The Lost Students
Chapter Ten: "Rage"
Nargis gasped in shock.
— What?! Fatima kept something this big from us?
It was her reaction after Louay told her everything he had overheard. The worry still lingered on their faces as they continued searching for the missing Ammar.
Then something strange caught their attention—Ziad was walking down the hallway, a knife in his hand. Nargis inhaled sharply, ready to speak, but Louay grabbed her arm and motioned for silence.
Louay whispered, fear in his voice:
— Do you want to get us killed?
Nargis shot back defiantly:
— So what do we do? Just let him wander around with a knife?
— We don't know what he's planning… Louay kept his eyes on Ziad. We should wait and see.
Before they could decide, Ammar stepped out of the restroom—right as Ziad's hateful gaze locked on him.
Louay's voice tensed:
— Wait! Is he going to stab Ammar?!
Ziad lunged like a beast, knife raised, but Ammar's reflexes were quick. He dodged and countered with a swift, powerful kick to Ziad's stomach, sending him flying.
Louay, wide-eyed:
— That kick could break the hall door in one blow!
Nargis, losing patience, snapped:
— This is no time to be impressed! Do something!
Louay raised his hands.
— Me? No way!
Ziad staggered to his feet, roaring in rage, and charged again—but a sudden leg swept in from behind, tripping him to the floor. Louay blinked in disbelief.
— Nargis?! When did you move so fast?
Indeed, it was Nargis who had tripped him. Without hesitation, she kicked the knife far away.
Her tone was sharp and commanding:
— Both of you, stop it!
Ziad glared, then lunged at her with his fist. She caught his arm with practiced ease and slammed him to the ground.
Louay's jaw dropped.
— Nargis… you know kung fu?!
She smiled calmly.
— No, just a bit of karate.
Turning to Ammar, she said seriously:
— We need you… to help us.
Ammar scoffed.
— Stay out of my way, girl.
Louay muttered with a smirk:
— Great… now they're going to fight each other.
But Nargis softened her expression into a faint smile.
— Would you really refuse a request from the one who just saved your life?
Ammar chuckled.
— Saved my life? You must be joking.
Louay cut in quickly:
— We found a strange hall—it's locked tight. You might be the one who can break it open. It could be our way out.
Nargis added:
— Maybe there's a boat… or more than one.
Ammar, finally convinced, agreed to come along. On their way, Salma—having finished her book—decided to join the venture.
Meanwhile, Ziad stayed behind, unable to accept being beaten by a girl. Grinding his teeth, he punched the floor and muttered:
— Damn it…
The group soon reached a hidden corridor, and were surprised to find the others waiting—Adam, Haroun, Hani, Khadija… and Fatima, tied to a chair.
Hani:
— Took you long enough.
Louay:
— You have no idea what happened on the way here…
Haroun:
— Well, now everyone's here.
Khadija:
— Except Ziad.
Haroun snorted.
— Who needs that idiot anyway?
Ammar rolled his eyes.
— Seriously? You can't handle this without me?
Haroun smirked.
— Let's see those "legendary" skills of yours.
Ammar strode up to the mysterious hall's door and kicked it with full force—nothing. The door didn't budge.
An awkward silence fell. Then he stepped back, told them to move aside, and dashed forward, leaping into a double kick. This time, the door flew off its hinges.
Khadija whistled in admiration, hands resting behind her head.
Adam stepped forward slowly toward the dark entrance.
— Moment of truth…
What awaited them inside?
Would they finally find answers to everything—or something far worse?
…To be continued