Is this destiny?

WARNING: Violence over women is depicted in this chapter. Read at your discretion.

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"Merve?", Masika called in a whisper while slowly moving toward the pile of wood. "Sarah sent us to get you, we are…" Masika paused and heard rustling.

Zack moved toward the pile of wood, with an obvious intention to clear it up, but Masika put her hand in the way to stop him.

"Let me do it…", Masika said in a whisper.

"Merve, my name is Masika…", she spoke softly while slowly advancing toward the wood. "We are here to take you to Sarah." Masika wanted to mention Aiden as well, but she remembered Sarah's warning not to bring up any guys, because Merve might be traumatized (depending on what was done to her, and it can't be anything good if she used a beacon to ask for help).

Masika reached to the closest piece of wood and slowly started moving it to the side.

Masika continued removing wood unhurriedly and spoke: "Sarah is on her way, but it will take her some time to reach, so she sent us to come here first in order to take you to a safe spot… Don't worry, you are safe now… We will get you out of here… Sarah is looking forward to seeing you…"

Just as she guessed, when enough wood was moved, Masika and Zack saw a teenage girl sitting on a log and holding a smaller girl in her lap. Both of them have bloody faces with lines on the cheeks made of tears and the smaller girl seems to be sleeping.

"Merve? Can you come out?", Masika extended her hand.

Merve looked at Masika with crazed horror in her eyes and the only sign that she is alive was that her chin was trembling.

"Do you understand what I am saying?"

When Merve didn't respond (again), Masika started doubting if this is the right person. But the age fits and she has the beacon so it should be Merve. Masika took a deep breath, unsure of what to do.

"Can I help you with the little one?", Zack offered while standing behind Masika.

Merve's sight moved to Zack and she clutched the little girl indicating that she is not willing to let go.

"Merve, do you want to meet with Sarah?", Masika asked softly. "We can help you, if you wish."

Merve observed Masika in silence and images of Sarah and other girls flashed in her mind. Her eyes widened when she remembered Imani telling them that there are five girls: "You are Masika, Sarah's daughter who is in Italy."

Masika exhaled in relief. Finally, Merve said something and the fact that she knows who she is, is definite proof that they found the right person.

Masika smiled. She likes that Merve called her as Sarah's daughter. "Yes. I am in Italy, temporarily."

After a few long seconds, Merve confirmed: "I want to meet with Sarah."

"Then you need to come out.", Masika responded.

"My… my legs are numb…", Merve said weakly.

Masika slowly approached Merve and indicated that she wants to take the little girl. "Who is she?"

"My sister, Hande."

Masika saw that Merve is holding onto Hande tightly. "Is it OK if Zack holds Hande? I will help massage your legs so that you can stand up."

Merve observed Zack reluctantly but then she observed his clothes. "Is Zack part of Sarah's military?"

Masika thoughts that it's an interesting choice of words, but it's not far off. She confirmed. "Yes."

"OK.", Merve reluctantly agreed.

Zack approached and took the little girl in his arms. As soon as he straightened up, he frowned. "I don't think that she is sleeping."

Masika quickly checked and saw that the little one has a pulse, but she is nonresponsive, indicating that she is unconscious.

When Zack moved his arm which supported Hande's head, the light from the lamppost fell on Hande's face and they saw that her jaw is at a strange angle.

"Her jaw is dislocated.", Masika said in disbelief and she frowned when she saw that Hande's lower lip is cut and her face is swollen. It all points that she got a harsh beating. Masika reached into her pouch and took the anesthetic which she gave to Hande before snapping her jaw in place. She regretted that they don't have any icepacks handy.

"She will be out for at least a few hours." Masika told Zack before turning her attention back to Merve.

It is dark, and thanks to the Eve-vision, Masika can see that Merve has a lot of blood on her face, hands, and all over her clothes, but other than one cut above Merve's right eyebrow, Masika can't spot any other source of bleeding. Merve's cheeks are also swollen, and when all is put together, Masika can conclude that both Merve and Hande were attacked and that is why they are hiding. Because Merve's legs are numb, she didn't move for a while, probably since she activated the beacon, more than three hours ago.

Merve is curled up in that narrow space between the logs and the shed, and Masika can see that some of Merve's clothes are torn.

'That must have been quite a beating.', Masika thought and she did her best not to show it on her face.

Masika kneeled in front of Merve and started kneading her calves before asking: "Can you tell me what happened?"

There was a long silence and Masika thought that Merve will not talk, but she did…

"My mother was the one who waited for me from the airplane. I came home, and my mother was happy, but my father's second wife was not; she told me to leave because I am dirty. I said that I am not. I was taken away, but no one touched me, and I was rescued and returned pure. My father came home in the evening and his second wife told him all kinds of stories… and he believed her. He told me to leave. I begged him not to chase me away, because I have nowhere else to go, but he would not listen. He hit me a few times before pushing me onto the table. He ripped my clothes and…" Merve dissolved into sobs.

Masika wanted to tell Merve that she does not need to speak more, but to her surprise, Merve took a deep breath and continued: "He used a rolling pin… and ignored my screams and… he was surprised when he saw that it's bloody… He hit his second wife in the face with that rolling pin and she fell on the floor. And then he turned back to me…"

Merve's face contorted and she spoke with hatred in her voice: "He said that it does not matter how it happened because, in the end, I am not pure. I was aching badly and I was still on that table when I saw him look at me with the same eyes as those people who captured me. He reached for the waist of his pants and I could not believe that he started unbuttoning them… I screamed while scrambling away from him, and Hande rushed out of her room. She kicked him and used her little fists and he lifted her up and hit her as well. I took a knife and stabbed him in the arm which he was holding Hande with. I grabbed Hande and ran away. I was hiding here, unsure what to do or where to go, when I remembered that Sarah gave me a coin that I can use."

Zack was few steps away and he pretended not to be there. The fact that their own father hurt these two girls, made Zack's blood boil. He didn't get a good look at Merve, but he can guess that she is about the same age as Masika.

Masika's mind was a mess. She wanted to comfort Merve and cry with her and also to go and slice that despicable man into a million tiny pieces. How can someone treat his own children like this?

Merve lifted her gaze and looked at Masika. "Do you think that Sarah will take me back?"

Masika inhaled a shaky breath. "Of course, she will."

"But I am not pure."

Masika closed her eyes and exhaled. "In Sarah's eyes, as long as you don't hurt an innocent person, you are pure."

Masika was surprised to see that Merve smiled. She decided to find out more. "Merve? Where was your mother while your father was… hurting you?"

"She was there, watching.", Merve responded with a flat voice.

"Did she do or say anything?"

"She is unable to help me. If she interfered, she would be hurt also.", Merve responded dejectedly. 

Masika was surprised by this response. As a mother, you protect your children no matter what the odds are. "You don't blame her?"

Merve pursed her lips and Masika understood that Merve does not know.

"Do you blame your father?"

"I hate him.", Merve responded through her teeth.

Masika nodded in understanding before asking: "Do you want to punish him and everyone who hurt you and Hande?"

"How?", Merve probed in a small voice, showing that she does not believe that is possible. 

"You can punish him in any way you want."

Merve looked at Masika's stern gaze and she understood that the offer is genuine.

Masika saw Merve's nod and asked: "In which house is he?"

Merve pointed at the largest dwelling on the other side of the courtyard.

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