by Aafiyah Qarozi
“I’d like to see you try,” I retort in English, without thinking. Ayesha stares at me out of disbelief, and the Shopkeeper gives me a rather malicious smile. “I’ll do my best, Doctor,” he replies, somewhat amused, “Rest assured, I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done.” It all started on a fine day, when I saw a red bag that had my marbles, the ones that Amma and Abba warned me about, in a store. But they weren't for sale. Then why keep it there?! No Shopkeeper would do that, unless they have a plan. Whatever it is, Ayesha and I didn't think it through. I went through a fine charade at school, and then my dear sister agreed to help get our marbles back. I wish she didn't. We got our marbles back, but at a cost. That Shopkeeper was psychotic, threatening to kill me and attempting to injure my sister. We both ran, and resolved to never come back.. Amma made sure of that. I had wondered back then why everyone made a big deal over my marbles, even going as far as to steal them. Now, I realized why we were warned but it's too late. Ayesha's lost there, and I'm stuck in an airless world as a criminal. As for the Shopkeeper, he’s far more dangerous than I thought. I need to find Ayesha and get out of this place before things get worse. That sounds easy enough but it isn't, because everyone thinks I’m some doctor who ruined their world when I haven't even passed my Board Exams! I need to escape from a certain Enforcer and a certain Level before I can find Ayesha. Inshallah, I'll find her and get us back home before things get worse. What To Expect: - Expositional Story - Early Slice of Life Chapters ("A fine charade" before a fine mistake) - World building excerpts before each chapter - Thought Narration - A World with no Oxygen - Betrayal - NO romance - Soft Sci Fi elements - Plot Twists
