Ahmet's Call to Freedom

He knew they were following him, but he couldn't stop. He had to get home. It was all that mattered now. The pounding in his head intensified, and he felt a warm trickle of blood run down the side of his face. His hand reached up and pressed against it as he walked. He had to keep it together.

He rounded another corner, nearly collapsing from exhaustion, when he finally heard the voice.

"Rahman! Stop!"

Rahman turned slowly to see who it was and sighed. Samir stood there in front of two other man staring at him with a look of concern on his face.

"Samir, I can't today."

"You have to," said Samir, "we have plans for tonight, remember?"

"I know," Rahman replied wearily, "but I just...can't."

"It'll be fine," Samir said reassuringly, "just don't tell anyone where you got the bruises."

Rahman looked at him incredulously and sighed again. He knew what they were planning tonight wasn't going to be good. But it didn't matter now...he had to get home first.

"I'm sorry guys," he said, turning away from them, "I just need to-" The next thing he knew he was on the ground with two men sitting on top of him while a third held a wet cloth over his mouth and nose until he passed out.