Guardian Angel

Chapter 5 - Sanctuary

2010-09-05T18:18:00.000+01:00

One of the greatest feelings on earth is the realisation that we are not alone. That there is someone equally as weird as you out there... and then you meet them, again and again and again. What are the chances of that?

I could tell by the way she lay across the pillow that she hadn’t slept in quite sometime. It bothered me more than it should. The way her mouth fell slightly open made me laugh; it was hard to believe that she had almost been killed. I could hear her breathing slowly. I didn’t know if I should consider this a blessing or a test; to be able to see her again. Of course I knew how this would end so why should it be anything less than the latter.
As right as my decision was to leave, nothing had seemed right when I had been away. Not that staying would have been any easier. It's one thing to be tempted, quite another to fall. Of course the test of any decision is if you are willing to make the same decision again. And in there lay the problem. It was bad enough that I so desperately wanted to go and kneel by her side. I wanted to talk to her, wanted to know what had happened since we last met, but I was afraid of more than what I’d hear, afraid that if I allowed myself to get that close to her that I would want to be closer still.

I had returned to Sanctuary with the still unconscious Noor. Sanctuary was the base for our operations located in the sub-basement of an old abandoned Church. When evil broke into this world and corruption set in, faith became something to be scoffed at and shunned for the intricacies and lure of Science. With corruption and sin rife, Atheism became the dominant belief and thus set the stage for the devil to play the greatest trick in the history of man: convincing the people he didn’t exist. I just wish they’d left the electricity on.
Turning away, I found myself under the watchful gaze of my grandma. Was it too much to hope she hadn’t noticed?
"You should consider lowering your gaze around her", she had noticed.
"I'll keep that in mind." I replied, avoiding her gaze."What are you going to do now?" she asked.
"They obviously want her for her abilities. For what reason I don’t know, but she wouldn’t have been under such heavy guard if she wasn’t important. So until we can figure out the reason, the safest place for her is here." Convenient I thought, closer still.
"Actually what I meant was, are you going to tell her who you are?" she asked analysing my face. That question had played on my mind since I saw her.
"That,” I sighed “would really complicate things. For the moment she doesn’t need to know." There were greater things to worry about for the moment.
"You know it's funny how you two keep meeting. There’s almost a touch of destiny about it, as if there’s something pulling you two together." She smiled, unable to help herself.
"Only Allah (swt) knows best and what’s destiny, what’s illusion. I just go where I'm told apparently."
It was Grandma’s brief glimpses into the future that had led to the rescue of the still unconscious Noor. It was always Grandma and Jabbers' hand that had guided me forward and with Jabber it almost felt like losing an arm. But he had known this would eventually happen and still he walked towards it.
“Faith,” he had said, “faith will guide you. Have faith in yourself and in Allah (swt) even when it seems like all is lost. Move in the way of the All Mighty and He will show you the way. Always remember that. There is hikmat in every victory and in defeat.”
I had faith, even if the path wasn’t always clear to me. Ever since I had discovered that I was different I had to decide whether my gifts were for the greater good of mankind or its destruction, knowing full well what the former choice would cost me.
“If there’s one thing I know; it's that you were put on this earth for a reason. Within us all is the potential to do horrible and unspeakable things but there is also the potential to do great and wonderful things. We will all face trials in life, but it's how we choose to act in those trials that determines who we are. We can not always choose what happens to us in life. But how we choose to respond to those trials is within our power. There will be struggles, you will be hated, feared and hunted. But a man is nothing if he does not help make the world a better place and the burden of mankind’s future rests with each and every one of us.”“Can we win?” I had asked.
“We must... or the Earth will fall into perpetual darkness before Imam Mahdi even arrives.”
Noor stirred as she started to awaken. She blinked, her brown eyes adjusting to the light before they rested on me. Something inside me quivered and for a moment the world stood still as we stared at each other and then she screamed.

The Ministerial Chamber was in full session before the mirror of black flames. The Ministers were all present with Slade kneeling at the front as he retold the story of the hijaabi’s escape.
“YOU ALLOWED HER TO ESCAPE!” boomed the voice as fire consumed the chamber, reducing Slade to a pile of smoking ash. A deathly silence had fallen within the chamber at Downing Street. The flames returned to the mirror gently licking the glass. “Find her before the next moon or you will all face the wrath of the black flames. Do not fail me.” The last word thundered in the chamber and died out along with the flames, once again returning the chamber to silence.
“Do NOT fail me… blah blah blah… black flames!” Loki imitated giggling to himself, “What a hot head, I guess this means Slade is …fired.” He laughed uncontrollably before falling over in his seat.
“LOKI!” Drake barked, slamming his fist onto the table.Loki peaked over the edge of the table before retaking his seat. Drake's dark eyes moved over to Malchior who had kept silent throughout.
“Guarding the girl was YOUR responsibility Malchior and you allowed her to slip through our fingers.”
“I’ll get her back.” Malchior replied, gritting his teeth.
“You'd better or I’ll peal the skin off your worthless hide myself” Drake sneered.
“I don’t think even you, Drake, have the skill to do that.” Malchior replied.
“Oh, why don’t we test that then,” Drake rose from his seat. Their eyes locked; each waiting for the other to make a move.
“Now now boys, let's play nice. We have a job to do. The world's not going to end by itself you know.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure,” squeaked Loki, “the humans have a taste for destruction. They might just end up doing our job for us.” A smile spreading across his face.“The Father is not that patient. And neither am I. The Sons of Adam (as) have had their time and squandered their gifts. Now it's our turn.” Danny never let her distaste of humans go un-noticed. And yet somehow she ended up the head of human resources. “Malchior, you lost the girl You will get her back and I suggest you eliminate the boy before he becomes a bigger problem.”
Malchior rose from his seat and turned walk away, pausing at the door.
“I’m sending out The Three to track her down. Any objections.” No one spoke.

