Hello!
How are you doing?
I hope you are doing great!
-DISCLAIMER: -I don't own DC (Detective Conan) Aoyama Gosho owns it. Only the OC Characters and some of the story parts are by me.
General Note: This story is a work of fiction.
Special Note: The chapter may contain some talking sentences that have cursing words, and blood which might be disturbing for some readers, so please be careful as you read. -I will put a line (***) to notify you.
Chapter 16: -Japan- Echoes of Unknown Memories
*In Thamer's House*
Thamer stood motionless in the Hallway, the tension between him and the twins almost tangible. The silence stretched, heavy and thick, as if the air itself held a secret. Did they hear him, or was something else at play? He sighed, breaking the stillness hoping for an answer to his question,
"You two are Omar and Layan, Kareem's twins, correct?"
"Yes," Omar's response was steady, but there was an undercurrent of something Thamer couldn't quite place. "We are."
Relief mingled with unease as Thamer placed a hand on his chest, exhaling deeply. "Thank goodness. I feared your seizures had taken hold."
"Don't worry, Grandfather." Omar's reassurance came with a hint of mystery. "We've taken our medication. We'll be fine."
Thamer nodded, but there was a lingering doubt. "I'm glad to hear that. How are you, Omar?"
"I'm doing well! And you?"
Thamer chuckled softly, though it sounded hollow in the heavy atmosphere. "I'm fine." His gaze shifted to Layan, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And you, Layan?"
Layan remained silent, her eyes distant as if perceiving something Thamer could not. He bent to her level, attempting to bridge the chasm of years and secrets.
"Do you recognize me?" he asked, pointing to himself. The weight of twelve years of regret hung heavily around him. He had avoided Kareem's family for too long, but now he had to face them. The incident from the past loomed large, the victim standing before him—Layan.
Layan's stare was vacant, her silence unnerving, Confusing got the best of Thamer. Omar moved to intervene, but Thamer raised a hand, stopping him.
"Layan?" he called again, his voice tinged with desperation.
She blinked, her gaze finally locking onto his. Her voice was a fragile whisper. "W-Who are you?" She took several steps back, confusion and fear evident in her eyes.
Thamer's voice softened, almost pleading. "I am your grandfather, Thamer Kanata. I'm glad to meet you again."
Her response was chilling, a dagger to Thamer's heart, and shocking to her brother. "Alright. Good to meet you." She turned and walked to Omar, leaving Thamer standing there, haunted by memories of his wife's coldness. He clenched his hand, the weight of past mistakes pressing down on him.
Omar, attempting to soothe the situation, spoke up, "Apologies, Grandfather. Perhaps she mistook you for someone else." Thamer, on the other hand, remained silent, lost in thought. Could she have regained her memory? The possibility stirred memories of someone he missed dearly.
Omar, oblivious to Thamer's introspection, leaned closer to Layan and whispered urgently, "Why did you act like that?" His voice rose slightly, betraying his frustration. "You have to show him respect and apologize."
Layan, casting a sidelong glance, replied coldly, "Apologize to him for what?" She felt Omar's grip tightening on her wrist. "And let go of my hand."
"What do you mean 'for what'? For your attitude, of course!"
"No." her response was stern, freeing her hand from Omar's grip.
Thamer didn't interrupt, patiently observing the twins as tension crackled in the air. Omar sighed deeply and asked, "Why are you doing this, Layan?" He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Don't let things get worse when they're not worth it anyway."
Layan turned to him with a piercing glare. "Does knowing that our father would be killed and leaving him to face doom not worth it? Or do you consider not attending my father's funeral not worth it? Do you know that his arch-enemies are still looking for him and us, and we need to stop them, not worth it?" She grabbed the collar of Omar's coat and pulled him closer, her anger palpable. "Do you even understand what it means?"
Omar, realizing there had been a misunderstanding, sighed and tried to explain. "Layan, listen, I didn't mean it that way-" But Layan cut him off sharply.
"Yet everybody wondered why he didn't attend it," she hissed, her eyes flicking towards Thamer.
