Chapter 8: The Windowsill
1144 Words
"Wait… You what?" Zain's eyes widened. "Did you just say you jumped on a hanging door that survived an earthquake, and the fall from it would equal your death?" he asked Shahd.
"Indeed! It was very thrilling and scary! IT WAS STIMULATING!" Shahd smirked and wiped away saliva on her chin.
"You're sick, but this information is useful." Fahd glanced back at Youssef. "How in the thousand sciences you learned can a tree so big and tall grow from the ground in a matter of hours and trap a whole cinema inside it. Our position is also so perfect that light and air can penetrate through all 5 doors and windows, so we don't suffocate or freeze to death because of the altitude. How can you explain this with your coincidences?"
Youssef frowned and looked away. "Maybe we didn't sleep for only a few hours. Maybe we spent centuries."
"That doesn't make this any more logical." Fahd sighed, irritated, "If that's the case, then how did we sleep for centuries without dying? What are you smoking?"
"I agree." Oubay finally spoke ever since he met the group. "There is no logical explanation for any of this."
"I also feel like everything that happened ever saw the announcement happened is… somehow connected, but I can't figure it out." Ahlem folded her arms, nervously pattering the floor with her foot.
"For now, let's focus on our current situation. Thinking big will not solve anything," Jassem suggested.
"Indeed," Talal agreed.
"We need to get out of here. Since the gates are not an option, then the only choice that remains is the hole in the roof. Apparently, we can't use it though."
"Definitely not. Damn slippery," Zain grimaced. "I couldn't even reach the top."
"You fell like a turtle. Hilarious." Fahd smirked, looking down on him and spit. "You're pathetic. Even the way you fall is funny."
"YOU'RE NOT ANY BETTER!" Zain gritted his teeth and grabbed his collar. "Damned creature, you will pay for humiliating me!"
Fahd rolled his eyes and pushed him away. "Anyway," he glanced at Jassem. "Any plan?"
"We search for tools that can remove that slippery grass thing. Dina, please guide us to the room where you found tools." Jassem demanded. "And…" He smiled sadly. "Let's not fight amongst each other. Right now, we need each other to survive. I know this is a weird and terrifying situation, all the more reason to stick together."
They all agreed and followed Dina into a room filled with shovels, hammers, axes and different tools, even for climbing.
"Wait. Maybe we can use the climbing tools to get on the roof?" Oubay suggested.
"Yes! Let's try that."
They rushed back to the stone, and their eyes widened. The green grass spread down to the floor and covered half of the cinema hall in a matter of minutes.
"But…" Ahlem frowned. "Why?"
"Slippery as usual. We can't walk on this," Zain shook his head, testing the grass on the stairs between the seats with his foot.
"We can't even reach the rock now!" Feyruz complained. "What will we do?"
"How about we wrap a rope around one or two of us, and we hold the rope to assist them to go down? When they come down, they try to use the climbing tools to reach the roof directly." Youssef suggested.
"I VOLUNTEER!" Shahd smirked. "Even if you let go of the rope, I don't mind a few bruises. In fact, I'M LOOKING FORWARD!"
"Good. You go. I'll go too." Rahma volunteered. "I'm good with these tools. I practised climbing and skydiving several times before. I'll know what to do."
She took the climbing kit and tied a rope around her waist. Shahd did the same, and the others held the ropes to support them. Reaching the rock, Rahma attempted the throw the string and blinked, as the chains she used slid on the roof and fell to the floor. She tried several times again, but it didn't work. Returning next to the others, she started explaining. "It's crazy how slippery this green thing is. The chain and ropes cannot hold on to anything. I have never seen anything like it. Maybe it’s better to give up for now until we find better solutions.”
Ahlem rested a hand on her belly and left the room. She anxiously gazed down.
"Are you okay, Ahlem?" Jassem held her from behind and rested a hand on hers. "In pain?"
He couldn't hide his worry as it filled his green eyes. "I can talk to Joud if you like. Maybe there are medicines here."
"I… think it's soon." She rolled her head to the side, gaze saddening. "I'm not… I'm not scared of death, but I'm worried about you and the baby. Will you two be okay?"
"Don't say this, please. Don't make any assumptions, it breaks my heart." He ran a hand through her hair and kissed her cheek. "Don't repeat this, please."
Shadi silently watched them from the exit of the room. He saw tears on his brother's cheek and looked away, shutting his eyelids.
"Do you want to talk?"
He heard Fahd's voice.
"About?"
Fahd walked past him. "Stuff."
Shadi watched him for a while, pondering over what to do. He realized that he and Fahd almost had the same height. He finally followed him, having nothing better to do. They stopped in front of closed windows in the upper floor, and Fahd started opening them. Light penetrated into the hallway as he finished, and he sat on the windowsill, eyes closed.
"Will you talk or what?" Shadi was getting impatient.
"Yeah." Fahd opened his eyes, and his light blue eyes gazed absently upon the distance, wandering into the infinite cyan sky. He clenched his jaw and lowered his head. "It's a bit difficult, but I figured maybe I can tell you."
Shadi stared at him. "Wrong. I'm not the person you think I am. I'm the worst scum of Earth."
Fahd frowned and glanced at him, and Shadi smiled. "I'm an alcoholic. I'm almost thirty, and nothing in my life is stable. I steal too sometimes. I'm morally the worst. I don't think you should tell me any secrets."
Fahd stared at him thoughtfully for a few minutes and glanced back at the sky. "You never killed someone, though, did you?"
Shadi raised his eyebrows, feeling his heart skip a beat. Fahd rested a finger on his black-painted lips. "I use this to cover a scar I received a few years ago. I also use makeup." He smiled. "But my eye colour is genuine. I have good eyesight, thankfully, so I never needed lenses. They irritate my eyes anyway. I tried."
"Why are you telling me this?" Shadi took a step closer. "Why are you telling me that you’re a murderer?”
The shadow of sorrow filled Fahd's ice blue eyes as he lowered his look to the floor. "I can't do this anymore."
"Do… what?" Shadi frowned, taking another step forward. "What are you doing?"
"I… can't live anymore."
Shadi's eyes widened as Fahd learned to the side, falling off the windowsill.
- Writer