We are truly blessed. We can breathe, we can walk and we can all do amazing things. We are born by the will of Allah (swt). Only we can decide how we wish to use our gifts. Know yourselves and your destiny will reveal itself. And when man faces destiny, destiny ends and man comes into his own.

Chapter 4 - Noor

2009-01-15T13:20:00.006Z

So the hordes of hell broke through into Earth for a moment and took over all levels of government. In one day everything went to hell. And now they're after a girl? And not just any girl. The girl. Jabber had always said there was no such thing as coincidences or luck. I guess this is what he meant.

I leapt from rooftop to rooftop, carrying the unconscious Noor wrapped in my long coat. Of course as soon as id seen her it had started to rain. Some things never change. It had been almost 3 years since id last seen her. I guess I should be thankful to the mask I’m wearing. It would be better for all if she didn’t know who I was… not after our last conversation.
“If that’s what you want” she had said. I remember the look on her face. The pain in her eyes.
“It was never a question of what I had wanted,” I whispered three years too late. She stirred; the sedative they had given her must be wearing off.
Settling down on top of an old industrial estate I laid her down carefully. Watching her. Unsure of what I was going to say. Then slowly those familiar brown eyes blinked open, adjusting to the light until they found me and she smiled. Blinking again her eyes shot wide open. Suddenly, aware of where she was. Stumbling to her feet she glanced around trying taking in the scene.
"What? What’s going on? Who are you?’ stopping to glance at herself “and why am I all wet?" I couldn’t help but smile.
"This is a rescue, and I’m the rescuer. As for why you're wet" I gestured to the sky still smiling "its raining”.
“I can see that. But who are you?” a measure of calm returning to her voice.
“A more important question is why are the Red Guard after you?” I replied, not wanting to start out with a lie. Not that I could lie to her even if I had wanted to.
“That’s a long story.” She glanced around, taking in her surroundings.
“I’ve got time.”
“Why are we standing on a rooftop?” she asked, still as random as ever.
“Because all the streets are monitored by CCTV. So unless you want to return to the custody of your friends the Red Guard, its better if we stay out of sight,” I replied as the rain began to pick up pace “and preferably indoors.”
“hmmm,” she mused and then almost by some coincidence the rain stopped.
“Well that’s convenient. And you didn’t answer my question.”
“Neither did you,” she had noticed “besides I don’t have to tell you anything.”
“Hey I just saved your life at great personal risk to myself! I think that merits some answers.”
“I WAS KIDNAPPED! What do you want from me?” her temper flared.
“I just want to help. And the best way I can do that is if you tell me why they’re after you.”
She stared at me with a measure of fury in her eyes. Finally as if some decision had been made she took a deep breath and calmed down. I was beginning to think she wasn’t going to answer when she finally spoke.
“I came here to get some answers from my Shaykh but I was too late... He was murdered by the time I got here,… I have no idea why or what any of this means. Next thing I know the Red Guard are throwing me into the back of a van.” She was editing.
“There’s something more, isn’t there?”
“I’m allowed my secrets. Besides I'm not saying anything more until you answer some questions too.” I didn’t like where this was going. I was going to have to be very careful about what I let slip.
“What would you like to know?”
"Who? Or what are you?"
"Think of me as your personal Guardian Angel." I chuckled.
Her eyes widened by a fraction before she went bright red and looked away but said nothing. I could tell she was embarrassed and it was hard not to grin. The wind changed direction and I caught a whiff of her floral scent.
I paced around her "Do you remember how everything suddenly changed a few years ago? How government policy changed overnight and how they introduced the Red Guard, the curfews and how everything went from bad to worse."
Her forehead creased as if in confusion. I suddenly wondered if I had said something overly complicated.
“Yes, but what’s that have to do with anything?”
"Well the short version is, real evil crossed into our world and is constantly working to bring humanity to its knees," I paused waiting for her reaction. When she said nothing I continued "And its my job to stop them."
"So you chop up people with that sword?"
I laughed. "Not people, creatures from hell, this sword is made from a special metal. It contains a fragment from the Holy Prophet (pbuh) sword."
"I thought that was in a museum somewhere in Turkey?"
"That’s just a replica. Anyway the fragment from the Prophet (pbuh) sword combined with the special metal is what gives it its power and allows me to vanquish demons."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh please, do you really expect me to believe that?"
"Well you met the Red Guard up close and personal and seen what’s happening in the world, what do you think?"
"So what? You're like God’s little Power Ranger?" she didn’t get to finish. I spun around placing myself between her as presence I had just felt loamed towards us. "what’s wrong?"
A huge familiar figure just huge leapt onto the rooftop. I couldn’t believe it, it was Slade.