Thamer's heart sank as the pieces fell into place. She remembered the incident, but she didn't know the whole truth. Someone had manipulated her memories, casting him as the villain.
Thamer's eyes softened as he looked at Layan, realizing the depth of her pain and confusion. He knew now that he had to reveal the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
Thamer's eyes darkened for a moment as he saw Layan push Omar aside and step toward him with resolve.
"Hey you, old man," she began, her voice sharp and accusatory.
Thamer continued to gaze at her calmly. "What is it, young one?"
"Where were you at my father's funeral?" she demanded, crossing her arms. "Why did you lie to us all this time? You said you cared for us, yet you left us to face doom twelve years ago."
Thamer, sensing the resurgence of her memories, opened his mouth to explain, but Layan cut him off, her voice rising with each word. "And my last question: What are you hiding from us? Is it that you had a hand in all this mess, or the fact that you harbored the killer in this house for quite some time?"
Thamer's eyes narrowed in anger as he tightened his grip on his cane. A shiver ran down Omar's back, causing his injury to flare up with pain. He gritted his teeth, trying to hide his discomfort. As his gaze centered on the tense exchange, he felt the eerie aura between the 1.1-meter-tall teenager and the 2.1-meter gentleman. Remembering Hakima's warning about Thamer's temper, he moved toward Layan, hoping to prevent things from escalating further.
"For your first question," Thamer began, his voice calm despite the rage simmering beneath the surface. His hair shaded his right eye as he spoke.
"I... was at the funeral."
For a brief moment, Layan's stern expression softened, sensing the honesty in his words. Thamer rested both hands on his cane, gazing at the ground as he tried to steady his shaking hands. "But I couldn't stay longer due to security issues and my sudden deteriorating health," he continued, recalling the painful past.
He was right; most people struggle to handle the truth of losing a family member. The sadness can profoundly affect one's overall health. Layan knew this, but she still couldn't forgive him for citing security issues...
Thamer raised his cold blue eyes to meet Layan's fiery amber gaze. "And for your second question," he took a deep breath, "I didn't know that you were living in another… reality."
Layan, taken aback by his answer, raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Reality?" she echoed, her stern attitude faltering for a moment. Her mind raced, trying to reconcile the conflicting pieces of information. Thamer's words had introduced a new layer of complexity to her understanding of the past, and she struggled to process it all.
Omar paused, listening intently to his grandfather's conversation with his twin sister. He had feared that Thamer might unleash his anger on Layan, but seeing his grandfather respond calmly, Omar decided to continue observing without interference.
"Since things are going this way, it's okay not to interfere," Omar thought. However, a sudden sensation of being watched sent a chill down his spine. Ignoring his pain, he quickly turned to identify the source of the deadly gaze he felt.
Omar trusted his senses implicitly, and what he saw contradicted his instincts. The area was empty; only the air seemed present...
Despite this, the feeling of an ominous presence lingered. He took one last glance around before refocusing on the conversation between his grandfather and Layan.
Thamer, too, seemed aware of an intruder. His cold eyes scanned the surroundings, moving back and forth as if searching for the hidden threat. With a subtle motion, he signaled to Omar to come closer. Omar obeyed, sensing the urgency in his grandfather's gesture.
As Omar approached, Thamer lowered his voice. "We are not alone," he whispered, his tone grave. "Stay vigilant."
Meanwhile, Layan stood disoriented, her eyes cast downward as she grappled with the chaos of her memories. She was lost in her thoughts, trying to piece together the fragments of her past.
Layan's thoughts spiraled as she tried to make sense of Thamer's mention of 'another reality.'
"What does he mean by another reality?" she wondered. "Isn't this the real reality we live in? Or are we in an imaginary world?"
Suddenly, she felt overwhelmed, placing a hand on her head to focus on her grandfather's words rather than the chaotic thoughts racing through her mind. "Why do I have someone else's words running through my mind?" she asked herself, taking deep breaths to regain her composure.
A hand on her shoulder jolted her, causing her to almost jump out of her skin. She quickly turned to see Omar, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender.
