A Cave in the Clouds

Badeeah Hassan Ahmed was 18 when her village was invaded, and she was abducted by ISIS. Throughout her ordeal, Badeeah managed to keep her and her nephew as well as another abducted woman’s spirits alive by telling folk stories and reminding each other of their strong Yazidi spirituality. She managed to escape, and today studies language and nursing in Germany. Her goal for the future is to share with humanity the gentle, peaceful faith of her Ezidi culture, and give back to her people.

A Cave in the Clouds | Table on Contents 
Foreword   vii
A Note from the Authors    ix
Maps   xi
Chapter One: The Purpose of Life   3
Chapter Two: Spoils of War   15
Chapter Three: The Stranger  26
Chapter Four: Invasion   41
Chapter Five: Sabaya  51
Chapter Six: Prisoner  62
Chapter Seven: Adrift   70
Chapter Eight: On the Other Side   79
Chapter Nine: In Between Heaven and Earth   87
Chapter Ten: Awakening      99
Chapter Eleven: Immortal   108
Chapter Twelve: The Dark Room  113
Chapter Thirteen: The American  119
Chapter Fourteen: A Cave in the Clouds  130
Chapter Fifteen: Jinn   136
Chapter Sixteen: Death  149
Chapter Seventeen: Houses   156
Chapter Eighteen: Reunion  164
Chapter Nineteen: Escape 170
Chapter Twenty: Return to Iraq  180
Chapter Twenty-One: We’re Not Afraid of Darkness  194
Chapter Twenty-Two: Return to Love  206
Chapter Twenty-Three: Giving  212
Chapter Twenty-Four: Freedom 216
Epilogue  229
Acknowledgments   231