"Aren’t you supposed to be dead?"
He smiled. "Well the thing about me is," he stepped out of the shadows followed by five other clones of himself "there’s just a whole lot of me."
The clones spread out as if stalking their pray into a corner. I took up a defensive position placing myself between Noor and the Slade clones. In absolute concentration I shadowed their footwork making sure they didn’t find a clear path through to Noor. They would come in hard and fast. Their plan was obvious. One or two would attack me while the others moved in to take Noor. Not gonna happen. Not today, not ever.
The Slade directly ahead leaned forward onto the balls of his feet as a snarled ripped from his lips as he lunged forward as I barely managed to twist away and smashed my fist into his skull and sent him flying. Another Slade screamed in rage and tried to grab me in a bear hug. I slammed my entire weight into a punch and hooked him right in the mouth sending him over the building edge. But the third Slade was already on me, this was his plan all along, no time to counter as he slammed his immense weight into me as we brawled. I brought up my arms to protect my head anticipating the hit. There was a flash of light that hit Slade turning him into dust. I glanced in the direction the light had originated and there stood Noor with what looked like a glowing Bow made entirely of light? For a second I thought I must be seeing things, I blinked and the bow was still there. I realised that the ray of light that hit Slade must have been some sort of arrow?
"What the..?"
"No time, watch out!" she screamed before firing another arrow past my left ear. I spun around in time to see more dust hit the floor. More and more Slade clones were coming onto the roof. I guess I had no choice. Drawing my sword, I swung it at the advancing Slades.
"DARK LIGHTENING!" A broad burst of lightening ripped across the roof taking out four Slades in one go. In that moment, I felt it drain my energy just a little. As swift as I could, I dashed across the roof as Noor fired off a few more arrows providing cover as the Slade Clones tried to dodge them. I knocked one right off the roof, and kicked another in the Gut as he crumbled before me. Then in a swift motion I brought down my sword turning him into dust instantly. Finally there was but one Slade left, who had used the time I was fighting the others to generate a Shadow Ball the size of an immense boulder. He smile as he released it towards us as it ripped up everything in its path in a wave of destruction.
I slammed my Demon Slayer into it, slowing it down as it continued to push towards Noor.
“NO” I screamed, as I took my final stance and with a single thrust of my blade redirected the immense Shadow Ball into the sky. Where it exploded. A moment later, the night was once again quite. It felt as if time had suddenly stood still. The final Slade had disappeared into the night as quickly as he had appeared. And for the moment we were safe.
A cool breeze blew across the rooftop and the moon perched high above peeked out from behind the clouds bathing the city in a white glow. Taking a deep breath I turned to Noor who was still standing there holding her light-bow as it slowly disappeared.
”What was that?”
She smiled “Its why I came back to London and probably why the Red Guard are after me.” She waved her hand and a flower appeared made entirely of light. “I can make any shape I really want.” She waved her hand again and the flower turned into an apple of light.
“Like a machine gun?” I was actually impressed.
She laughed “nothing that complicated. Nothing that has moving parts anyway.” The apple disappeared.
I smiled “I see. Well I think this is making more and more sense. You’re a lot like me. You have a gift too.” She didn’t seem convinced or too delighted. Neither was I.
“Can I return it? Its really not my colour.”
”Its not that kind of gift.” I chuckled… seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. "They must have a tracker on you." I mused already knowing the only answer available “that must be how the demon found us so quickly.”
She flinched at the word ‘demon’. "What do we do?"
"Well, I could operate on you and remove it," her eyes shot wide open "but that could be messy, and time consuming the other option however is I give you a little shock from my Demon Slayer sword frying the trackers circuitry. There shouldn’t be any real damage."
"fine... do it!" she held out her hand. I drew my Demon Slayer and the air instantly began to crackle with its power. Holding out the blade for her.
“One finger on the blade should do it but," she didn’t let me finish. A little too eager she grabbed the blade and the current instantly threw her backwards. I had to reach out quickly and grab her before she was thrown from the roof! I sighed "reckless." I could feel her heart beating, and her slow breath. Thankfully no permanent damage had been done, the shock must have simply knocked her out.
"Well can't leave you lying around here." Reaching up to my mask, I activated the Angel Com system and radioed Sanctuary. After a moment a voice crackled over the radio.
"Sanctuary here"
"I’m headed to base... and I’m bringing a guest." I added reluctantly.
"A guest? You've never brought anyone back before?"
"Its the hijaabi... its Noor." There was a silence for a moment.
"Still got a thing for this girl huh?" I could just hear the smile in her voice.
I sighed "that was a long time ago."
"No not really."