"Your mind is confused again," Omar noted, before asking, "Are you sure you slept well?"
Layan, defiant, responded, "What's wrong with you? I'm fine anyway."
"Even at her worst, she says she's fine," Thamer thought to himself. "I see that you left a copy for your grandchildren, dear Leen."
Thamer's eyes softened momentarily as he recalled his late wife, but he quickly gathered his composure. "It seems that we shouldn't be talking in this place," he said, capturing the twins' attention. "How about we continue the conversation later, in a more secure place?"
Omar shrugged, agreeing, "I don't mind; this place is not suitable for topics like this."
A smile spread across Thamer's face as he turned to Layan. "What do you think, my spoiled granddaughter?"
In a dark tone, Layan responded, "On the condition that you promise not to evade my questions."
"I promise, young one," Thamer reassured her, placing his hand on his chest with a slight bow.
"Good," Layan said, walking away, ignoring her brother and grandfather who were waiting for her to lead the way.
And before I forget…" Layan stopped and turned to them, pointing her index finger at her grandfather. "I'm not a spoiled girl!" she said, annoyance clear in her voice. "I'm a woman who can be relied upon in many things!" She continued walking away, her cold attitude flowing in the air.
(W.N: Well, I agree with Thamer. For a 15 YO and 1.1-metered teenager, she can be seen as a hissing kitten, or spoiled teenager, but don't tell her that I said that...)
Despite the sudden change in her behavior and the unsettling truths about her past, the elderly must always be respected – a principle Omar held dear. He felt the need to explain things to Layan, so he quickly tried to stop her.
"Layan, wait—"
"It's alright," Thamer interjected as he stood up. "She is still confused. Give her some time to figure things out."
Omar hesitated but then nodded, acknowledging his grandfather's wisdom. They both watched as Layan walked away, her steps filled with determination and a hint of defiance.
Thamer placed a reassuring hand on Omar's shoulder. "We'll give her the space she needs, and when she's ready, we'll continue this conversation in a more secure place."
Omar sighed, feeling a mixture of worry and relief. "I hope she understands soon, Grandfather. There's so much at stake." As Thamer saw the hope in Omar's words he let go of him.
"Guys!" They both turned to see Katami and Hassan approaching. Katami raised his hand apologetically to Thamer while Hassan was trying to catch his breath.
"Layan… and Omar," Hassan managed to speak between breaths, "How… many times do… I need to… tell you two not to run so fast?"
"Because you are slower than us?" Omar mockingly asked, earning a glare from Hassan.
"Sorry," Omar quickly apologized, "We won't do it again."
"I hope so," Hassan replied, catching his breath. Then, raising his head, he greeted Thamer in Japanese, "Grandfather! A pleasure to see you again!"
"So am I," Thamer replied before getting straight to the point. "I've heard you are engaged, correct?" Thamer asked strictly.
Hassan ran his hand through his hair as he replied, "Well, yeah—"
"Congrats!" Thamer exclaimed, hugging him happily and almost knocking the wind out of Hassan. "You've grown up faster than I thought!" Thamer's joy was evident in his tone as he let go of Hassan.
Hassan chuckled, "Thanks." But Thamer quickly turned cold. "Unlike people I know…"
Katami, Hassan, and Omar forced a smile with a chuckle; the three knew that Thamer was talking about Ali.
Hassan looked around but didn't see Layan, noticing only Omar was with them. He asked his brother, "Where did she go?"
Omar opened his mouth, but Thamer was quicker, saying, "She asked which direction her mother went and followed her; she seems tired from running around." Omar gazed at Thamer, confusion written all over his face. Why is he covering up for Layan?
"God, please forgive me," Omar thought as he supported his grandfather's story. "Yes, as he said, she didn't wait for us to follow her."
Before anyone could add further, Thamer coughed, drawing everyone's attention. "Well then," he began, "Could you please show us the way, Katami-Kun?"
"H-Hai," Katami stammered before hurrying to the front to lead the way.
As they walked away, they didn't notice a small device hidden behind the table. It stopped beeping red dots and started beeping blue dots instead. The eerie blue glow pulsed rhythmically, casting a mysterious aura over the now-empty space.
