I lifted my head slowly, my mouth still hanging open from the shock.
On the ceiling of the cell, I saw a woman who looked exactly like my mother… no, not just similar—an identical copy of her. But her eyes glowed with a sickly yellow hue, and her hair was a mass of black serpents writhing over her head.
Beside her stood a faceless man, dressed in red, while the ground beneath them was soaked in blood. Then men appeared, carrying the severed head of a girl…
Before I could fully comprehend the horror, Malik covered my eyes and said,
"Enough. You won't be able to bear it."
I screamed at him,
"Why does my mother look like that?!"
Suddenly, I woke up to the guard's voice.
"Rana, the investigator wants to question you again."
I followed him, my mind racing with endless questions.
Is my mother okay?… Is she one of them?
When I entered the office, the investigator stared at me as if I were a puzzle he couldn't solve. He stepped closer and said,
"You're very good at hiding things. Even when you confessed, I was certain you were innocent. I've studied body language and physiognomy for four years—my judgments are rarely wrong… yet you've managed to shake all my conclusions."
I looked at him coldly. Nothing mattered anymore.
"I want to see my mother," I said.
"Visits are not allowed in your case," he replied. "But if you cooperate and tell me how you killed Sara, I'll arrange for you to see her."
He pulled out a red file and opened it.
"This is the preliminary forensic report. It shows traces of your skin under the victim's fingernails."
"How?" I whispered.
"I'm the one asking questions here," he snapped. "How did you kill your friend and carve those symbols into her body? Was it some kind of online challenge? Or are you posting videos on the dark web? Answer me!"
Before I could respond, the guard burst in.
"Sorry to interrupt, sir. It's urgent."
"What is it?"
"The victim's head… it's been cut off and stolen from the morgue."
The investigator turned cold.
"Take her back to the cell. Increase security."
Back in the cell, I felt numb. I couldn't understand anything anymore.
Doubt crept into my mind.
Did I kill Sara?…
Am I a murderer?
But I was with Ziad…
What if I killed her… and then called him to create an alibi?
Then I deserve to die…
No. No, Rana. You could never kill your best friend.
It's Malik… he's the one who ruined your life. He watches you… flows through your veins like blood. Yes, it's him.
But… why did my mother look like that?
Why hasn't she come to see me?
A hundred questions… and no answers.
In the middle of my thoughts, the investigator returned.
"Listen carefully, Rana. Either you cooperate and tell me who helped you commit the murder and steal Sara's head… or you take the full blame alone."
His words meant nothing to me.
What haunted me was the image of Sara's head… the one I had seen in my vision with Malik.
"This silence won't help you," he said. "I'll be back tomorrow."
My God… what is happening to me?
I think I've become a criminal.
Suddenly, the cell filled with red smoke. Laughter echoed—mocking, cruel.
"Well… are you enjoying the game, Rana?"
"Maliaka… you killed Sara?" I asked.
"I cannot kill humans," she replied calmly. "But the one who did… is someone close to you, my dear."
"Who?"
"Do you know that with a single gesture, I could free you from here… and return you to your happy little family?"
She smirked.
"Oh, I forgot… you broke the oath. So I'll let you rot here instead. Goodbye."
"I'll do anything you ask," I said desperately. "Just get me out of here."
She stepped closer, her long tongue sliding out as she licked my forehead.
"You're still as delicious as you used to be…"
Then she whispered:
"So… are you ready to make a sacrifice…?"