High above the city, two figures appear seemingly standing on nothing but mid air dressed completely in white. They stand watch, expressionless cloaked in a heavenly glow.
"His powers continue to grow."
"our orders are clear, we are not to interfere. This is his fight."
"What about the girl? If they want her, she may pose a risk."
"We can't risk exposure, lets wait and see how it plays out."

One of the most important realisations of life is that it’s a process. No one expects you to get it right from the start, but we must take heed sins of the past cast long shadows.

Chapter 3 - Light and Shadows

2008-10-29T19:11:00.002Z

Fifteen years ago a gateway to hell was opened and a plague of evil spread across the land. London was in complete darkness for days and in that time the hordes of hell infiltrated every level of government. Afterwards there was chaos. Against such opposition the Prime Minister became over-whelmed; people were being slaughtered, cities were in flames and in his panic he resigned. A new Prime Minister was elected: Prime Minister Ruban Gadriel and then the world changed forever.

Ayaan Hussain stood there, still holding the phone in his hand. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard…could she be telling the truth? Or was this all a big, elaborate trap? But if she was working for the enemy and they knew exactly where he lived, why didn’t they just make their move when he was at home? And why was the Hijaabi woman so important? One way or the other there was no way he could ignore what she had told him.
“Save the hijaabi, save the world.” The words rang in his ears.
Looks like it’s gonna be another late night. Pocketing the phone he knew he was going to have to make the appropriate preparations before he made his move. Tonight. But first he had a class to get to.
He heard the bell ring as he ran through the college gates. Skidding to a halt outside room 2.03, he took a deep breath and straightened his jacket before walking in. Ayaan mouthed an apology to the teacher who simply nodded before continuing.
“Late again bro?” asked Sufyaan as soon as class ended. Sufyaan Khan was Ayaans best friend, he was strict on rules but had a kind heart.
“Asalamalaykum, to you too bro” replied Ayaan, as they shook hands.
“Walaikumsalam, not setting a good example Ayaan. As seniors people look up to us” Sufyaan was always worried what people thought about ‘us’.
“God forbid anyone should turn up to class late” Ayaan chuckled as they walked to their next class.
“Hey guys! Wait up.” They turned around to see James Masters rolling towards them. “Some of us can’t walk as fast as you!” James had been in a wheel chair ever since the incident. Although he never really liked talking about it, he was always the first to make fun of it.
“Hey James, sweet wheels.” Ayaan smiled. He had never met a person as free spirited as James.
“Hey man, don’t diss it until you’ve tried it. I get great mileage on this baby.” chuckled James.
“How are you feeling James? You were off sick for a week.” Sufyaan enquired.
“There and there man. Had a killer fever, which is bound to happen when you dance in the rain,” The smile returned to his face “but I’m well enough to be back in the spin of things.” Ayaan had to roll his eyes at the terrible joke.
“Anyway, did you guys read the paper this morning?”
“Yes, some masked menace beat up some guards.” Suf didn’t approve of violence under any circumstances.
“Do you guys ever read past the front page?” James rolled out today’s paper.
“Why? What did we miss?”
“Oh I dunno, it could be the hail stones the size of your fists falling from the sky in Scotland or the fact that another ‘accident’ occurred leading to the death of another known scholar… which FYI was not an accident according to you know who.” James father was a Police Detective, and thus was privy to the kind of information that most people never found out about.
“That’s the fifth one in the past two weeks. Where abouts was this?” Ayaans curiosity was suddenly sparked.
“Up in Sheffield.”
Suf turned to Ayaan, “what do you think it means.”
“Hmmmm, I’m not sure yet” said Ayaan, more to himself.
“Coincidence perhaps?” Asked Suf sensing Ayaans thoughts.
“There are no coincidences, only ...” Ayaan trailed off lost in thought. Arriving at class they took their usual seats at the back. Much of the day passed quickly. It always amused Ayaan how things seemed to speed up just when he needed them to slow down.

