I counted down the days of returning to Malaysia with much anticipation yet felt a slight remorse floating in my guts. I didn't look forward to it, but I finally accepted my fate that I have no future here in Manchester especially when Nick was no longer in the picture. My decision to leave before my graduation was abrupt but my grandad was already excited to accept my arrival home.

The flight back to Kuala Lumpur was scheduled for the next couple of months which was in November end. It gave me ample time for shopping and packing things before the move. I coordinated my shopping schedule accordingly and cramped up my visits to Asda and Arndale Mall on the same day. However, my body experienced some unbearable back pain and gassiness on top of running nose, which annoyed me all the time that I couldn't handle such a trip no more. So, I cut my Arndale shopping short, limiting to a couple of outlets before headed back home to Maine Road.

This autumn sickness had begun preying on most people including me, left us feeling miserable with this cold fever. But what I experienced was beyond just cold fever, I belched on most occasions and other anomalies would include an increased body temperature, nausea, period-like constipation, fatigue and constant urge of going to the toilet. I guessed my body was tired of missing Nick, it discharged all forms of uncommon illness including my absolute delayed periods of more than two-weeks.

I alighted from no. 111 Stagecoach bus, passed the corner shop and walked straight home. Halfway down Maine Road, I had a strange sensation settled over me like I was being followed. I glanced over my shoulder scanning the pedestrians behind me only to find chattering school kids walking in a group, a wandering hooded man, an old lady pushing her shopping trolley towards her car, a pair of mother and daughter strolling in the opposite direction and middle aged men quarrelling by the corner shop over the game between City and United the night before.

My glance hovered back to the hooded man, as he hurried himself closer heading for the same direction as I was. My intuition deducted that he seems normal, yet my nerve systems signalled otherwise. It sent cold shivers through my shoulders, raising the hair at the back of my neck as I felt reverberating chills slipping down my spine.

The hooded man's face suddenly became familiar to me as he drew near, like I had seen him somewhere before, somewhere dangerous. My legs automatically brisk up the pace, switching to a small jog to cater my aching discomfort body. I glanced at my shoulder repeatedly towards the man, feeling my breath depleted by the sudden strides.

As he acknowledged my abrupt distress, his disguise began to unfold and accelerated towards me. His movement sent another panic signal into my system, rocketing my pace. I leaped forward, focusing my attention towards my flat which was nearing by another mile while my lungs screaming, trying to keep up.

I clutched my shopping bag, panting hard and trying to ignore the plea from my pumping heart while groping for my keys in my pocket. Frustration began to seep in, wishing that I was in my old toned shape, before when jogging was breezy for me. I took another glance behind me and caught him sprinting a few feet away from me, I turned back and forced my legs to speed up.

I drew near to the front door of my house and was alarmed by the sight of it being left ajar. Nevertheless, feeling terror over the danger that drew near, I rushed into the property for sanctuary and immediately shut it behind me.

To my dismay, my safety was being further compromised by what awaited me inside my flat when Mark suddenly appeared by the passageway and dragged me into the common room where I was greeted by Nick's dad, Hussaini, sitting on the sofa and his other two men standing next to him.

"What the hell are you doing in my house?!" I bellowed at Hussaini.

"Zahida, isn't it?" Hussaini beamed gladly and instructed Mark to let go off me. "Sorry I had to break into your flat like this. It's cold outside."

"You could at least wait outside in your bloody car like everybody else," I clenched my jaw. "I don't assume you came here with Uber."

He sensed the unavoidable stiffening of my body and then he chuckled. "Please sit, my dear," he urged, motioning the empty spot next to him which I obeyed reluctantly. For a moment, I felt my stomach-churning was being replaced with a distressing feeling of their encounter. I carefully rolled my eyes at him who was busily scanning the room and caught my medication on the table. "You sick, child?"

"Yeah, it's the season of the year, isn't it?" I replied bluntly.

"It is, yeah," he agreed. "But those aren't normal medications your GP prescribed for you, ain't it? Often people get cold and flu during this season, not lethargic or anything that requires them to take folic acid. But then again, who am I to judge? There are so many new and weird diseases emerging out there that we all need to be careful, right?"

I kept my silence; it was obvious he knew too much already. Saying anything about my current condition would prolong their unwelcoming visit.

