The Streets Of Aleppo

Mahdi Al Asheer ducked his head as he felt the rumble of the explosion. Debris fell from the ceiling, and he saw the glass shake. It was 3 am and the bombings were getting closer.

So far, he was safe enough where he was. His wife and young child looked to him for salvation.

“Daddy, when will they stop?” the boy’s eyes watered, and he held onto his mother tightly.

“I don’t know son, Assad and the government forces keep dropping bombs, they are trying to get the rebels.” Mahdi reached his arms around his wife and son. The boy was only six years old but had always known life in a warzone. “I need to go to the butcher shop and see if it’s ok.”

The wall shook again as another blast rocked the neighbourhood. He grabbed his family and they went to the basement of the building in the eastern part of Aleppo, Syria.

“Stay here my loves I need to go to the shop, if we lose it, we lose everything.” Mahdi locked the basement door and said a quick prayer to Allah. He was so tired of the bombings.

He made his way through the rubble-strewn streets toward the shop his father began in the years when Aleppo was a peaceful city. Then came the government and the rebellion. His father died in a street fight in early 2011. He was left to take care of his elderly mother and his family. His mother died the next year when starvation took so many more.

He saw the flames in the distance, and he knew. The building where his butcher shop stood was burning in front of his eyes. Over his head another jet from the Syrian Armed forces flew, he shook his head, why did they bomb the city? His shop was now flaming rubble.

It was time to take his family and flee.

At that moment he saw another flash and an explosion.

No!

It was coming from his apartment building. His stomach leaped into his heart.

He turned and ran.

Bullets ricocheted around him, and he saw the rebel forces fire toward the sky. He ducked behind a smoldering car and felt the ground shake.

All he could see was the look on his child’s face when he left them in the basement. The door closed on his family, would he ever see them again?

Flames leaped into the night and more bombs exploded in the distance. It was only another block. But the feeling of dread overtook his body. Fear corrupted his soul.

The sound of screams filled the night. A cry for help, a moan of agony. Suddenly the echoes of war and death grabbed at him from all sides. He ran faster toward his home.

Gone.

It was all gone. There was a giant hole where only moments before stood the apartment building he’d left his family in.

They were all gone.

He gasped and fell to his knees, a scream of agony echoed into the buildings around him. It was answered by wails of horror. Suddenly he realized it was his screams he was listening to.

Why did he leave them? Why didn’t he bring them with him?

“My wife, my son…” Yet he knew they should be there in the building that was no more. The bomb must have been a direct hit. He had to get away.

He turned to run, “don’t move, come with us!” a strange voice commanded him to stop.

The voice came from behind him. Mahdi turned to face the voice when a dark shroud covered his head and he tried to escape. Strong arms grabbed Mahdi from both sides and he collapsed in grief and fear.

What did it matter anymore his family was gone…

A bright light erupted over Mahdi’s head. There were at least six of them. And the smell of sweat, gunpowder, and corrosion pervaded his nostrils. What did they want with him? He’d heard both the government and the rebels drafted men by force.

A voice broke the fog of his mind,” My name is Farron Bin Basheer and you are now part of the Free Syrian Army. You will have your chance at revenge on those who killed your family.” a short stocky man stood in front of him  His eyes looked right into his soul.

“How do you know? How could you? Why? They bombed my home because of you…” he felt empty inside, barren of all emotions. Why did the government bomb his home and his business? Mahdi tried to stand but two men on each side held him in his seat.

“We saw the explosions, Assad doesn’t care who he destroys, why do you think he cut off the food supplies? Why do you think they won’t let anyone help? We’re your chance at freedom and revenge. You have a choice, you can let us train you to fight or you will be taken by the government forces and they will train you to fight for them,” the man who called himself Farron took on a grim look, “we can’t allow that. You have no home, you have no choice…”

Mahdi felt tears burn his eyes as the feeling of loss threatened to overwhelm him. His shoulders sagged, he knew they were right.

What other choice did he have?

*** 

This is a scene from my upcoming novel. It is based on some stories I have read from Aleppo Syria during the civil war. Families were destroyed and men drafted into both sides of the conflict. My book is a thriller based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Mahdi ends up in Canada and the rest I will leave for you to discover.