-FAIZA-
"What were you doing there!?" Ali slammed his hand on the table. "SPEAK!" He's negotiating the guy we caught lurking around Sally's house. He's been in the lockup for two whole days and he's yet to remain silent. This amount of loyalty for Faisal? I refuse to believe that. Its about who accountablely holds more power over whom.
He's scared to speak.
His face is lowered down, denying to make eye contact with us.
"Who are you." Ali keeps asking. "What is your relationship with Faisal." He kicks over the chair infront of him, startling him into gasping so loud. "WHO ARE YOU?" Ali's being impatient. That's rare to see. I'm usually the impatient one. He's tensed already. The question remains, why?
I'm looking at them through the observation, mirrored window. Which is soundproof, with recording devices.
The goal in the interview room is supposed to create a calm, neutral environment that cause fosters to openly communicate with us. It helps to de-escalate tense situations. Ali's furious, which is making him not want to speak to him.
Understandable.
We should be like Ifan. How he handles anxious situations.
"I'm going in, inform dectective Ali to move back." I push open the door, to enter inside.
"I'll handle it." I inform Ali.
"I'm handling it."
"Well you're handling it wrong."
"Faiza what is your problem?" He raised his voice, as if he's been biting that back.
"My problem is that you're not treating him like a living person!" I yelled, and my voice echoed up, leaving Ali speechless.
"You're too difficult." He rushed through the door, bumping my shoulder. What is his problem? What is he mad for?
I sigh in deep, and sat infront of the guy.
"My apo—we're ashamed." I say. His head is still lowered down.
"Ali can be over the top sometimes, but he's just doing is duty. Make it easy for us to provide you the justice you deserve." I sigh again. "You're a child. I understand that you're scared, but help us understand what is going on in that town? Who is ruling over you? What are you citizens so afraid of?"
Is Victor controlling all of you.
"They don't rule over us." The child speaks, gently, and hesitatingly.
"Then who does?"
"No one does. They provide us shelter, they provide us safety. Things that our local police doesn't." He's fidgeting with his hands, knuckling his fingers.
"How old are you?"
"I—uhm I'm fourteen."
"Why did they sent you to Sally's house?"
"To hear what she was telling you."
"I can see you're telling me the truth. Are you comfortable?"
"I am. Because what I was doing wasn't a crime." He's rushing his words in the air.
He's brainwashed.
"Why were you earsdropping?" I dislike being kind in the interview room, but when it comes to children. All the anger spills away from my body.
"Because you're police, from the upper city. Upper city people don't treat us good. You asked who rules over us.. they don't rule, they make money for us, by yes, doing things one shouldn't do. We all know about it. He's called the Lord, and we claim that now. The Lords before him were evilous, bad, and they did bad things to us, but Mr Faisal is kind. Please don't take him away from us." His eyes widened, with despair and desperation in them.
"Okay. Don't worry." I give him a forced smile.
The bad actions they do is why we're trying to catch them. I bet, he doesn't even know the bad things they do. He just adapted his parents wording. It's not his fault. He's a child.
He doesn't smile back.
"So, there's no threat? None?" I ask.
"Uhm, there was a man who caused harm years ago, I heard it from my papa. But Mr Faisal said he got rid of him."
"What was his name?"
"I don't remember what papa called him."
"What did that man do?"
"Uhm I shouldn't say."
"It's okay, you don't have to."
Yes you do child.
"Eh uhm. He burned a house down."
Sam's house?
"Why would he do that?"
"I don't know anything else. I'm being honest." He's about to cry.
I understand, I'm not going to burden him.
"Fine."
"Ah yes—I remember now, I don't remember his name but I heard papa talk about this event. He was aunt Sally's son, I think."
My heart curved in a knot.
Oh, my god.
I was right..
Victor burned Sam's house.
This is what I was searching for, a single oppression against him and I file him sentenced to death.
He murdered Sam's mother, and I suppose even Sam doesn't know, because if he knew, how can he be still working with him right under his armpit.
"You did good." I pet his hand, standing up. And left the room behind.
What in the actual world is happening to my case?
Now the only thing that doesn't add up is, why? What may his motive be behind all of this? Fracturing my brother, killing Sam's mother and still living with Sam for what freakish reason?
What is your motive Victor?
Who are you?
