Sleeping throughout the three hours of the plane ride, it finally landed in Madrid. I made sure to freshen up before making my way out.

Police men were draped around the perimeter of the airport with guns strapped around their arms. Once I was through security and found my baggage, I instantly spotted lameesa and her family, holding a big sign that read 'Bienvenida a madrid Laila'

Smiling, I ran towards her and hugged the day lights out of her. Soon I was enveloped by Kira and Sajdah, her younger twin sisters. Uncle gave me his blessings, patting my head and auntie gave me a bone crushing hug.

"Welcome dear. You've gone so big. How are you bonita?"

"I'm okay auntie, how are you?"

"Alhamdulillah good. You must be tired Dear, let's go. Girls im sure you'll get plenty of time to catch up at home. Yallah" immediately lameesa and her sisters let go of me and soon we made our way back to their house. The weather was pretty cold here in Madrid, since it was October and I'm glad I bought my puffy coat with me. Alhamdulillah.

Once we reached their house, I was overwhelmed by the food they had set out on the table for me, within five minutes. I didn't know what to say but look up at auntie and give her my most grateful smile.

"Auntie, we are family you didn't have to go to such lengths for all this" I say gesturing to all the amazing spanish and arabic food set out.

"This is what family does." uncle instead replied. "You are just like my daughter, if not better" he said cheekily smiling at his daughters who just playfully rolled their eyes and continued to serve me.

"Jazakallah khairun. Uncle. I don't know what to say"

"Don't mention it habibti" he waved his hand in dismissal and motioned for me to start eating. I thank lameesa and her sisters before digging in.

"Mashallah auntie, this is amazing. I've never tried this before" I say referring to the tapas and paella.

"Thank you habibti. Sajdah helped me make this" she exclaimed, making the 15 year old blush in return. Cutie.

"Wow Sajdah, blessings to your hands. This is to die for" I said taking another bite. Truly. This is heaven. It came almost close to my mum's curries, almost. But then again mamas my mum and I can't compare her amazing dishes to anybody else's.

"Thank you" she mumbled, hiding herself behind her spoon fulls of food.

"How do you feel about working in an actual hospital Laila. Will you study alongside this too?" Auntie raised up the question, whilst filling my plate up again. For the second time. As much as I refused, she wouldn't back down.

"Thank you auntie. And yes I'm very excited to be working with patients and finding out the solutions to different problems. But as for my studies, working at the hospital contributes to that, as my daily chart would be given back to the university professors weekly"

"Ahh. I see. Well, I pray it goes well for you habibti. Making your parents name shimmer with pride" auntie smiles at me whilst looking at her husband who nods and smiles proudly. Ever since I was little, both our families would visit each other In the summer. We had always seen each other as family, practically growing up in each others houses and making beautiful memories.

"How is your family dear? Is everything going well? I'm sure your mum's still up to burning a few things here and there" we all shared a hearty laugh, before I replied

"Yes alhamdulillah all is well. And you know. She's still burning stuff, but babas there to make sure she remembers before anything serious happens" I smile, shaking my head again at the many memories of mum burning food.

After a couple of minutes, lameesa speaks up about the current crime rates in Madrid and how they have been increasing over the course of six months.

"It's scary hija but the police are doing their full to stop this" to this lameesa scoffs, but hinds it behind her cough.

"Papa, the news reporters are scared to record around the crime scenes in fear that they might get killed. And to make matters even worse, no one knows what the leader of this so called gang looks like. He could be an old demented guy wanting to take over t-"

"What did I say about speaking around the dinner table regarding crime. Hija well talk about this later focus on your food and what God has blessed you with"

"Si papa. Im sorry " lameesa says, kissing her father's hand before continue eating.

Once we ate, I was lead to the guest bedroom, although I insisted to consider letting me sleep in lameesas room, I wouldn't mind. But auntie being the stubborn one out of us two insisted I take the guest bedroom saying I need privacy. Of course I couldn't do much and agreed reluctantly.

"Have a rest now dear i'll make sure your sisters don't disturb you". I let out a chuckle saying goodbye before she goes.

I totally forgot. Oh my God. My parents must be worried. Quickly I opened the whatsapp family group chat and texted them I already ate and would be resting soon. Relieved, i lay down and didn't realise when sleep enveloped me.

It was the next day and we'd all just had breakfast. Me and lameesa made plans to roam around Madrid so I can familiarise myself. It was windy outside but I needed to know the ins and out as tomorrow would be my first day in the hospital. Sajdah and Kira decided to stay in and help their mum out in the house.

"Be safe girls. Don't take any shortcuts around and stay where there's a crowd" auntie disclaimed as we left the house.

"Don't worry mama. We'll be safe. In sha allah" lameesa replied back and soon we were on our way to the tourist sights.

Tourists in this part of Madrid had significantly reduced due to the crime rates, but nonetheless some still lingered around including me, taking pictures and videos. Soon we were in 'Puerta del sol'. The heart of the city, as they called it. The amazing statue stood tall and proud and lameesa was intrigued when explaining the history behind it.

"You see that horse statue over there?" I nodded, wondering what's so special about it. Obviously lameesa had something else to say.