...
As they entered the guest room, Omar and Hassan couldn't move their gaze as they scanned the place.
The guest room was a luxurious, modern living room with a Middle Eastern-inspired design. The room featured high ceilings with ornate, geometric patterns and recessed lighting. The central ceiling design included a circular motif with intricate latticework, complemented by additional patterned circular light fixtures.
The walls were adorned with tall, arched windows and decorative panels that echoed the architectural style of traditional Islamic architecture. The large windows allowed ample natural light to fill the space, highlighting the neutral color palette of the room, which consisted of shades of white, beige, and soft gold.
A large, U-shaped sectional sofa in light beige, piled high with numerous throw pillows in soft tones of blue, green, and gray, wrapped around the room's perimeter, creating a cozy and inviting seating area. In the center of the seating arrangement was a low, round coffee table with a trio of candles as its centerpiece, their flickering flames casting a soft glow.
The floor was covered with a plush, light-colored area rug that complemented the polished marble flooring. Additional elements, such as tall, cylindrical floor lamps with soft diffusers and a large, intricately patterned window panel, enhanced the room's elegant and serene ambiance.
To the left, heavy beige curtains added a touch of softness and privacy, while potted plants outside the windows brought a touch of nature into the sophisticated interior space. On the other side of the room was another U-shaped seating area, a mirror image of the main one, maintaining the room's symmetry and balance.
"Woah," Omar muttered, barely audible. "He changed the decoration."
"Omar, get inside," Hassan whispered as he gently pushed Omar into the room. Katami approached Thamer and whispered in his ear, causing Thamer to turn to him.
"For real?" Thamer tried to keep his voice low, and Katami nodded in response. Thamer coughed, drawing the attention of Kareem's family. "I apologize, my dear guests. I've got an urgent call. I'll be back in no time, so consider yourselves at home." He then followed Katami out of the room to discuss something in secret.
Omar gazed at Hassan, and both shrugged before continuing their way. They saw Ali, as usual, busy on his phone, with Hakima sitting nearby and Layan who seemed lost in thought. Omar and Hassan took their seats near Ali. Omar gave her an irritated look before he passed her and sat down.
Hakima glanced at them and said, "Ara, you two finally came."
"Mhm," Omar replied in his usual tone, while Hassan passed by his mother, raising his hand with an apologizing smile. "Apologies, Mother. We were trying to keep the twins in front of our sight."
"Were you and Layan playing around again?" Hakima asked, her tone slightly reproachful.
Omar gazed at his mother as he answered, "Yes…" He wasn't surprised by her question. Blinking twice, he questioned, "Didn't Layan tell you?"
Hakima shook her head. "No, she didn't," she replied, adding, "I'm surprised she didn't say anything. I thought you two might have had one of your usual fights."
Omar glanced at Layan, who remained silent and distant. An unsettling feeling lingered in the air, as if something unspoken hung between them. The luxurious room, with all its elegance and beauty, couldn't mask the tension that simmered just beneath the surface.
Omar sighed as he adjusted his black baseball hat and explained briefly, "No, it's about my grandfather…"
"Oh, …" Hakima was taken aback, thinking, "Now I understand her sudden quietness." She gazed at Layan, who was sitting without making a sound. Placing her hand on Layan's shoulder, Hakima asked gently, "That's not what we discussed in the hotel before we arrived, Layan." Said Hakima with her serious tune, bringing Layan's attention, she continued, "I think we need to discuss further about that when we head back to the hotel."
Layan, realizing her attitude, apologized. "I apologize, Mommy… but I was distracted… I couldn't get it out of my mind without an answer," she said, gazing at the ground.
Hakima nodded and whispered in Layan's ear, "Another bad memory on your way here?" Layan turned to her, surprised. "How did you know? I don't remember telling you about it…" she whispered, looking puzzled. "Were you reading my mind or something?"