-SAM-
The alarm didn't fucking piss me off, but the constant knocking on my door. "Who is it?!" I shout, I didn't get to sleep a second, I'm hangover, I'm going to puke. I throw my pillow on the ground to relase anger.
"Mr Faisal placed an urgent meeting down in the hall Sir!" Someone shouts from outside.
"I don't care! Get the hell out of here!" I shout back. Damnnit. I get up, muttering and complaining under my breath. I take a shower.
Soon in between an hour, I walk downstairs. I angrily thunder inside the meeting room.
"Why did you call me here?" I ask Victor in a very annoyed tone. "I have things to do, I'm not free." I say.
"Mr Faisal remembered you here."
"Why what's the occasion?" I say ironicly.
"First step." Mr Faisal's voice startled me.
"Calm down."
Don't tell me to calm down, it'll only fluid it further.
I Stand still.
"I'll show you how much you mean to me." Mr Faisal says harshly. I turn back to see he's walking himself in.
"Victor gather everyone around at the Auditorium room." He slams his hand down on the table, scaring both, Victor and I. What is happening?!
Victor and I stare at each other. "What's going on?"
"I have no idea." Victor drops his file down.
We all slowly walk inside the Auditorium room, everyone's showing up with furrowed brows and awkward body language. Why's everyone shocked? What is the announcement about? I'm already sleep deprived, I can not handle any more of his bull crap. No offence Mr Faisal but after last night, please no more of that. I futher walk into the room with an awkward gait. Victor enters aswell, his feet shuffling slightly as if he's unsure of his footing. His shoulders are slumped. After watching him being confused, my head cast downward, avoiding eye contact. His hands are stuffed deep into his pockets, giving him a defensive, closed-off appearance. I don't get it. What could the announcement possibly be about.
My eyes dart nervously around the space, taking in the surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Most of our members begin to take their seats, putting their hesitation aside. Victor didn't sit down, he kept standing right infront of the minor stage. So, I also didn't sit just yet, I'm standing with my feet shoulder width apart, with a subtle sway of my hips. I don't want to seem like I'm sweating because I'm cooler than that. If Victor's being calm and causal, so am I.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to stand before you today to make a significant announcement. Although the timing may be somewhat premature, recent developments have necessitated that I prepare for this moment." Mr Faisal stand tall. Everyone around is silent, pin drop silence is all that echoing and my throat feels dry.
"Regrettably, certain individuals have demonstrated such eagerly stubbornness
to pursue a particular course of action. In light of these circumstances, I have deemed it prudent to take proactive measures and share this information with you all today."
He's talking about me— he's calling me eagerly stubborn.
What is he doing?
My heart craves a nervous strike down my body and I'm shaking internally. We're all so quite, and focused.
"After careful consideration, I have made a decision regarding the succession of our esteemed associate. Our loyal associate.
I will be selecting a worthy individual to assume this important role, and I look forward to sharing this announcement." He says.
I cough out lot.
Already!?
Victor's chin lifts high as he stands straight for his name to be announced.
"This decision took very thorough depth of my feelings and the potential impact on all parties involved, I firmly believe that this decision will yield positive outcomes for everyone. I am, personally impressed by the individual's unwavering commitment to his work, and I have utmost admiration for his integrity."
Everyone whispering in wonders, staring at Victor. But I think, I know what Faisal might be doing, which is not justly, and I terrible.
"Please welcome—"
Victor takes a step forward, proudly and highly.
"Samiullah Sarfaraz Yilmaz."
Fuck, God dammnit my caution essence. Dammit.
All the members went silent. Victor hangs in between his foot steps, as if his life flashed beyond his eyes. His hands start to shiver as he gulps and stands back still again.
He's hiding his scared palms. I've never seen him anxious. He's always calm. And all of a suddan now his throat is shivering, and his bottom lip is caving in, he's holding back his disheartened feelings.
No fucking way.
What have I done?!
My heart broke for him in ways I didn't know I had such drawn feelings for him. This is wrong. This is utterly disgusting. He's the one who desveres this place, not me. Everyone's staring at me with pure hatred and I don't know what to do.
"Come on Sam." Mr Faisal says. All this because I said I didn't mean to him. He's proving that I do. But I don't think this is the right way to do so. I can't steal someone's righteous rank. I can't be that person.
I walk up on the stage. Mr Faisal smiles and walks with me in the middle.
"You're the most precious person to me Sam." He puts his hand on my shoulder and I want to cry. I'm not his actual son, why is he doing this? Because of my Father? Or because I really did good?
