Danger
Betty wasn't sure what her father was up to, but she was worried. He had told her to not let Zoe and Charmaine go, but if Abdullah came for them how could she stop him?
She had hopes now that her father was going to stop this travesty of a marriage. She wanted so bad to see her sisters go to a better man. She couldn't believe that any of them would be saved from these arranged marriages, but maybe her sisters could be given to someone who would care for them and they would have more time to grow up.
She had hopes now that her father was going to stop this travesty of a marriage. She wanted so bad to see her sisters go to a better man. She couldn't believe that any of them would be saved from these arranged marriages, but maybe her sisters could be given to someone who would care for them and they would have more time to grow up.
To ease the tension in the camp, Betty suggested they sit and tell stories. Charmaine opted to tell a ghost story and it was childish and not too scary, but no one cared. They just wanted to get the girls minds off of their possible impending departure. Betty wondered what would happen to Zoe. She was so young and fragile, and Charmaine wouldn't be able to do much to protect her. Betty hoped that Waheed Najim would allow her to visit her sister's, but even if he would there is no reason Abdullah would agree.
Charmaine got choked up and had to stop her story. She was frightened. She was just a baby and she wasn't ready to be a big girl far away from home in some strange man's house. Truth be told she wasn't sure she understood what was happening. Why was she being made to leave? She didn't know, but she knew she was terrified and the thought of also having to protect Zoe made her feel even more so.
Elisia watched Charmaine walk away and her heart broke. She hated being a woman so powerless and unable to protect her daughters. She knew this day would come and cursed her bad fortune in having so many girls. She didn't mind the arranged marriages as that was what she grew up with, but giving her children away to a monster before they were of age was unacceptable to her. How could Anson allow this?
Elisia watched Charmaine walk away and her heart broke. She hated being a woman so powerless and unable to protect her daughters. She knew this day would come and cursed her bad fortune in having so many girls. She didn't mind the arranged marriages as that was what she grew up with, but giving her children away to a monster before they were of age was unacceptable to her. How could Anson allow this?
Betty upset decided she needed to get a little distance away to gather her thoughts and come back hopefully to comfort her sisters. She couldn't handle it right now, but she knew she couldn't go far. She had to watch out to make sure her sisters weren't taken before her father got back.
Betty went off by herself, but stayed within site of the camp.
She had to get control of herself.
Stranger: Hi, miss my name is Kent.
Betty startled backed away. Why was this man approaching her? A strange man did not just come up and introduce himself. She saw he must be a foreigner and that explained such a grievous breech of custom.
Betty not wanting to be rude: Kind sir, I can see you are not familiar with the customs of our land, but it is forbidden for unmarried ladies to talk to a stranger alone.
Kent: Ah I apologize, but I could not observe the proprieties. Your name is Betty Valentine is it not? If you are I have something important to tell you.
Betty suspicious. She didn't know this man. What could he have to tell her?
Betty suspicious and frightened at the man's intensity: Yes I am, but surely you have me mixed up with someone else.
Kent: Nope it is you I came to see.
Betty apprehensive: Excuse me sir, but I must get back. She moved away.
Kent: Wait. Your honored Father sent me.
Betty: My father? Why would her father have sent him? Had something gone wrong? In spite of her distrust of this stranger she stayed. If she refused to listen to this man and her father had sent him it could have repercussions for her sisters.
Kent looking around: Your father wanted this to be of the utmost secrecy and doesn't want your honored mother or sisters to know. Where can we go for privacy.
Betty: This spot is secluded. This should be fine.
Kent: No, anyone could come across us. We need to go somewhere else.
Betty feeling apprehensive all of a sudden: I don't think I should go any farther.
Kent shrugging: So be it. I was instructed not to give you the message unless we were in complete privacy, so if you don't want to know.....
Betty worried what if this man was from Abdullah? Should she go with this man? Why was she so uneasy? Don't be ridiculous she scoffed at herself. This man is a foreigner and Abduallah wouldn't have a foreigner do his dirty work. Abdullah was a proud mussim and wouldn't use any but mussims.
Kent started to walk away.
Betty: Wait, there is a small clearing about a 1/4 mile away we can go there.
