Ch 8 - Don't Say the j Word

The air crackled with tension, a thin trickle of sweat made its way down Nada’s rigid back. Past her shoulder blades and down her spine, soaking her shirt as it went, but Nada didn’t care, her eyes were too busy pouring over the shadows in the room picking desperately seeking out that fatal one, the familiar tall profile that was she was sure would arrive any second, if he hadn’t already done so.“Nada!” She jumped as the malicious tone that whispered in her ear, before she could turn her head the trademark icy gust of wind whipped through her hair pushing it around her face covering her eyes in the process.“He has arrived.” The priest stood up and clutched his walking stick pointing it straight up into the air.Nada’s heart hammered at double the normal speed, her eyes involuntarily followed the line of the stick where it ended mid-air pointing in the direction of another murky corner that was too dark to see. She wanted to run, to escape the stifling presence that weighed her down, her legs felt heavy refusing to push the rest of her up and her arms were equally useless, abandoning her when she needed them the most. Where are you going to run to? You foolish girl, I will be upon you before your feet find the right direction. The sharp voice inside Nada’s head made her gasp out loud. The voice sounded like her own, it came from inside her head but she knew it didn’t belong to her. These words were amused yet harsh, soft yet menacing. Nada shook her head and closed her eyes praying for him to get out of her mind.“You cannot have her. She is the child of Allah. I command you to leave and return to your homeland in peace.” Nada’s eyes sprung open in surprise, the priest had taken control and was speaking to Havana commanding his attention and obedience. Gone was the frail voice that had first greeted the trio when they walked in, in place was a much more stronger, compelling voice almost like a motivator speaking to a lethargic audience.There was a faint rustle in the corner and all eyes jerked towards the corner, open wide with disbelief and fear. A small wet hand clamped down over Nada’s and she screamed imagining Havana’s touch on her skin.“Ssh! It’s me!” Farrah pulled Nada closer so the three ladies were huddled together holding each other for protection.“Nada,” a loud raspy sound filled the room.“Return!  By the name of Allah, you will leave us unharmed.” The priest thrust his stick forward.There was silence.“Are you Muslim?” The priest waited for an answer. “Are you Muslim? Answer me.” A sob escaped Nada’s parted lips and she realized she was crying, her hands shook and her chest was heaving under the heavy shawl her naani had given her before entering the house.“Who sent you?” Silence, then the priest peered down at the three women. Nada looked up into his face and another burst of fear gushed through her, her shoulders began to shake and her bladder twitched threatening to lose control. The priest’s eyes were white, glazed over as if his irises had rolled back into his head.“What was the purpose?” A pause, “unacceptable! I cannot do a deal with you, you are a devil, a disbeliever. You must leave.”The air stirred and Nada saw the dust balls rise in a peculiar swirling pattern, the froze at three feet off the ground for a split second and in one fluid motion they were hurled forward bringing the furniture with them. The force of the air pushed the priest back and he collapsed into the chair. Nada reached up and took his hand squeezing it tightly as the wall of furniture broke around them, chairs landed millimeters away and books flew against the far fall. The priest let out a shout and immediately began reciting an unfamiliar verse from the Quran. The shattered furniture rose behind them and circled around to the front creating a small vortex that pulled in clutter from around the room. Nada watched the wave of junk accumulate a few feet from them, she braced herself as it gushed forward once more and crashed over them. A sharp pain sliced through her shoulder, a piece of wood landed at her feet broken and splintered from where it had pierced her skin. The priest chanted louder, his voice muffled as he covered his head with his arms. Farrah threw herself on top on Nada and held her tightly, tucking her head into her chest protecting her from the sharp objects. Nada heard her naani chant the all purpose prayer and immediately joined in screaming each sacred word out loud. The room filled with Arabic and Nada could hear nothing over her beating heart and the verse which she continued to recite.“He’s gone! He’s gone!” The priest’s words penetrated the air silencing the chanting.Farrah released Nada and they both looked around the room. It was a mess, nothing was recognizable. “He’s gone?” Naani whimpered through tears.“Yes, I cannot see him.” The priest confirmed.Nada breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at her mom and smiled, relieved that nothing more went wrong. Suddenly she felt a painfully hard, frosty, vise like grip encompass her ankle and before she could look down and register what had grabbed her, she was yanked away from Farrah. Nada screamed, her fingernails grabbed the debris on the floor and failed to lock onto anything solid. Her stomach burned with pain as she was dragged through the junk, her eyes locked onto the shocked faces of her family as they struggled to their feet.She could feel one of her legs, raised mid-air as Havana gripped the end of it, the other leg was searching the floor trying to hold onto something that would give her leverage to kick away. She already knew he was strong, she had experienced that before. Nada continued to scream as fear engulfed her making thinking logically impossible. She was dragged out of the room towards the stairs, with excruciating force Havana tugged her up the first step, Nada’s chest ached as it slammed against the floorboards, the stairs shuddered and creaked as she reached out and grabbed the rails. “Nada!” Farrah screamed barreling out of the room.Thump. Nada was violently pulled up another two steps, her ribcage felt warm and wet, she knew she was bleeding. Thump. Another step. Nada’s chin hit the edge on the step and blood seeped into her mouth.“Hold on!” Farrah grabbed her daughter’s arms and pulled hard. Nada screamed, the pain ripped through her torso at an intense level making her insides cry out. “Ma!” Nada’s mouth filled with blood.Farrah pulled with all her might. Nada saw her naani’s feet appear as she hobbled up one step and wave her walking stick to where Nada’s foot hung suspended. It worked, Havana let go and Nada crumpled down the stairs landing heavily on her mom.“Run!” Naani shouted. Nada heard a whoosh and scrambled up in time to see her grandmother being thrown down the steps and land against the wall. “Naani!” Nada screamed rushing to help her sit up. The priest charged around the banister and threw a bucket of water up the stairs drenching the three ladies in the process. There was a hiss as if fire was being doused and the room was still. The priest continued chanting as he lit a few incense sticks and waved them around the cramped hallway. When nothing else happened, he turned to the ladies.“We need to talk.”