Fallen For The Arabian

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

The flight to Damascus was a quiet one. They were all wearing a headset as they could hardly hold a conversation due to the sound of the helix. From the corner of his eyes, Amir observes Sarah as she viewed the city below where smokes could be seen in different locations. The war had gotten worse at the capital. The national army has been unsuccessfully when trying to recover some territory that was overtaken by the rebels. Too many families were been torn apart. How long will this continue? According to his uncle, the government had downright refused to negotiate with the rebel and it was vice versa. In the middle of it all, a nation was being destroyed thanks to greed and selfishness.

Been in the capital was quite dangerous, especially for Amir, he had to uncover who had been trying to kill him. The two men he had apprehended had finally spoken and told them the location of their base. By the time his team made it there, everything had been destroyed and bodies were piled up. Whoever had wanted him dead, made sure to erase all traces, he had to be on his guard.

Sarah observed the city below with sadness and sorrow filling her. She understood the outcome of the war, though in her country she had never witness war at first hand, however political instability had been common. It resulted in death, poverty and many more. The world was suffering and they were helpless to stop it, she was bound to make a difference by reaching as many people as possible with her writing and photographs.

She felt a hand on her knees, she looked to find Amir hands on her, without uttering a word, and he pointed to a two-story building on the outskirt of the city. It was in the middle of a big land, people were going up and down, cars were seen leaving and entering. Not too far from the building, she saw the landing field for the helicopter. So, this where they were going, she thought and five minutes later they landed.

Sarah was surprised to see Ben and Blake waiting for them at the end of the stairs of the helicopter. The last time she saw them was two days ago but before she could utter a word, Amir came up beside her and greeted the two men.

"Sir we've arranged everything as you had requested," says Ben

That comment brought Sarah eyebrow up.

"How many refugees have we received" asked Amir

"We're over five thousand as of this morning" answered Blake.

Turning to Sarah, Amir says "Sarah, welcome to Aida refugees camp, let go inside so you could have a tour"

The building was a simple building yet beautiful in a sense. The first floor consisted of the cafeteria, kitchen, living room with televisions, an adult game room, children game room, daycare for the children and a classroom. The upstairs consisted mainly of bedrooms and bathrooms. At the back of the building, there was a medical facility.

"I don't think it's a good idea for you enter here Sarah, let's go back inside to the main building," says Amir

"Why? It's the medical facility"

Amir was about to answer but was interrupted by his uncle "Amir let Sarah in" Taking a deep breath, Amir turned to Sarah "Sarah you have to understand that, the result of war is quite tragic and devastating. What you're about to see, will leave you marked for the rest of your life"

Sarah understood pretty well what Amir was trying to say. What Amir didn't know about her, she was used to seeing injured or dead people. If her own country hadn't terrorized her, it would certainly not be Amir's. "What are we waiting for? Let's go in"

Amir was fighting with himself, he wanted to spare Sarah the images she was about to see, but seen her determination, he understood, he wouldn't be able to stop it. He will just have to be there for her when she collapses.

As they entered the facility, the first thing that caught Sarah off guard was the screams. They first entered the reception area. There were multiple doors with different tags on them with the name title of the doctors. They proceeded further in and came into a very large room. The floor was covered with blood. Doctors and nurses were moving about covered in blood as they tend to different patients. She saw a man with his leg cut in two. She saw another guy where his jaw was nonexistent, he lay completely motionless on the bed, the only thing that shows he was still alive were his eyes, as he moved it about.

There was an injured child who had this hole on the right side of this stomach. A woman sitting down on the hospital bed was carrying what looked like to be her daughter. The child was nonresponsive as if it were dead. The mother had one eye that didn't exist. Chaos reign in that place. Breathing in deeply and without saying a word, Sarah pulls out her camera and started taking pictures. Amir, his uncle, and his two bodyguards watched Sarah silently. Her face was void of emotion as she viewed the scene in front of her.

"She is a brave little one," says Salam to his nephew. They were all expecting her to collapse; instead, she was calm and collected.

"I don't know if that should be a good sign or if I should be weary"

"I believe you should be wary," says Blake "girls like her tend to be a bit troublesome"

Amir agreed with Blake, Sarah was not the typical type of girl. The way she had looked at him at the front of the facility, had shown him that. She was brave indeed.

Sarah's mind was working a million as she captures every detail with her mind and camera. She could already see the storyline. As she continues her tour, she stumbles upon a four-year girl, who had her arms covered with a bandage and next to her was a little boy not more than six, holding on the girl's hands. Fear was written all over their faces. She walked up to them and knelt next to the little boy.

"What is your name little one"

Behind her, Amir translated for her. The boy answered his name was Latif. "Well, Latif is that your sister" the boy only nodded his head and turned his attention back to his sister who was watching the interaction with curiosity.

At that moment a doctor by the name of Abdullah greeted them "Sir it is pleasure to received your visit as well Mr. Salem" Without turning to look at the doctor Amir asked

"Where are the children's parents?"

"I am sorry, but both their parents died in an explosion, we found the two of them alive as we unburied them under the rubble. The little girl had a cut on her left hand, nothing grave."

Amir watches as Sarah continues to entertain the kids with a piece of candy she had taken from her bag. His heart melted at the sight and he wondered. But before he let his mind wander away, he cleared his throat and called Sarah, who raised her innocent eyes toward him. "We have to leave. We have much to do for the rest day."

Sarah kissed both kids on the cheek, which earns her a giggle from the little girl. She had heard what the doctor had said. Those two were orphans. She would have to think of a plan for them. Hopefully, she will be able to get Amir's approbation.

As they walked back outside, Sarah found herself breathing again. What she saw inside was enough to give her nightmares for the rest of her life. She couldn't help but wonder at how far men's evilness has gone.

Normally physical contact between a man and a woman was forbidden, but Amir could care less at the moment, for he wanted to feel Sarah's skin against his own. As he took her hand in his, Amir half expected for her to remove her hand, instead she intertwines their finger, which brought a warm into his chest. As he led her to the much smaller building, Amir and his men failed to see the young man that had been watching them from the moment they landed.

As they entered the building, Amir explains to Sarah that it was the place he and his men stayed; whenever he came to the refugee camp the place had eight-room, a living room and a kitchen mixed with a dining hall. Everything was well arranged, they could hear noises coming from the kitchen to where they all proceeded. They were greeted by a lady dressed in black in white leaning over the counter with a knife in her hands as she cut carrot. The lady raised her head and graced them with a warm smile.

She deposited her knife and walked toward them, no words were said, but instead of walking toward Amir, she walked toward Salem and took him in an embrace. "What took you so long dear," says she.

"Sorry love, we had to give our guess a tour" answered Salam with a smile.

Amir watched the interaction with an amused glint, while Sarah was filled with curiosity. Both Ben and Blake had moved to settle themselves in the living room. Sarah leaning to Amir had wanted to ask him, who was the lady that was been intimate with the Minister of defense.

As if on cue, Salam broke away from the embrace and turned toward Sarah and his nephew. "Sarah, I would like for you to meet my beautiful wife Ruth. Ruth this is Sarah"

"So you are the young lady I have been hearing about" Says Ruth

Surprise, Sarah answered "you have"

"Of course, dear, I have, and I must say you quite beautiful as I was told"

"Well thank you," says Sarah quite awkwardly but what Ruth said next had Amir groaning and Sarah willing the earth to swallow her

"So, when is the wedding," says Ruth.