Kent smiled: Great. They walked quickly. When they got to the clearing Betty turned.
Betty: What honored sir do you have to tell me?
Kent reached out and grabbed her twisting her arm: This. Do not scream or it will not go well for you or your family. There is a man at camp now with instructions to harm your family if you scream or do anything foolish with one word from me. He pulled out a walkie talkie.
Betty terrified: Wh-wh-what are you doing? What have we done to you?
Kent ignoring Betty while binding her hands and feet.
Kent: Copy. All's clear.
Betty crying realizing she had been deceived and this man wasn't from her father: Please don't hurt me or my family. We will give you anything you want.
Kent: Shut up. I promise if you lie here still, it will soon be over and you will be allowed to go back to your family intact.
Betty struggled against her ties in vain. This man had taken her prisoner, and there was nothing she could do about it. Now she was defenseless and worse yet she had disobeyed her father's orders by leaving the camp, leaving her family and sisters helpless. Her mother was weak and unable to protect them that is why her father had trusted her. She cried bitterly if anything happened to any of them it would be her fault. She wished at this moment she were dead. When her father found out Betty had disobeyed him; she knew she just might get her wish.
She had to get control of herself.
Stranger: Hi, miss my name is Kent.
Betty startled backed away. Why was this man approaching her? A strange man did not just come up and introduce himself. She saw he must be a foreigner and that explained such a grievous breech of custom.
Betty not wanting to be rude: Kind sir, I can see you are not familiar with the customs of our land, but it is forbidden for unmarried ladies to talk to a stranger alone.
Kent: Ah I apologize, but I could not observe the proprieties. Your name is Betty Valentine is it not? If you are I have something important to tell you.
Betty suspicious. She didn't know this man. What could he have to tell her?
Betty suspicious and frightened at the man's intensity: Yes I am, but surely you have me mixed up with someone else.
Kent: Nope it is you I came to see.
Betty apprehensive: Excuse me sir, but I must get back. She moved away.
Kent: Wait. Your honored Father sent me.
Betty: My father? Why would her father have sent him? Had something gone wrong? In spite of her distrust of this stranger she stayed. If she refused to listen to this man and her father had sent him it could have repercussions for her sisters.
Kent looking around: Your father wanted this to be of the utmost secrecy and doesn't want your honored mother or sisters to know. Where can we go for privacy.
Betty: This spot is secluded. This should be fine.
Kent: No, anyone could come across us. We need to go somewhere else.
Betty feeling apprehensive all of a sudden: I don't think I should go any farther.
Kent shrugging: So be it. I was instructed not to give you the message unless we were in complete privacy, so if you don't want to know.....
Betty worried what if this man was from Abdullah? Should she go with this man? Why was she so uneasy? Don't be ridiculous she scoffed at herself. This man is a foreigner and Abduallah wouldn't have a foreigner do his dirty work. Abdullah was a proud mussim and wouldn't use any but mussims.
Kent started to walk away.
Betty: Wait, there is a small clearing about a 1/4 mile away we can go there.
Kent smiled: Great. They walked quickly. When they got to the clearing Betty turned.
Betty: What honored sir do you have to tell me?
Kent reached out and grabbed her twisting her arm: This. Do not scream or it will not go well for you or your family. There is a man at camp now with instructions to harm your family if you scream or do anything foolish with one word from me. He pulled out a walkie talkie.
Betty terrified: Wh-wh-what are you doing? What have we done to you?
Kent ignoring Betty while binding her hands and feet.
Kent: Copy. All's clear.
Betty crying realizing she had been deceived and this man wasn't from her father: Please don't hurt me or my family. We will give you anything you want.
Kent: Shut up. I promise if you lie here still, it will soon be over and you will be allowed to go back to your family intact.
Betty struggled against her ties in vain. This man had taken her prisoner, and there was nothing she could do about it. Now she was defenseless and worse yet she had disobeyed her father's orders by leaving the camp, leaving her family and sisters helpless. Her mother was weak and unable to protect them that is why her father had trusted her. She cried bitterly if anything happened to any of them it would be her fault. She wished at this moment she were dead. When her father found out Betty had disobeyed him; she knew she just might get her wish.