RESCUED

Mina didn't know what else to say or explain for her father to stop beating him. She crouched on the floor as if protecting herself from every hit his father made while whining and whimpering now and then.

On the other hand, Sha couldn't bear to see the sight one more time. She was also in tears, scared and flinching over every hit her sister got. Sha knew she wasn't supposed to do that one thing she and her sister had been avoiding doing for long. However, at that moment, she had decided to do it.

She abruptly ran towards their room, took her phone, scrolled down on the contact list with her shivering hands, and dialed someone unnamed on her contact list.

It didn't take long that a relieving sound of knocking on the door reached Mina and her father's ear. It finally forced her dad to stop.

He was still catching his breath and sweaty as he advanced towards the door and opened it. His eyes widened in surprise.

"Nalah?" The only words her father spoke, perplexed and surprised by the sight of his ex-wife on the door. It had been years since the last time he saw her. He even thought that he would not see her again. But she wasn't just alone. She was with the police officers standing behind her.

"Mike! I will not allow you to do to your kids what you had done to me! Where is Mina?" She pushed the door open wide, revealing Mina crying and was still crouching on the floor. Nalah abruptly ran towards her and clasped her to her arms.

"Mother?" Even Mina was surprised by her presence. There was no way for her mother to appear at her front door and rescue her. Aside, she looked over for her sister knowingly, but she wasn't around the living nor in the dining room. Mina knew she was inside their bedroom as she noticed the front door close.

The next thing she noticed was the commotion on the front door. The police officers pulled her father out of the house, and she just realized that nosy people in the neighborhood were also there. Even with their different reactions, she knew they were just there to be inquisitive and enjoyed the show without intending to help.

Because if they had, it wouldn't take for her mother to come and knock on their door. Someone from the neighborhood did that, especially her best friend Farah, who left her even knowing what her father could do after. Now, she saw her witnessing beside those nosy neighbors.

"Mother, where are they going to take father?" Mina asked worriedly, even though she had already anticipated the answer. She hoped that what happened wouldn't take that event to some serious legal matters.

She couldn't take that because of her. Mike might end up in jail.

"They will take him to the station and will take you there to give some statement," Nalah answered while brushing her hand to Mina's hair, comfortingly patting her.

"Mother, no, I don't want dad to go to jail. I won't file a complaint against him. I won't go there and give my statement. Just take my sister and me out of here, please." Mina's tears fell harder and down her cheeks.

She hated and blamed herself. She was guilty, knowing that it was because she was lying and because of her date with Royce. That's why this happened to her dad. Mina thought she deserved the beating, and it should not be the reason for her dad to be in jail.

"There's nothing we can't do about that, Mina, that police were already here, and we can't just waste their time. Besides, if we left your father here and he will know that it was Sha who called me, he might do to her what he did to you, or worse."

Mina nodded and understood, but she got help herself and worried for her dad. He loved him and for her beating her was expected and reasonable. She maybe wanted to go away from that place and away from her dad but couldn't bear to see him inside the jail.

"What if I won't complain? Will they still file a case for him?" She asked back.

Nalah understood what was on MIna's mind as well. She had been in that situation before.

"Even though I want to bring you and your sister to my place, I can't do it. My husband didn't know that I had a family that I had other kids. I was lucky enough to sneak out and get here now since he wasn't at home and had worked out of the town. The through is I had been sneaking out to meet Sha at school. My husband wasn't aware of that." She sat on the floor across from Mina and wiped her tears.

"Mom, we will head to the station, and we will be waiting for you there." One of the police officers informed them. Nalah nodded before she got her attention back to Mina.

Upon hearing the front door finally shut, Sha went out of their bedroom. She was still looking flustered and scared. She ran towards her mother, squalling like a child, and hastily grabbed her for a hug.

"Mom, I didn't intend for dad to be brought to jail. I just want you to come here and help my sister," Sha explained.

"Okay, if that's what both of you wanted, don't worry. The officers will release your father if no one files a complaint about twenty-four hours. But forgive me, my daughters, I can't bring you home. Mina already knew the reason why." Her mother sighed, for she was also upset about the situation.

"I am fine, and I can stay with father. But Mina had wanted to go with you." Sha tried to beg her mother more.

"Mother, I understand your situation. I will be fine if you pretend that I am not your child and let me work in your house as one of your house helpers. That way, I can earn and help Sha with the school. I promised to be silent, and no one would know that we were related. Just let me go with you." Mina took her mother's hands to her lips, pleading.