Circle of Fire by S. M. Hall Page A

wasn’t there a tiny flaring spark of a possibility that Pam was down there?
    That thought drew her onwards. Slowly, quietly she descended into the bare stairwell. Still nothing, no sound. She trod lightly, feeling her way into the darkness, until suddenly a violent spear of light blasted her eyes. She put up her hand to shield her vision, but she couldn’t see round or through the dazzling beam.
    A cold, steely voice sent a shuddering chill through her. ‘Ah, Maya, we’ve been waiting for you.’

Chapter Thirteen
    Maya couldn’t see a thing. All she could make out were shadows. Then she was grabbed from behind. She screamed as her arms were pinned to her sides.
    She was sure it was Nazim holding her, breathing hot air onto her neck.
    â€˜Shut up! It’s useless to scream. Nobody can hear you,’ he spat.
    â€˜Sit her down,’ the man in command ordered.
    She was jammed into a chair, hands clamped hard onto her shoulders.
    â€˜Where’s my—’ she started to say, but a hand pressed the words back into her mouth.
    â€˜Let’s get this straight. I ask the questions,’ the man in charge said.
    She peered into the light, trying to see theowner of the voice.
    â€˜Who are you?’ he asked.
    â€˜I’m Soraya.’
    Fingers dug into her neck, forcing her head back. She could hardly breathe, a horrible gurgling sound came from her throat.
    â€˜Let me ask you again. Who are you?’
    â€˜I . . . I’m Soraya,’ she croaked.
    â€˜Why have you come here? Who sent you?’
    She couldn’t answer. Her tongue was stuck at the back of her throat; she thought she was going to swallow it. In panic, she pushed against the chair, writhing from side to side. Then suddenly she was released, her head lolling forwards. A face loomed in front of her: grey beard, dark hooded eyes. She was sure it was the driver of the silver Mercedes, the man who’d watched as she and Pam ran past him.
    â€˜You’re too curious, Maya, too curious for your own good,’ he said.
    â€˜My name’s Soraya,’ she told him. ‘I came to learn how to be a good Muslim.’
    The man stooped down until his face was level with Maya’s. ‘I know who you are,’ he said. ‘What I want to know is, who sent you?’
    His mouth, buried in his grey beard, was softand pink, it twisted into a half-smile. Maya couldn’t stand it. She lunged forward trying to swipe at him. Immediately her arms were grabbed and forced up her back. She yelled out in pain.
    The bearded man leant forward and hissed into her face, ‘How did you find us?’
    â€˜Stop!’
    It was Khaled. He was standing somewhere behind her. ‘Why are you torturing her?’ he asked.
    â€˜Do you know who this is?’ the man with the beard demanded.
    The dazzling light was turned away. She saw Khaled standing in front of her, his white shirt glowing.
    â€˜Yes, it’s Soraya, my cousin.’ He stepped closer and spoke angrily to Maya. ‘I told you not to disgrace me. Asking questions all the time. There are some things a woman cannot know.’ He grabbed hold of her hand. ‘Come with me. You can stay in the women’s room and study.’
    He turned to the man with the beard. ‘I apologise, Omar. Her parents sent her here because she’s becoming rebellious. She’ll soon learn our ways.’
    So it
was
Omar, the leader of the Allied Brotherhood. She could see his sunglasses in his toppocket. He was the crazy driver, the man who’d been watching for her and Pam, waiting for just the right moment to call his army. He was staring at Khaled, his eyes blazing, his white shirt open at the collar, stomach bulging over his black suit trousers, black shoes sparkling. Everyone in the room was silent.
    Omar fingered his beard and shook his head. ‘She may have fooled you, Khaled,’ he said. ‘But we know her true identity. This is the