Big Ben chimed the final stroke of midnight as an armoured van ripped out of the police station hurtling through the streets of London. The sky echoed with thunder and heavy rain was pouring down. The wind howled as the van weaved in and out of the streets. With curfew in effect the streets lay bare, save for those that clung to the shadows. The van sped along the streets; its cargo, a single woman. It had orders to stop for nothing until it reached the Red Guard Detention Centre, a terrifying, sadistic internment camp. The truck would never reach its destination.
Guardian Angel stood waiting upon the rooftops. The rain whipped into his eyes as he struggled to keep the van in sight, watching as it neared his position. He had run multiple scenarios through his mind, planning out each possible detail of how this could play out. He preferred the subtle approach.
Just one armoured van, how disappointing. He quickly dislodged a slate at his feet and hurled it at the on coming van. The slate flew like a bullet and smashed into the van’s windscreen with a crunching sound! The armoured car veered wildly and lifted off two of its wheels as the shocked driver fought to regain control! The problem with subtlety was that speeding armoured vehicles didn’t really have secret entrances that one could conveniently slip into.
"What the hell was that?” Screamed the driver. He stopped the truck and opened the door to investigate.
"NO!" The second guard screamed, but it was too late. A gloved hand appeared around the driver’s neck and hauled him out of the truck. The sound of pouring rain filled the driver’s cabin and obscured the guard’s vision as he peered out through the open door. The passenger-side door was suddenly jerked open and the guard spun round, a black blur slamming into his head. The punch knocked him unconscious.
"Too easy" chuckled Guardian Angel, before taking the keys out of the ignition and walking around to the back of the vehicle. He slid one of the keys into the lock and unlocked the door. But as he slid it open a few inches, a large fist smashed through catching him square in the chest. The impact launched him into the air, his body flying across the street before slamming down on top of a parked car. The windows exploded outwards and the frame buckled. He could taste his own blood, as his head pulsed with pain. Nausea washed over him and he desperately fought to stay conscious. He felt like he'd been hit with the actual armoured van.
"Knock, knock," chuckled a deep voice. Ayaan’s vison cleared and he saw a menacing figure jump out of the van, a behemoth of a man with pale white skin, black eyes and a sleazy suit.
“Who are you?”
“Hhmmm there’s really no point in telling my name,” sneered the behemoth “especially to someone I’m about to kill”. The huge man looked around to see what had happened to the guards before turning back to Ayaan.
Ayaan returned his stare and said, “I guess they don’t teach you guys manners, as a final courtesy we tell our opponents the name of the warrior who vanquished him. So when we send you back to hell, you can tell your boss who defeated you.” This time it was Ayaan's turn to smile “I don’t need to know your name, demon, just remember mine.” Ayaan launched himself at the man throwing a furious punch which was barely blocked “Guardian Angel is the one about to send you back to HELL!” Taking up a stance he began to throw high speed punches and kicks, striking ruthlessly from every direction! His opponent was surprisingly fast though and each and every blow was effortlessly blocked until finally, he broke through with a straight left to the demon’s face. The demon staggered back, before regaining his balance. He smiled coldly at Ayaan, then pulled off his blazer and ripped his shirt open to reveal his naked chest. Ayaan could make out a sort of swirling tattoo across the muscles. “This rune is my name. In this language it is pronounced ‘Slade’, the demon of the shadows.” The moment ended and Slade threw a punch of his own knocking Ayaan back several paces. They both threw themselves at each other with all their strength. Guardian Angel's face knotted, as he hurled lightening fast strikes at his opponent, tearing through his defences and breaking him down. For every blow Slade blocked, two more hit their mark until a final strike threw him into a car, crushing it like a bean bad. He lay there in the wreckage gasping for breath, then grinned and slowly got to his feet.
“Seems like I’ve misjudged you. You’re not as pathetic as you look, I won’t be holding back anymore. It’s time to end this.”
Slade rolled his shoulders and then came at him with renewed vigour. The onslaught was furious and Guardian Angel found himself being pushed back by the speed and power of the demon. A body blow knocked him off balance and he was kicked to the ground! Taking the punishment, he fought his way up from the floor and hammered his fists into Slade, but the demon managed to grab both of his arms. Guardian Angel tried to twist from Slade’s iron grip but couldn’t and was head butted viciously. He snarled and head butted him back and then did it again before jumping and twisting to bury his knee into the demon’s jaw. Slade’s arms went slack and Guardian Angel landed before delivering several strikes to his back. Slade whirled around and swiped at him with full force sending him flying into a lamp post. They were both shattered, gasping in their own separate agonies. Guardian Angel rolled onto his hands and knees and coughed harshly, spattering the pavement with blood. He turned his head and noticed that the armoured van some distance away. Its two tonne bulk had been knocked over in the fight and was on its side. The rain had stopped some moments ago and inside the cargo hold, he could make out a figure, dressed in white, slumped against the metal.
He turned his head back to Slade. They were too evenly matched. Slade must have thought the same. The demon’s face spasmed with anger and something dark flew from his hand. Guardian Angel threw himself out of its path just in time and it slammed into the building behind him, destroying it like a bvomb blast. All of a sudden Guardian Angel was all too aware that the inhabitants of this street were now awake. Fear showed through him, the rule Jabber had taught him was to protect the innocent. The people of this street were innocent but if this fight continued they’d be put in grave danger.
“I see you’ve noticed the awesome power of my Shadow Ball,” Slade laughed. “You can not begin to comprehend my true power.” Again he quickly formed a dark energy ball in his hand before throwing it at the car that hid Guardian Angel. He barely had time to leap out of the way before the car exploded. Slade then threw another which Guardian Angel just dodged but not without burning half his coat. Dust from the vaporised debris was filling the air now and all the while Slade laughed sensing victory was at hand. He waited as the smoke slowly cleared.
Guardian Angel had hoped he wouldn’t have to do this so soon, but he didn’t seem to have a choice anymore. The danger to the innocent was too great for him to ignore and there was no way he could afford to loose here...not like this. Calming his beating heart, he rose and drew his sword. Focusing on its sealed power he whispered “Awaken sword of justice.” No sooner had he spoken the words than the air around him momentarily became still. Then energy from the sword erupted with such force that the road beneath his feet began to shake and crack until he was standing in a crater.
"Impressive." Sneered Slade
"You ain’t seen nothing yet!"
Growling Slade launched another Shadow Ball.
This time Guardian Angel did not move, but simply raised his sword and whispered, "Dark Lightening." The power coursing through the blade poured into the tip and a fierce bolt of black lightening surged out with a deafening boom, cutting through everything in its path. The shadow ball dissipated on contact but still the dark lightening whipped across the space, lancing into Slade and overwhelming him.
Slade fell to the ground unable to believe that he had lost. As he collapsed his body disintegrated into dust.
"Its over" whispered Guardian Angel before replacing his sword in its sheath. He carefully walked over to the armoured van and climbed over a mangled door. He found the still unconscious hijaabi and realised that she was heavily sedated. As he gazed upon her face a gasp escaped from his lips as recognition dawned on him.
“Noor?”

You are a living magnet. What you attract into your life is in harmony with your dominant thoughts. Therefore if the present world should go astray, the cause is in you, and in you the solution is to be sought. For a true believer stands out for justice as a witness for Allah (swt) against the rich, the poor, against family, friends and even against himself.

Chapter 2 - The Greater Good

2008-01-26T12:08:00.006Z

It was the night when hope was once again rekindled as the beast did stir for all his villainies a masked avenger had torn through him with bloody execution. The plan was afoot as the pieces were slowly moving into place.