Hakima let out a low laugh at Layan's question. "Oh, come on, you silly…" Hakima said with a whisper, amused. "You've been with me for nine months and you're still asking me that question?" Though her words were somewhat unintelligible, the mention of nine months caught Layan off guard, turning her face deep red. She shook her mother's hand, stammering, "P-p-please d-don't say s-such a thing l-l-like that."
Hakima chuckled as she delivered her final playful jab. "You asked, and I served," she said with a smile.
Omar's stifled laugh caught Layan's attention. She turned to him, asking sternly, "What's so funny?"
"She gave you K.O. service," Omar replied with a grin
"Ha ha. Very funny…" Layan's face turned red again as she covered her face with her hands, thinking, "Oh, ground, please open up and swallow me."
She remembered that Omar had a cold several days ago and asked him in a whisper, "Are you free from the cold now?"
Omar gave her a skeptical look and replied, "Now you've noticed that?"
She gave him a sheepish smile, thinking, "Don't blame me, there was a storm of echoes in my head."
She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Hakima, who said, "I understand your frustration earlier, but your attitude toward your grandfather isn't showing the level of respect due to someone older than you."
Hakima's words always had a profound effect on Layan, causing her to look down. Hakima noticed but continued, "And there are still some missing pieces you need to know, my dear."
Layan's confusion rose as she lifted her head and asked, "Which is?…"
At that moment, Thamer entered the room, approached Kareem's family, and sat in the middle of the couch, with Kareem's family to his right.
"It's been a while since we sat together," Thamer exclaimed as he settled into the comfy couch.
"Yes," Hassan replied, reminiscing about the past, "Like the old days."
"So, how are you, Ms. Hakima?" Thamer asked with his soft greeting tune.
Hakima responded without looking him in the eye," Thank God, I am doing well. What about you, uncle?"
(Note: For those who don't know, Father-in-Law is sometimes called in the Arabian Gulf 'Uncle', while Mother-in-Law is called 'Uncle's wife'.)
"Thank God, I'm doing well too," Thamer said, then turned to Ali and asked, "How is your new forearm?"
Ali grinned as he spun his arm. "Better than before! I can spin it easily!"
Omar interjected, "And that's the problem."
Everyone looked at Omar, puzzled. Thamer asked, "Why? Does it interfere with something?"
"Yes, he would slap us multiple times with his electronic spinning hand." Layan suddenly joined in.
"Good thing he didn't turn it into a helicopter," Omar joked.
"Or maybe into a flying slap aimed at you two," Ali suggested, smiling at the twins, who quickly shook their heads in alarm.
"Nah, I'm just messing with you two," Ali reassured them.
"But even if you did that or not, you might have a flying slipper aimed at your face," Omar retorted.
Caught off guard, Ali admitted, "Never expected that." They all laughed, and then Ali added to himself, "To be honest, it still needs some modifications…"
Thamer caught Ali's mumble and asked, "Why do you need to? It seems to function well to me."
"Well, I'm thinking about returning to my profession," Ali said, examining his cyber forearm. "Still can't decide yet, with this cyber forearm…"
"We can help you if you want," Omar offered, drawing attention. "After all, it's the first time we've seen such a smooth-moving forearm. We need more information about it, right Layan?"
Omar looked at Layan, who nodded and asked Ali, "Where did you get this forearm?"
Ali hesitated, knowing he couldn't reveal the true source. Thamer, Hakima, and Hassan noticed his discomfort. "Well, I… um…" Ali looked at Omar's face and remembered his father. Then, he had an idea. "I've asked a friend of mine to make it for me," he said. Seeing Layan's questioning look, he added, "I drew the details and specified the features I needed, then gave it to him as a blueprint."
"Ooh," Layan exclaimed. "That's fascinating!" Her words made Ali smile, while the others forced smiles. Omar, however, frowned.
"But…" Layan's curiosity was piqued. "Since when did you start drawing blueprints?" Her question wiped the smile off Ali's face. "As I remember, you're terrible at math, physics, and chemistry…"
Hakima whispered to her daughter discreetly, "Layan, stop it."
"I restudied them for my profession," Ali answered, raising an eyebrow. "Does that clear your confusion?"
