SS: The Mark of Innocence II - Ch 9 Pg 109 COMPLETED - Page 66

I waited for his bullet to penetrate through me but there was nothing, instead I was surrounded by darkness and all I heard were footsteps running away from me. Hearing a lot of noise around me I quickly made my way out 'Zack, Zack, can you hear me' I called out but there was nothing 'Ayesha...Zack...anyone there?' 'Asad, it's Ayesha, all hell has broken lose, Zack has gone to free commando...where is Zoya?' 'I have no idea, she left with Tariq...stay where you are, I am on my way' 'please be careful' 'I will'.

I mound my way out through the darkened corridors of what was no less than a maze, as I cam out I heard gun shots and a lot of commotion. Police officers were taking on and beating down everyone who came in sight, special units dressed in black were also present.

As I ran towards where Ayesha was I saw a glimpse of Zack and only guessed the old man with him was commando, I couldn't see his face properly. I was tempted to go after him but my first priority was to make sure Ayesha was ok and then to find Zoya.

I managed to reach Ayesha, she was hiding under a stair case on the far side of the fort 'Ayesha' Ayesha stood up and came out 'you ok?' 'Yes...time to fight these bas***ds to the death' I saw her eyes glaze over with nothing but pure hate and revenge, as much as I wanted her to be safe and stay out of it I knew she was going to fight 'just be careful' I said, placing a kiss on her forehead I let her go to do what she had trained to do all her life and that was to kill the enemy.

I knew Zoya and Tariq wouldn't be here, so I ran back out into the black bazaar and started fighting my way towards the exit.

As I reached the main road I searched every corner, the rising sun had started to illuminate the sky. Just as I was about to run I saw two figures standing by a truck, it was Zoya and Tariq.

I could see Tariq shouting at Zoya and then Tariq raise his hand and slap Zoya. My insides exploded, how dare he touch her, how dare he hit her.fisting my hands I ran towards them shouting out Zoya's name. As soon as Tariq saw me he grabbed Zoya and pulled out his gun 'not another move Asad, I swear u won't think twice about pulling the trigger, you move an inch and she is dead...I can't believe this was all planned, a set up...I should have had you killed a long time back...well today is the day, you are going to pay with your lives for this betrayal...first I will kill you right in front of her and then when I get what I want from you Zoya you're dead too' he said letting out an evil laugh.

'You really think you are going to get away from here alive, it's over Tariq, commando is safe and the blue print gone, you have nothing' 'maybe...but I still have Zoya...this little wild cat is going to give me the upmost pleasure' he said nuzzling his face into her hair. I saw Zoya's face turn in disgust and in pain as he tightened his arm around her neck.

Tariq slowly pointed his gun towards me 'time to say bye bye to lover boy Zoya' just as he was about to pull the trigger another gun shot was fired making his gun go flying out of his hand, as he winced in pain Zoya elbowed him hard in the gut, she turned around and kicked him making him fall back.

I turned around to see Ayesha standing there with a gun, giving her a smile I turned towards Zoya but she was gone and so was Tariq 'Asad...there' Ayesha shouted out, Zoya was running after Tariq.

As I ran after her I was blocked by three of his men, with Ayesha joining me we fought them, throwing as many punches as we received we managed to take two out leaving the third to run away.

Picking up their guns we frantically ran towards Zoya. Zoya had chased Tariq to an old barn here she was fighting him. If I saw blood on his face then there was blood on hers too, no matter how hard she was hit she never failed to rise up again. I was about to intervene when Ayesha pulled me back 'let her do this, she needs to' as hard as it was for me to stand back and watch I did, I saw them beat each other ruthlessly 'Ayesha please...I can't stand here and watch' 'she will take him down Asad, he is hers to kill, after what he has done to her...she needs to do this'.

Zoya punched him in the face and as he fell back a little she jumped up kicking him across the head making him fall back and pass out. As he did Zoya screamed painfully, she kicked him and abused him, the rage that came out was nothing we had ever witnessed before.

Wiping her bleeding lip with the back of her hand she turned towards us. Her eyes shed pain filled tears and her lips quivered, as I took a step towards her I saw her break out into a faint smile.

Seeing her stumble towards me I started to run, only to stop seeing Tariq get up. 'Asad, Zoya' Ayesha screamed out. Zoya who stood directly in front of me turned around to see him 'I told you Zoya, you will die' Tariq pulled the trigger and before I could think of anything I pushed Zoya making her fall flat.

I felt a sharp pain just above my chest, it was excruciating, my vision blurred as I fell to the ground. I could hear a lot of screaming and shouting, then more gun shots.

'No...no...Asad...open your eyes...please Allah nooo, Asad open your eyes' I tried to open my eyes but they felt so heavy. I could feel her hands hitting my face, I could hear Ayesha and Zack too. I tried to speak say something but there was nothing, I was going...dying, leaving her before I even got her, I needed to tell her I was sorry for doubting her, I needed to tell her that I loved her.

I couldn't fight no more, I had to let go, and I did.