"I'm sorry, but I don't fit in this." I say in the speaker.
Victor was zoned out and suddenly flinches to my voice, as he came back to earth. His eyes lift up to me. He's confused, upset, sad. Why is he not angry? I would've been vexed, why is he sad about it and not raging?
"It's Victor's position." I say, loud and clear.
Mr Faisal blinks in concern.
I put down the speaker on the floor.
"I know why you're doing this, I appreciate it but I don't belong on this seat." I say lightly, to Mr Faisal. He nods, agreeing.
"Sam. Victor is the most capable man here, which we all are aware of, but he already has the highest rank of position to hold."
"But he deserves to be the loyal associate aswell." I slump back my shoulders.
"Very well then." He inhales. A whiff of determination and proud alternated emotion spreads across his face as he gestures me down the stairs.
I walk upto Victor and pet his shoulder.
"You're the loyal associate." I say.
Mr Faisal announcs Victor's name up, and his ceremony takes place. Whereas I.
I walk back to my room.
Hours went by.
And I slept for hours and hours. I didn't understand what my body was saying to me, all I wanted was to sleep. I haven't been to Silvan's haven in weeks. I met with Ifan only, I did not have the gut to meet with Ayat after she told me she liked me since she was twelve. I can not go, not after dreaming about her. I'm scared. I'm ashamed, I really am. I won't deny that. I'm scared I'll end up finding something about my father that I won't like. I'm scared of losing Ifan. I'm not strong, I pretend, yes. But I'm not always confident. I've forgiven Mr Faisal for hiding such big part of my life. I understand him. He made me see how important I am to him. So I guess, We're even now.
"Sir, Mr Faisal is calling you down in his office." Salim knocks and speaks from outside. I'm lazy, I don't want to change my clothes or wash myself up. So I walk down in my trousers and hoddie, I didn't even brush my hair. I don't want to. The staff house behind the mansion only has rooms for selective members, including Ifan, Victor, Jawad, Nimra, Vikram and I. The rest live in the other quarter rooms. The ground floor of staff house is where we all work and the third floor is where we all live. Our basement is where we mend and create weaponry. Mr Faisal's mansion and the staff house all fit in one plot, its a private territory, the rest of our crew lives down the streets and clubs.
Besides, doesn't everyone know me already, we've been all living together since forever, I comfortably walk in my trousers, there's nothing to be ashamed of.
After a fiveteen minute of walk, crossing the garden, I step inside Mr Faisal's mansion. The guards at the gate looked at me with surprise, parhaps they never expected me to walk in like this, as I'm always well composed.
I knock on Mr Faisal's Office door.
"Come in."
I lazy walk in.
"Sam?"
"Yes Sir."
"What happened to you?" He asks, causally.
"I don't know Sir. You tell me." I'm harsh again.
He clears his throat. "Where did you vanished after the ceremony?" He asks. It's only been eight to nine hours, but yes, I'll agree. In our workplace, even minutes are prickly important. Nine hours are like a decade here.
"I'm sorry, I fell asleep."
"In the afternoon? For this long? It's almost midnight." His eyes dart to me in a wide expression.
"I know, I didn't plan it, it just sort of happend." I say.
"I called you to tell you that.." He sighs. "I don't want you to think that I hired you only for Sarfaraz, or that you don't mean anything to me." He clears.
"You made your point clear this morning sir." I say. "I understand." Do I though?
"Son, your capabilities are more than what anyone could have desire having. Your worth, your courage led you here. Not your connection with my friend. You are one hell of a brave young man. Always. From the beginning you have. You're bold, opinionated. That's what I liked about you. That's why I gave you the rank of my dominat hand and now my associate."
"Only dominat hand." I say.
"Yes." He clears.
"Where's Victor?" I ask.
"He's working, in the basement."
"He seemed upset."
"He's good, he's happy with you. I'm happy with you." Mr Faisal is smiling, and suddenly, a good air of optimistic energy spreads across my face and my body. Maybe it was guilt that made my body sluggish.
"Oh that's Good I guess." I rub my elbow, I'm a little shy when people get pleased with me.
"So, Sir. When are we celebrating Victor's seat with champagne and huge Banger party!" I say, in a hype.
Mr Faisal releases a genuine soft, rich laugh.
"Will do, soon. Welcome back Sam." He smiles.
Damn right I am.