The chamber was bathed in darkness as flames danced in the fireplace illuminating three figures sat at table. No one spoke as Malchior walked in and took his place at the table. The ministerial board room was a windowless chamber which gave off an ageless aura. Malchior surveyed his fellow ministers before glancing to his left where an ornate mirror hung upon the wall but bore no reflection.
Loki sat opposite him, an irritating wretch. A powerful Jinn who always kept a sly smile upon his face as he watched from behind those beady eyes. Calculating and mischief and dis-trust was his ways. To Malchiors left sat Dany, a demon general. Her beauty was beyond compare and rivalled only by her murderious intent. And finally the oldest of them all sat near the back. A large beast of a man with serpentine eyes. He was one of the old ones, he was a hell dragon. His powers exceeded beyond all the others combined, which earnt him much fear and respect.
Loki stared at Malchior and said "How are you brother? It can’t have been easy, killing the old man."
Malchior, unsure of what treachery Loki was plotting, answered cautiously: “There was no hesitation, my faith is in the cause.”
Loki nodded, feigning admiration, before shooting back: “That was not what I meant. It can’t have been easy for YOU to kill him…because it looks like HE damned near killed you!” He collapsed into a fit of high-pitched giggles.
Determined to teach Loki a lesson, Malchior hurled him up into the ceiling and held him there with crushing pressure. Not hard enough to injure him of course, but hard enough to ‘grind’ the point home. Loki yelped with surprise and then squirmed with frustration, unable to free himself from the invisible force that was mercilessly pressing him into the stone. Malchior smiled with satisfaction and then suddenly gasped as a deep and terrifying agony exploded inside of him! He flopped onto the floor writhing and grunting in pain.
A deep and booming voice was heard around the hall: “Cease your petty squabbling, immediately!” The inate mirror sprung to life with deep red flames on the other side.
Just as quickly as the pain had appeared, it disappeared. Malchior forced himself up and returned to his seat. He allowed himself to feel some level of satisfaction though, as he noticed Loki had been similarly punished and had additionally fallen from all the way from the ceiling.
All eyes were on the mirror now, from where the voice emanated. Its cold glass was alive with dancing images of fire. The deep voice, spoke again.
“What news do you bring?”
Only Drake answered from the rear of the room “Everything is going as planned. Our forces have grown strong whilst the will of men has grown weak. The corruption you have sown has fermented. Soon all will be ready.”
“Excellent. You have all done well.”
“Milk and cookies all round, then!” Loki quipped before bursting into fresh giggles.
“What news do you have of the girl? The flames in the mirror seemed to almost lick the cold mirror.
“She has been captured, my lord.” Danny had expected this.
“Alive?” the voice boomed.
“Yes, my lord. The London guard tried to bring her in, but were not able.”
“Jabber’s protégé intervened?” The voice knew, somehow he always knew.
“Yes, my lord. However I personally tracked her.” Her deep red lips twisted into a malevolent sneer, “And where the London guard failed, I succeeded.”
“suck up.” Loki muttered.
“Is she secure?” the voice continued
Dany spoke: “We’re having a security vehicle transport her to the Red Guard’s Detention Centre, my lord.” The last few words caught Malchior’s attention. It had been a hard night covering up Dany’s transportation order. She may have ‘arranged it’ but it was Malchior as Lord Chancellor, who had to do most of the leg work.
“I don’t understand. Why do we need to use the London Guard’s Detention Centre? It’s a high security facility for a mere girl.”
The voice was harsh, “Do not question me, Malchior. There are things I’ve foreseen that you do not know.” The punishment came without warning as if a hot whip had just licked his face without leaving a mark. The burning agony grated through his soul as he tried to keep his composure. The pain disappeared as quickly as it came.
“Proceed to phase two,” the voice echoed as the flames behind the glass flared momentarily and then faded before becoming ephemeral and vanishing completely. The presence was gone.
Loki, never one to be put off for long, remarked; “Looks like you got a good licking!” as he broke out into laughter “well, you can’t ever say these board meeting are dull.” As he left the room the halls echoed his chuckles.

