Title:scar that remains
The wind howled through the trees as Zahira, Sajiya, and Elyas made their way toward the abandoned town — the very place where all this darkness had first begun. It was as if fate had led them back to the roots of the curse, to confront what had long remained buried in shadows. Zahira's eyes were hollow, her pace quick and determined. She wasn't herself anymore — she was drawn to something. Or rather... someone.
Back in the city, Aryan sat helpless inside the police station, his face pale and his hands trembling. The officers were busy tracing the trio, their last known location pinged near the edge of the city. But they had already crossed beyond. Beyond where logic dared go.
Aryan's phone buzzed — miraculously, their numbers had reconnected. Without thinking, Zahira answered. A burst of static hit her ears — then Aryan's frantic voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"Zahira! Where the hell are you?! Why haven't you been answering? Tell me now—I'm coming for you!"
His voice snapped her out of the trance. Her hand trembled. "Aryan…"
Before she could say more, the phone died. The screen went black. Battery — gone.
"Not again!" Aryan cursed, slamming the phone on the desk. He immediately turned to the head officer. "We have to move. Now."
The officer nodded and quickly coordinated the team. They traced the last signal's coordinates and sped out in a convoy. Aryan's eyes burned with anxiety — his wife was walking straight into the mouth of hell.
On the road, Aryan noticed something shimmering in the grass. He ordered the car to stop, rushed out, and bent down. His heart clenched. It was Zahira's earring — the one he'd gifted her during their last anniversary.
"This was hers," Aryan whispered. "They went this way."
The officer hesitated. "But sir, that direction leads to nowhere... Just an old abandoned town. No one's lived there in decades."
Aryan turned to him with intensity in his eyes. "She's in trouble. I can feel it. That town is not empty... It's watching."
---
Meanwhile, Zahira, Sajiya, and Elyas were standing at the rusted iron gates of the town. A bone-chilling wind blew as they stepped in.
"This place…" Elyas whispered. "It's like time forgot it."
Cracked buildings stood lifeless, doors hanging off hinges. Windows shattered. Dust and silence coated everything. No birds, no insects. Just the heavy air of something... wrong.
"He's close," Zahira murmured. "I can feel him crawling under my skin."
"We have to finish the ritual fast," said Sajiya. "It's the only way."
"But… I don't even remember the words," Zahira said, panic in her eyes.
"You don't need to remember them," Sajiya placed a hand on her chest. "They'll come from your soul. Just trust it."
They moved toward the center of the town square. Everything was quiet... too quiet. Zahira knelt down, drew symbols in chalk and blood on the ground, and opened the bottle of Zamzam water to complete the sacred rite.
But before she could begin the chant— CRACK!
A stone flew from nowhere, striking Zahira's hand. The bottle fell, shattered. The blessed water spilled across the dusty ground.
"No!" she screamed.
Blood trickled from her palm, staining the ritual circle. The scent of blood... awakened something.
Suddenly, a bone-rattling laugh echoed through the town.
A voice — deep, guttural, and mocking.
"I told you," it whispered from the shadows. "We were always meant to meet again…"
The sky darkened. Black smoke rose from the earth like cursed fog, swirling into a monstrous figure. In the center of it — two glowing red eyes. Burning with hatred.
"I am coming for you, Zahira."
Elyas stepped forward. "I think we should run."
"We can't," Zahira said, fear choking her. "Not until it's done. We have to trap him. Otherwise, no one's safe."
Sajiya grabbed Zahira's hand. "Without the Zamzam… you can't perform the rite."
A wave of despair washed over them. Zahira's blood kept dripping. The spirit snarled.
"You've made this easier than I thought…" The creature stepped closer. Its shape constantly shifted — half-human, half-shadow. "I've served the jinns and ifrits for centuries. But now, with your blood… and the soul of the child growing inside you… I will become something more. Something eternal. Even Satan will kneel."
Zahira gasped. "Wh-What do you want from us?! Why are you after us?"
The spirit tilted its head and grinned. "Why? Because your blood is not ordinary. You are the reincarnation of the Noor. A power meant to end us. If I consume you… I will become unstoppable."
Sajiya stepped in front of Zahira, eyes filled with fire. "You want someone? Take me instead. This is all because of me! Please… let them go!"
The spirit looked amused.
Then— SLAP! A forceful hit sent Sajiya flying to the side, unconscious.
"Sajiya!!" Zahira cried.
The demon moved toward her slowly. Zahira backed away, her hand trembling behind her.
Then, just as he reached out to grab her — SWISH! Zahira swung a hidden blade and stabbed it straight into his eye.
A blood-curdling scream filled the town. The spirit writhed in pain, black smoke erupting from its eye.
Just then— Headlights flashed. Aryan's car screeched to a halt. Police vans followed. Officers jumped out and aimed their weapons.
"Open fire!!" the officer shouted.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullets ripped through the air — but they passed right through the creature. It only laughed.
"I don't bleed like you."
Aryan rushed to Zahira. "We have to go, now!"
He turned to Elyas. "Take Sajiya and get in the car!"
Elyas nodded, lifting her gently. As they ran, Zahira glanced back. The creature was still shrieking in pain, the blade still lodged in its eye. One eye now blinded — a permanent scar.
But it wasn't over.
Not even close.
---
They escaped. For now.
But as the spirit watched them vanish into the darkness, a sinister grin returned to its face.
"You scarred me…" it whispered. "Now I will burn the world to find you. And when I do... I will not just take your life… I will curse your bloodline forever."
To be continued…