"Yeah," Layan replied with a small smile. "Impressive."
Then she added with a sigh, "I hope I can have the same motivation as you to complete my studies…" Her amber eyes were focused on her playful, intertwining fingers.
"Sure, you will have it, young one," Thamer reassured her. She raised her head to look at him as he continued, "You are still recovering. That's why I invited you two to talk about your future professions." He raised his hand and pointed at the twins. "And also to help you regain your strength to continue your lives as they were… and even better than before."
Thamer's gaze shifted to Omar as he added, "By the way, Omar, I've heard that you were kicked out of your last lecture." This jolted Omar, and Thamer pressed on, "Could you please clarify?"
Omar placed his hand on the back of his head and began to explain, "Well, it's a long story…"
(W.N: In any university, the teacher is most of the time called 'Doctor/ Professor'depend on which university you are in, and what you read here does not represent all the universities. By the way, there might be loud talk and slight cursing ...)
*Flash Back*
"Why did I sign up for his class?" Omar thought as he waited for the lecture to begin. The professor was late again, and most of the students had already left. "They warned me about him, but because I am a smart aleck, I signed up. I hate my ego sometimes."
Tapping his foot on the ground, he sighed. "He's late again," he muttered, glancing at his watch. "And this time, it's been an hour. No notification… nothing."
After wrestling with the decision to leave or stay, he concluded, "If he's late for another five minutes, I'm out." Just as he started counting down, the professor entered the hall.
The professor, frustrated and with his usual frown, began,
"Şimdi biz… Dersimize başlayacağız…"
Tr: "Now we… will begin our lecture." He didn't greet the students, but Omar was used to that kind of behavior.
Sighing, Omar thought, "I hope Layan never has to deal with professors like this."
As the professor took out his laptop, he continued,
"Gözden geçireceğim… Size verdiğim ödev… bir süre önce devam etmeden önce. Sizin varlığınızı ve yokluğunuzu not alacaktır… Bu bilgilere dayanarak."
Tr"I'll review… the assignment I gave you… some time ago before proceeding. I will take note of your presence and absence… based on that information." Omar wasn't surprised by the professor's sudden tasks, but the odd pauses in his speech caught his attention.
As Omar noticed the strange pauses, many students stood up and left the hall. Surprisingly, the professor didn't seem to notice them leaving. He took out his book and sat down, waiting for a response from the students. The professor's lack of reaction to the mass exodus intrigued Omar. He didn't show any signs of illness or infection, yet something was off..
Omar recalled that students used to praise this professor. "What changed?" he wondered. The professor's actions confused both new students and those who continued with him.
He was brought back to reality when the professor asked again, opening and closing his eyes slowly,
"Ki…mse?"
Tr: "No...body?" Fortunately, Omar didn't react, as he hadn't brought the assignment he'd been working on for a week.
"And they are jealous of me because I'm smart at a young age…" Omar thought, planning his next move. The professor asked again,
"Ödevini ...bitiren oldu... mu? "
Tr: "Has ...anyone finished ...the assignment? "The way the professor said "mu" made Omar suppress a laugh. "Don't laugh. Don't laugh. Don't f***ing laugh!" he repeated to himself.
He didn't hear anyone stand up or respond. Instead, he heard snickers and whispers. The professor suddenly slammed his book and yelled,
"Neden kimse ...cevap vermiyor?!"
Tr:" Why is... nobody answering?!" Another group of students left, and the professor shouted after them,
"Hepiniz ...saygın ...F olacak! Beni duyuyor... musun?!"
Tr: "You all will get a... respectable F!... Did you... hear me?!" His gaze moved again at the remaining students until it centered at one of the students,
"Sen!"
Tr: "You!" He pointed at Omar, who knew his mother would be upset if he misbehaved, so he responded politely,
"Size ne konuda yardımcı olabilirim, efendim?"
Tr: "What I can help you with, sir?"
The professor asked quickly, "Sen mi yaptın... ev ödevi?"
Tr: "Did you do your... assignment?"
Omar replied calmly, "Sınamamı notlandırdın mı?"
