath.

A few seconds later, Fahd opened his eyes and sat up, resting a hand on his face. "What… happened?" he whispered.

"You lost consciousness, princess." Zain rolled his eyes. "Don't do that again. You're so annoying."

Fahd glanced at him, seeming shook and confused. "Did you save me?"

"I didn't. Stay away from me!" Zain grimaced and left. Fahd lowered his head.

"How many days has it been since you ate?" Talal asked.

"Uh… five… probably." Fahd could barely talk. "I don't have much of an appetite. Strangely, I never felt hungry ever since the earthquake happened."

Talal offered him a piece of chocolate. "You need food to live. Always mind your sugar levels. For now, hold on with this. We will cook a decent meal later, okay?"

"Cook… There's a kitchen here?" Shadi seemed surprised, and Talal nodded. He grabbed Fahd's chin. "You seem very tired. I suggest you go back to sleep."

Fahd smiled weakly. "Sure."

Talal smiled back and left. Shadi sat next to Fahd. "Are you anorexic?"

Fahd stared at the chocolate and shook his head, bringing it to his mouth. "I just don't find any pleasure in eating. Not much of a foodie. Part of growing up in poverty."

"Zain caught you when you collapsed," Shadi informed. "He just doesn't want to say it."

Fahd nodded. "I appreciate that."

"Do you have any… diseases that you don't want to talk about?" Shadi asked, and Fahd shook his head. "As far as I know, I don't." He gave some of his chocolate to Shadi. "Want some? I'm not very fond of sweets."

"I'm good. I don’t feel hungry either. You need that more than me anyway."

Fahd smiled. "You think we will live here forever?"

"Forever…"

"Until we die, I mean."

"That's a strange thing to imagine."

Fahd laughed. "Why? I find it comfortable here. I wouldn't mind living here. The view is also nice."

"Stop joking please." Shadi smiled faintly. "Anyway, I'll let you sleep. You seem very pale. Rest a little."

"Right… Sh-Shadi…" Fahd nervously pattered the desk in front of the couch with his nails. "Thanks… I will never forget what you did for me. I owe you my life."

Shadi raised his eyebrows. "Never mind that. Don't owe me anything. I don't want anything from you. Stop being silly and go to sleep."

Fahd smiled and nodded before lying down and turning his back to the crowd. Shadi glanced back at his brother and found that he moved to a more private spot with curtains. Joud was still with them, making sure everything was all right. Shadi glanced back at Fahd. He saw him shuddering and removed his fur coat to cover him with it. He noticed Fahd's bluish lips and went to look for a blanket. Passing by a closed room, he heard a noise and stopped. He didn't believe his ears as he heard s****l sounds and listened again. He frowned at the door and backed away from it after recognizing Oubay and Menyar's voices. He found Rahma, Oussama and Feyruz cooking meals for everyone in the kitchen. "Do you need help?" he asked.

"No, we're good! I love cooking, actually." Oussama grinned. "I put my spirit in it, and Arabic cuisine is my speciality. I might not look like it, but I'm a chef! I love the rich flavour offered by dishes in Arab culture. I love Japan, but Arabs and Indians have good food too!"

"Oh… I see. That's good. Have fun, then." Shadi took a blanket from the clothes room and returned to Fahd’s side. He covered him and sat down in silence.

A few hours later, food was served, and everyone went to eat. Shadi noticed Menyar and Oubay missing from the table, aside from Fahd. He glanced around quickly and started eating. Dina was listening to music and eating.

"It's amazing how there are even plugs for charging and cables in the drawers. I don't even know how water and electricity can reach this place." Youssef remarked. "What type of technology is this?"

"They're just very rich, whoever made this game." Wassim shrugged. "Unlike me. I'm so poor."

"Well, all this comfort shouldn't stop us from wanting to go out." Rahma shook her head. "I believe that that's what we are meant to do. Staying here forever is so purposeless. We also need to find out who put us in this situation. It cannot be random."

"It should be that grey-eyed weirdo." Dina raised an eyebrow. "We need to find him again so he can explain everything. We must threaten him if we it comes down to it."

"I feel very comfortable here, though." Oussama laughed a bit. "We’re like a big family."

"Some people are missing," Shadi spoke. "Jassem and Ahlem are eating together. Fahd is still sleeping. Oubay, Menyar and Rania are not here. Are they cleaning or something?"

"Well, I haven't seen Oubay and Menyar all day. As for Rania, I saw her in the kitchen earlier. She said she found a room where there are all sorts of chemicals, and she had something to do. She even took a knife." Oussama slowly stopped talking and smiled weakly. "Oh. That sounded dangerous just now."

"Yes, it did. Well, I heard that Rania studies pharmacy, so she must be knowledgeable with chemicals." Shahd shook her head. "Lucky! She must know a thousand ways to hurt someone!”

Shadi frowned, feeling like he was missing something. “A thousand ways to kill someone,” he mumbled and stood up. "I'll… I'll go check on Fahd."