Desert Encounter
Chapter 4

Sitting under a large rock, we had only recently arrived at this shelter and I was already expecting some commotion near us.

But what else was happening?

Masked men perched on their horses galloped towards us as if out of nowhere. They got off their horses with strength and determination and headed towards us.

I had initially thought it was other travelers like us, coming to take shelter from the prominent sandstorm until I saw one of them pulling out a sword followed by the others.

Oh no they were coming to kill us. They were going to kill us all, my body would never be found in this storm. I thought

They had knives, swords and whatever other bladed weapons as far as the eye could see.

The noises around me grew louder and my comrades of fortune looked for ways to escape, but to go where? We were in a desert and the few rocks that sheltered us were not going to protect us from them, which discouraged many people. The arrival of our new torturers was greeted by shouts from them in a language I was beginning to recognize as Arabic.

Obviously we were in their territory.

Romeo, sitting next to me, then said to me quietly so that no one would notice us:

《Keep calm, and hide behind me》

I understood what was happening, we were being attacked, attacked and there were really many of them.

I then did what he asked me to do and leaned well behind him despite his small body, I was quite small too, a real mosquito.

Then wanting to know more about what was going on, I glanced over his shoulder and could see our comrades of fortune giving away everything they had: watch, ring, money, bracelet, especially phone , camera, there were even car keys.

The women present were crying and reciting dua, well I think I was not totally foreign to Arab traditions since I loved their desert.

Their companions tried to protect them as best they could, a bit like my Romeo.

I then made a move to tighten my bag to better protect it but nothing, where was it?

I then saw him, not far from me resting against the rock, two steps from me.

I couldn’t leave it there, they were going to take it from me and it was my life that was inside, my passport, my bank cards everything was inside. I had to get it before they noticed and hide it.

Naively, I got on all fours and threw my hand ready to receive him when I waited for someone to shout louder and I tensed up:

《damn Naomi what the hell have you done》 Romeo whispered

One of the bandits at me had seen it and he crossed the rows that separated us and came to snatch the bag from me that I had just grabbed.

No, not that. I wasn’t the fearful type and I wasn’t going to stay there and do nothing. Especially since I might be feeding.

I got up in my turn furious and snatched my bag that he was trying to open.

The bandit looked at me in shock like the next person present. What?

I looked around and noticed that only two or three people hadn’t bothered to give what was asked of them.

The black man that I had noticed because he was the only black, a North African whose scarf had fallen off and the mysterious stranger with icy eyes.

Unlike the others he seemed very calm even though he was surrounded by at least 5 bandits who were talking to him, or even shouting at him.

Then I waited for Romeo to speak to me softly

《Naomi what the f**k are you doing, do you want to get us all killed or something》

Of course not, I’m just waiting for this damn storm to start and take them away. I wanted to answer him when a flash of lucidity and idea crossed my mind.

But all I did was ignore it. Because the man in front of me started screaming and the others were quicker to collect, he knew, time was running out. He must have been their leader

Then he started talking to me strangely softly but I wasn’t expecting anything. He had to repeat himself two or three times because he suddenly started shouting at me and wanting to take my bag back

《Naomi, he asks that you take off your veil, he wants to see your face and give him your f*****g bag》

Romeo told me getting up in turn to act as a barrier between the bandit and me, not very happy with what he had just heard.

He then said something back to her and threw her his gold watch that I had opened for his birthday and his phone.

But the man kept staring at me and then even started laughing. In a sudden unexpected movement he sent his hand and pulled my veil and it fell to the ground

And without waiting Romeo pushed it with his two dry hands.

That’s when everything happened very quickly

A knife came out of nowhere, a muffled scream, b***d, a lot of b***d and Romeo on the ground

No, no that wasn’t possible, Romeo had just been stabbed.

Then everything jostled around me, the mysterious man, stood up and took out a sword from I don’t know where and knocked down all the 5 men around him, he was really impressive.

But I couldn’t admire it any longer because I was there kneeling on Romeo’s body, pressing his wound. I had to, I had to stop his bleeding

《Baby it’s okay, hold on, I’m here, Romeo please don’t close your eyes》

Tears filled my eyes but I had to continue. Everything, everything was my fault.

But I wasn’t even given a choice as I saw the leader of the bandits pull me and throw me on his shoulder.

《Nooo nooo noooo help, help, please don’t hurt me, Romeooooo》

I shouted as he tried to lead me away from this agitation.