"It's an equestrian horse dedicated to King Carlos the third. He was apparently the best mayor of Madrid thus far, having wanting to make it much more advanced and modern than traditional. It was installed during the 1700's"

I looked at it with much more fascination than before, having learned it's history. What I couldn't get my head around was the amount of security guards around the vicinity. Curiosity got the best of me and I turned to lameesa for answers.

"To be honest, I don't know Laili. Some say they're looking out for any criminals among us, but others say they are looking out for our safety. Either way, it's a good thing they're here" I nodded in agreement.

Soon lameesa and I had traveled around the hospital where I would be at tomorrow morning. Alongside this, lameesa showed me less tourist-y- places and more local areas, making me fall more in love with the city.

We stopped by at a small restaurant and ordered some local spanish dishes. The place was halal so we didn't have to worry about that. Thank God.

*

After eating dinner, lameesa thought it was a great idea to walk back home instead of booking a taxi. She was always the thrill seeker.

"Lameesa this is not a good idea at all. For gods sake, what did auntie tell you about taking shortcuts" I couldn't help but think what was lurching in the dark.

"Relax man. You said you wanted an experience here in Madrid so thats what I'm giving you"

" Yeah where I'm safe, not where I can get kindnapped or killed" in response, she carried on walking faster, in the dark. Not wanting to get lost, although I doubt that won't happened, I followed behind her.

Suddenly we heard deep voices coming from one of the alleyways. Before lameesa could eavesdrop on their conversation, I held her back.

"Are you fricking insane misa. What are u doing? We should have been back home an hour ago"shushing me with a finger on my mouth, she turned around and motioned for me to stay silent.

Looking from over her shoulder, three men were conversing in rapid spanish. One of the men was carrying a young child in their hand, about three years old, sleeping soundly, unaware of the men's deep voices.

I couldn't understand a thing. They looked like they were angry, with their fists tucked in and their faces holding anger. I didn't want to stumble on them. I could barely hear anything with blood pumping to my ears.

Suddenly, lameesa turned around and bumped into me in the process. Startled, she signalled for me to quickly run after her.

"We need to get out of here. Now. Those guys are dangerous and if they see us, were dead meat"

As soon as she said those words, a new-founded energy surged throughout me. We ran until we reached the bus stop, our heads were constantly around our shoulder.

I was never good at running so that explained why I was breathing heavier than lameesa.

"What happened Lameesa?"

"I'll tell you when we get home. It's too crowded here, someone may hear us"

Now I am more concerned. Whatever those three men were talking about was serious, serious enough to not say in public. I quickly sent a text to my parents, letting them know about what went down today, skipping through the last unfortunate event. After a tense and very long fifteen minutes, we finally reached home. Looking at my phone, the time read 11:34. Auntie and uncle were sat in the living room watching TV.

"Assalamu-alaikum auntie and uncle"

"Wa alay-kamus salaam dear. How was the tour? Was it anything you expected?"

Still shaken up by the three men, I tried to smile to my fullest ability and answered.

"Yes alhamdulillah auntie. It was better than I expected" nodding their heads in agreement, they turned their attention towards Lameesa, who was stuck in her thoughts, holding a glass of water in her hand.

"Lameesa. Why did your come late? And also It looks as if you've seen a ghost. What's wrong habibti?"

" Nothing's wrong mama i'm just tired, I guess me and Laila will see you tomorrow. I hope you don't mind, we've already ate and want to go rest. And I'm sorry i lost track of time mama it won't happen again" Lameesa said reaching to give her mum a kiss.

"I'll let it go this time dear. I don't want this to happen again. Seep well, buenas noches Lameesa and Laila" before I could reply, lameesa was already dragging me up the stairs towards my bedroom. Shutting the door, her face morphed to that of extreme worry. Her silence and staring was scaring me.

"Lameesa what's wrong. What did those three men talk about? T-"

"They were part of a gang" usually I hate it when someone interrupts me, but right now. All I could feel was stress and more stress.

"What do you mean? How can you tell lameesa. I'm sure they were just some men arguing over, I don't know, money or food. They had a child in there arms for gods sake" at least that's what I kept telling myself.

Shaking her head in disagreement, she slowly goes to sit on my bed, her fingers In between her mouth.

"I'm very sure they are in a gang Laila. They were talking about the child in their arms. Saying 'King' is looking for her. And one top of that they mentioned something about drug trafficking gone wrong" my first day here and it already goes downhill. Ya Allah.

"You don't think they're men from that gang on TV do you" I asked hesitantly.

"Let's hope not Laila. Because if they catch us were doomed, but nonetheless, let's just keep this information to ourselves and go about as if nothing happened Okay Laila. I know you're a worry head but in Sha allah nothing will happen to us" lameesa said reassuring me. Nodding my head slowly, I sat next to her.

"In sha allah misa. I hope nothing bad happens"

"Ameen Laila. Ameen"

*********

I wonder who the 'King' is?

I hope you liked this chapter. The next update will be within a week.

Vote comment and share to your amigos. Por favor. Mucho gracias mi familia!!!❤️