Somewhere in the suburbs a newspaper lay on a kitchen table. The headline read:
MASKED MUSLIM ATTACKS THREE UNARMED OFFICERS
An 18 year old boy walks into the kitchen as the smell of breakfast fills the air. Yawning he sits himself down onto a stool as his grandmother drops some toast and a fried egg in front of him.
“I see last night went well” she said nodding towards the news paper.
Looking at the newspaper article, Ayaan chuckled. “funny, according to my memory they were all armed.”
“You know as well as I, that the media are all under their control. I’m sure the truth will come out in the next issue of the revival X, only Allah (swt) knows how an underground magazine can spread so quickly without being caught,” she paused “but if this is going to be the first of many late nights you might start falling behind on your college work.”
“I think my studies are the least of my worries, besides what kind of an angel attends college?” he replied while munching down his breakfast.
“The kind that knows Allah (swt) grants knowledge and wisdom to whom He pleases and trusts you will use it wisely. Now go get dressed.”
“Yeah well according to Oscar Wilde ‘nothing that is worth knowing can be taught’”. he retorted.
“I think you and I both know Allah (swt) clearly out ranks Oscar Wilde.” They both looked at each other before bursting out in laughter. He smiled as he left the table to get dressed.
He strolled into his room scratching his head, and like every other morning he bid his parents a salaam with a half hearted smile. All he had left of them was this picture which was taken just before they disappeared without a trace.
For as long as he could remember he had lived with his grandmother who had taken him in. She was the only living relative he had left and although she did her best in raising him, Ayaan often wondered what it would been like to have met his parents. But there was nothing he could do about it now, all he could do was put it aside and concentrate on the here and now. Or at least that’s what his old mentor used to say.
“Jabber, I could sure use your guidance right about now.” And just as if his prayer had been answered the door bell rang. He froze, straining his ears to hear the slightest sound of trouble. Then there was the sound of grandma opening the door.
“Ayaan! There’s a parcel here for you.” Letting out a sigh of relief he quickly got changed and went downstairs. He held onto the hope that it was something from Jabber… a message perhaps? He found the parcel on the kitchen table, seemingly ordinary with no return address. There seemed to be something bulky inside. Grandma eyed the parcel carefully.
“I didn’t know you were expecting a parcel” she interjected.
“I wasn’t.” he gently opened it and peered inside to find a mobile phone. Ayaan carefully held the mobile phone in his palm almost expecting it to ring with some mysterious caller with a message for him. But nothing. Looking over the parcel again, it was definitely addressed to him and it had the right address so there was no mistake. Turning at last to his grandma “this isn’t, by any chance an early birthday gift?”
“oh… and what makes you think you deserve an early birthday gift? No its certainly not from me.” She eyed it suspiciously.
“Well, there’s definitely been some mistake. I’m getting late, so I’ll deal with this when I get home later tonight.” Ayaan turned and placed the mobile phone down on the table as Grandma returned to the dishes.
“Maybe you should take it to college with you” said grandma.
“Why would I do that?” Ayaan replied.
“Allah (swt) has seen fit to buy you a mobile phone, an expensive one at that, the least you can do is take it with you and see who calls.” It was at times like this that Ayaan had the distinct feeling there was something she wasn’t telling him. Although he couldn’t see her face, he was sure she was smiling. Letting out a sigh he decided to humour her.
“Fine,” he grabbed the phone and placed it in his pocket, grabbing his bag and jacket he before shouting “khuda-haffiz” and leaving. Although the sun had risen it was still early with few people around. He walked slowly caught up in his thoughts; he didn’t like being kept in the dark especially since Jabber disappeared. It seemed like he was losing everyone one at a time. Ayaan froze as mystery mobile began to ring. The caller-id read ‘Number withheld’ he quickly answered it.
“Hello?” there was an eerie silence before a voice spoke.
“Asalaam-alaykum Ayaan,” it was a girls voice.
“Who is this?”
“Who I am, is not important, but what I have to say is.” Ayaan could tell it was no coincidence he received this phone.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“I want to tell you a story. Once upon a time there was a young boy, whose parents loved him dearly. But then the world went to hell, literally, and both his parents disappeared leaving our little boy all alone to be raised by his Grandmother.”
“How do you know...”
“Then many years later he meets an old friend of his dads, who tells him that evil walks among us corrupting the world into the sorry state its in now. So what does he do? He dons a mask and goes off to fight evil. He stalks the streets helping the hapless and so on.”
“Okay. You’ve told me the story of my life, but since I was there, I already know. So why aren’t I hanging up?”
“Because now I’m going to tell you what happens next. You may think that by saving random people you're making a difference. But in fact it’s just that... random. You need to be pointed in the right direction. It’s not all about fighting and vanquishing evil. It’s about showing the world there’s still hope left in the world. Fortunately you actually saved someone important without knowing it and so here we are.”
A series of faces flashed through his mind, “Can you be more specific?”
“It was a girl you saved her from the Red Guard.”
A girl? He'd only rescued one female last night. “The hijaabi?” he whispered, more to himself than the caller.
“The hijaabi.” She confirmed. “The police found out where she lives and arrested her a few hours ago, but that's not the bad news. They're transferring her to the London Guard's detention centre at midnight and I don’t suppose I have to tell you what happens to people who end up there?”
“How do you know all this?”
“There’s no time to explain. Save the hijaabi, save the world.” With that she hung up

There comes a point in our lives, where we are faced with a choice. Only through these choices can a man be made or unmade by himself. By the right choice he ascends by the wrong he lingers.
To be continued...

Chapter 1 - Whispers In the Dark

2007-12-27T14:30:00.000Z

In the not so distant future…

“As mankind becomes more dependant on the science of what they can see and understand; when the knowledge of the blessed becomes lost to the antiquities of time and the warnings of the coming age are seen as superstition, the world shall become susceptible to the lure of the false redeemer. Catastrophe shall befall as the towers of gold crumble to rubble and evil shall rise once more. When the cursed arrived, few shall see and even fewer shall believe. But even in the darkest of times there is still hope.”

London: looking at it at night it seems like there’s so much life here. It shines like a beacon for the world to see. It is no surprise that people are drawn to it... even those things that cling to the shadows. But the indulgence of sin is not without its punishments and every story has its beginning.

It was a cold August night as a bitter breeze stalked the streets of London. A crescent moon rose through the night sky as a pair of tired eyes kept watch over the deserted streets. They were the eyes of an old man who had seen one too many winters and shed one too many a tears. He sat alone in his flat staring at the street below, and there beside him he kept a miniature crossbow ready should the unexpected happen.

The clouds momentarily parted as a slither of moonlight bathed the city in a ghostly blanket. Just as sleep was beginning to take over the door was kicked in by a man in a suit. The old man instantly spun around and fired an arrow at the intruder. Who simply plucked it from the air itself. But the old man didn’t wait for it to hit, in a split second he drew a sword from beneath his coat and slashed at the intruder, who dodged it with ease. Wanting to end this quickly he turned and brought the sword down onto the intruders head. There was no way he could miss. But the blade froze two inches short from his temple and all the man in the suit had done was extend his hand as if throwing up an invisible wall. A sly grin spread across his face and with a simple gesture of his finger the old man was thrown across the room. The man in the suit spoke for the first time, “How the mighty have fallen Jabbar, I’m a little disappointed. I have to admit, every time I imagined how this would play out… I didn’t expect this. I remember chasing you like Ahabs whale. Yet somehow, despite my best attempts, you always managed to escape… but not this time. Your powers have grown weak old man.”
“I know what it is that you seek Malchior, but you are too late. I've already prepared him for you.” Jabbar held a note of pride in his voice but no fear. It was this that seemed to unsettle the man in the suit.
“Uridu ana asdaqun maa’I,” smiled the man in the suit. “You wasted your time old man. You're still going to die.”
“Death is a gift to the true believer. And he who indulges in falsehood will find the paths of Paradise shut to him.”

