Kareem Island
463 Words
Chapter 19: Kareem Island
The helicopter descended through thick morning fog.
Below them, Kareem Island emerged from the sea like a forgotten kingdom.
Towering cliffs surrounded the estate, while crashing waves pounded against the rocks.
Tife gazed through the window.
"So this is where my family once lived..."
Malik nodded.
"Before greed turned it into a prison."
As the helicopter landed on a hidden cliff, Umar looked at everyone.
"From this point on, we move carefully. Farouk will be expecting us."
The team slipped into the dense forest surrounding the estate.
The air was eerily quiet.
No birds.
No insects.
Only the sound of the wind rustling through the trees.
Idris crouched beside a fresh set of footprints.
"They know we're here."
Before anyone could react, a loud whistle echoed through the forest.
Armed guards appeared from every direction.
"There!" one of them shouted.
"Don't let them escape!"
Gunfire erupted.
Umar pulled Tife behind a massive tree as bullets tore through the leaves.
"Stay down!" he yelled.
Idris returned fire while Malik led them toward the ruins of an old stone chapel hidden among the trees.
Inside, they caught their breath.
The chapel was abandoned, but at its center stood a marble statue of the Kareem family founder.
Tife noticed something unusual.
The statue's hand pointed toward the floor.
She stepped closer.
"Umar... look."
He brushed away years of dust, revealing another crescent moon symbol carved into the stone.
"The necklace," Malik whispered.
Tife placed the necklace into the carving.
With a deep rumble, part of the floor slid open.
A spiral staircase disappeared into the darkness below.
"What is this?" Idris asked.
Malik smiled faintly.
"The oldest secret of the Kareem family."
They descended the stairs.
At the bottom, they entered a vast underground vault.
Rows of shelves held ancient documents, family records, and priceless treasures untouched for decades.
In the center of the room stood a crystal case.
Inside rested a golden seal engraved with the Kareem crest.
Malik's face grew serious.
"The Seal of Legacy."
"What does it do?" Tife asked.
"It proves the rightful head of the Kareem family. Without it, no one can legally claim the family's fortune or estates."
Before Tife could respond, slow applause echoed through the vault.
Farouk stepped out from the shadows.
Dozens of armed men surrounded him.
"I was wondering how long it would take you to find it," he said with a smug smile.
Tife stepped forward.
"Where's Daniel?"
Farouk laughed.
"Safe... for now."
His smile disappeared.
"But if you want him back, you'll hand me the Seal of Legacy."
Tife looked at the golden seal, then back at Farouk.
She had to choose.
Save her cousin...
Or protect her family's future.
The wrong decision could cost everything.
End of Chapter 19
- Writer