"Anyways, I'm just gonna make this quick for you, I won't be taking much of your time," Hussaini continued. "And considering you're majoring in business, what I'm about to explain to you might be breezy for you."

"Shoot," I instructed impatiently.

"As you already know how we've always run our operations efficiently. We had our stocks, we cleared them within the deadline and we'd never fall back on our supplies. But recently, I noticed that there's been a lag in our distribution network. They're no longer complying to our deadline, so our revenue declined immensely due to that," he elaborated.

"Carry on," I said impatiently.

"We investigated deep within our operational chain of command and found something odd. Apparently, our Chief Logistics Officer went AWOL for a couple of months. So, that's why we came here and would like to enquire if you'd happen to know of his whereabouts," he continued.

"You won't find him here," I responded briskly. "I got fired and he walked out on me a couple of months ago, so I absolutely have no idea where he's been."

"Well, that's startling news. I thought you're his spark of joy," he gaped at me.

"Apparently I'm not anymore. I just extinguished his merriment," I answered sarcastically. "Anyways, him and I are no longer taking interest over each other's whereabouts. So, I'm sorry that I'm not much of a help but I have no idea where he is right now."

"There's definitely something you know," he insisted. "Take your time to recall anything pertinent that would lead him to his current location. We don't mind staying here all day if we have to."

"If you want to squeeze the juice out of me, by all means go ahead," I growled. "But breaking into my flat for some answers that I don't have is an absolute futile because I'm running out of juice to offer you."

"Be careful with your words, young lady," Hussaini's patience wearing thin. "We are an expert extractor and we can squeeze areas you never thought you'd know, especially in that sac of yours."

He reached out for my belly, but I managed to recoil. I jumped out of the sofa and looked down at him. "Don't touch me, sir. I don't think the person you're looking for would approve that either."

"Why would I respect him if he doesn't even respect me?!" he outraged. "Why should I comply with his demands? He's a bloody coward for quitting his job without tendering."

"I agree with you but apparently I want no part of this father-son dispute," I said unenthusiastically. "You can find other avenues to search for him. Use the available technology for a start, you may find wonders with the tracking app that is available out there."

"I'm not a tech savvy person, girl," he roiled, getting annoyed with my cynicism. "Nobody can get out of me easily, not even you. If I don't get anything from you, I'll gladly use you as a bargaining chip."

"So, this is what I am for? His bargaining chip?" I creased my brows in vexation. "Just like how you use your wife as a bargaining chip?"

"Don't you dare talk about my wife, you slut!" he fumed, grabbed me by the throat and slammed me to the wall behind me.

I tried to balance myself on to the centre of gravity, but the tossing was impulsive, beyond my reflexes that I ricocheted helplessly and fell onto the floor. The knocking caused my breathing to suppress. His men then lifted me by both arms, levitating me where my feet couldn't touch the floorboard.

"Next time watch your tongue. I'm known for reaping people's lives and body parts. Don't make me reap yours," he fired, slowly moving his bloodshot eyes down towards my belly. "I think I know a way to get him out of his hideout."

He signalled Mark with his cocked head and took a few steps back, letting Mark to come forward towards me. Mark suddenly swung his hidden karambit knife in front of me and everything went so fast for me to react to him slashing below my belly button, leaving a deep cut wound penetrated my flesh.

I froze for a second, wasn't prepared to retaliate to his attack. Then, slowly the inflammatory stinging around my pelvic area from the slitting. When the throbbing grew tenacious, I felt pain that I've ever experienced before that dropped onto the floor, trying to stop the blood from gushing out and drenching my clothes. This uncharted pain must be what Abs had felt during the night where Nick attacked him.

I coughed vehemently to a vomit before cagily looked down at my bleeding stomach and screamed in confusion and pain. I forced my head tilting towards Hussani, withholding the anguish throbbing in my stomach.

"You fuckin' bastard!" was all I managed to cursed out of the pain I endured.

Hussaini ordered the rest to leave while Mark took out his phone to dial a number before he handed it over to his boss.

"Yes, emergency. There's been a stabbing," Hussaini spoke to the dispatcher on the other line. "330, Maine Road. And please, hurry. I think she might have had a miscarriage."