Malchior’s eyes flashed as he waved his left index finger and a cut appeared above Jabbar’s eye. “Do not lecture me Jabbar. I’m no longer one of your students,” and with another wave of his hand Jabbar was pressed against the wall and slowly dragged up the wall by an unseen force.
“It is not too late for you Malchior, stop this right now or many innocents will die.”
A look of almost satisfaction spread across Malchior’s face. “I wondered if at the end you would still try and save me, and for that I thank you. But my destiny is far greater than anything you could have imagined, and with your death the student shall at last become the master.”

At these words the old man closed his eyes as a single tear ran down his cheek, perhaps bidding farewell to some lost hope of redemption. Opening them again to reveal a shade of bright blue, he summoned his remaining strength, as he whispered the blessed Durood Sharif and with all his might shattered Malchior's hold on him. He thrust his arm out and this time it was Malchior who was thrown against the wall! But before he could continue the assault, a quick motion from Malchior’s left wrist and Jabbar was thrown through the window of his eight-storey flat. Malchior rose to his feet and straightened his suit before turning to leave.
Outside the door he was confronted by two members of the London Guard. “Is everything alright sir? We heard a crash.”

“Everything’s fine, the old man just stepped out,” his tone changed and when he spoke next there was an eerie force behind it. “Start the search, find anyone with a high level of taqwa and eliminate them.” The guards eyes glazed over as Malchior spoke.

“Yes, minister,” they replied.

In another part of the city, the streets were hollow and empty as curfew was in effect. Not a soul allowed outside after 10pm. An unnatural silence had fallen, like the deep breath before the plunge. The London Guard were out in force, lurking in the shadows. Nothing more than the hired thugs of a puppet regime, a sinister mockery of the constabulary. A lot had changed, but not the malice of malicious men; and tonight their prey was a young hijaabi girl unlucky enough to be stuck outside at the wrong time.
She walked briskly, praying she wasn't seen. She had heard the stories about the London Guard. Too many of them to ignore. But of course it was already too late. They were closing in around her.
A hand emerged and grabbed her hijaab and tried to pull it off. She spun round and lashed out in panic. Her hand collided sharply with a face before she turned and ran.
“After her!” he yelled. She had fallen into their trap.
The street was empty and, with her home over 3 miles away, there was nowhere to go and no one to help. As they gave chase they laughed with excitement.
“Come-on sweetheart we won’t bite... much”. They laughed... laughed at her terror. They all knew what was coming. Tears ran down her cheeks as she tried to get away. Her heart was racing as panic began to set in. Her mind raced, ‘If only I could reach my brother's place’ she thought. She ran around a corner, barely stopping herself from falling. She could hear their footsteps chasing her and closing in fast. She was breathing hard as the cold crisp night air clawed at her throat. Terror seeped into her mind as her pursuers closed in.
The guard grabbed her shoulder, pulling her down as she tried helplessly to shake him off, but he was too strong. His grip strengthened, dragging her to a sudden halt, before he shoved her face first against a brick wall.
“Oh God no! Please! No!” she pleaded, unable to stop her mind from racing to what was about to happen.
“Shut it. Assaulting a guard is a serious offence. Do you know what that means? It means I get to do whatever I want”. He laughed manically. An evil grin spread across his face as once again he grabbed her hijaab and tried to pull it off; when they noticed they were no longer alone.

The street lamp flickered off as a stranger’s voice spoke out through the darkness. “It is better for a man to have a steel nail driven through his head than for him to touch the palm of a strange woman”.
They could just make out the silhouette of a tall figure standing in the shadows of the street.
“We’re London Guards, now get lost!”

“I dare do all that may become a man; who dares do more is none”. The stranger took a step into the dim light, he was dressed completely in black, save for a blue insignia across his chest; a mask covered his face and a slim sword strapped to his back.
“What the hell?”
The stranger smiled; in a single step he was upon them and with a single blow he sent the largest of the guards flying. More than his strength was his speed, moving faster than even the eyes can see. With his second swing he knocked down the second guard, in a blur of shadow and fury. The third who had remained stunned to silence now came to his senses as he drew his gun, but before the hammer could fall the stranger had disarmed him and with a devastating kick the guard was thrown across the street before crumpling onto the floor unconscious.
She sat there against the wall quivering, in only a handful of seconds this man had laid waste to three guards who would have done what only Allah (swt) knows if he hadn’t appeared. She didn’t know whether to thank him or to be afraid.
The stranger turned towards her and with a slight nod said, “Assalaamu Alaykum Sister, do not be afraid, I will not harm you”.
A little taken back by such a formal greeting, “W... walaikumsalaam” she replied. “Are they…dead?”
“No, I suspect they will be fine. There are CCTV cameras on every street in Britain, I have no doubt that they have been watching the whole thing and I suspect more of their friends are on their way here right now. However, should we not wish to have any more entanglements with the Guard I suggest that we leave now. Are you able to walk?”
“I think I can.” She slowly rose to her feet, ignoring the pain.
“You should go home, the nights are not safe anymore.” His voice was calm and almost playful. She knew he was right so she leaned down, scrabbling in the dark, for her bag, questions forming in her mind.
“Who are you?” she asked, only he had vanished just as mysteriously as he had appeared. She stood there, looking around unsure of what to do. She glanced up and down the street but realised she was once again alone. There was no sign of anyone, other than the three guards sprawled out in the street. Taking this as a sign she turned and hurried off home.

From the shadows of the rooftops he kept watch as she disappeared further into the night. This was his city and there were a lot of people who needed his help.

Although our trials in life are different and we cannot choose what life throws at us, we can choose the paths we take and pray that we have chosen wisely.

To be continued…