Tr: "Did you grade my test?"
"Sınıflandırmam ...gereken başka öğrencilerin sınavları var."
Tr: "I have other ...student's tests to grade."
Omar knew the professor was lying; he only had this class to teach. He had seen the professor staggering as if drunk before. Omar suspected the professor might be indulging in illegal substances.
Omar replied,"Ve yapacak başka bir doktor ödevim var."
Tr: "And I have another doctor's assignment to do."
He smirked under his mask as students whispered behind his back."Kulağım açıkça duydu mu?"
Tr: "Did my ear hear it clearly?" One of Omar's competitors mumbled to himself.
Another student mockingly said to his friend,"Ahh! Kulağımı temizlememe yardım et ki tekrar duyabileyim!"
Tr: "Oooh! Help me Clear my ear so I can hear it again!"
His friend gave him a side-eye and replied, "İğrençsin."
Tr: "You're disgusting."
A girl placed a hand over her mouth and whispered to her friend, "En genç ama en zeki öğrenci yapmadı mı?"
Tr: "The youngest yet smartest student didn't do it?"
"Onu suçlamıyorum, ödevde hatalar vardı.."
Tr: "I don't blame him, there was something wrong in the assignment.."
The professor reached his limit, slamming his book and bursting out at Omar, "ONLARDAN... FARKLI DEĞILSIN, DEFOL... GIT... BURADAN!"
Tr: "YOU ARE NOT ...DIFFERENT FROM THEM...GET... OUT OF HERE!"
Omar was ready to leave from the beginning, so he stood up and said, "Elbette! Zaten gitmek üzereydim."
Tr: "Sure! I was about to leave anyway." And went out of the door.
He heard the professor yell, "BAŞINDAN... BERI YALANCI VE BAŞARISIZ... OLDUĞUNU BILIYORDUM!"
Tr: "I KNEW THAT YOU WERE ...LIAR AND FAILURE FROM... THE BEGINNING!" Omar didn't react as he walked away, but he heard the professor's final threat," Seni bu üniversitede son kez gördüğümden emin olacağım!"
Tr: "I'll make sure I see you for the last time in this university!" The door slammed shut, and Omar thought to himself with a smug smile while holding his phone, "And I will make sure you see the police for the first time."
*End of Flashback*
"And that's what happened," Omar concluded, spreading his hands wide as he finished recounting the story. "In the end, it turned out that he was drinking and involved in smuggling forbidden products."
"Woah," Layan's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Sounds interesting, catching smugglers."
On the other hand, Hassan looked at Layan and then at Omar, shaking his head. "Why am I not surprised by your actions, Omar?"
"Not expected that, but it deserved the try," Ali chimed in, receiving the look from everyone – except Omar-."What?"Ali said, trying to defend himself, "He can't get quiet about it."
Hakima facepalmed, sighing, "I will not comment on this one."
Thamer rubbed his forehead and asked, "When was that?" He took off his glasses and wiped them.
"Several months ago."
"Before the incident, or closer to the day of the incident?"
"One day before the incident."
Thamer mumbled, "Too close. Fine…" Placing his glasses back on, he looked at them. "Well, since it turned out like this, I will assign you two to the best universities I know so that you can finish your studies."
"Thank you, grandfather, but that is too much—"
"Dear Omar," Thamer interrupted, rubbing his eyes. "It was one of your father's wills that you and your sister complete your studies at my expense. I also covered the costs of Hassan and Ali's studies. Isn't that correct, guys?"
Both Ali and Hassan answered "Yes," though their voices were somewhat ambiguous. This made Layan feel more uncomfortable, sinking deeper into the couch. The guys were telling Omar about their studies and how easy it had become for them after their grandfather helped with the expenses, essentially convincing Omar to follow the same path.
As Layan watched her grandfather trying to convince her hesitant brother of his decisions, she felt a sudden cold sting, accompanied by a suspicious echo whispering in her ear, "Run…"
"What? "She thought to herself, "Where is this voice coming from?"
The echo whispered again, this time more insistent, "You must run, and never come back again..."
Layan's heart raced, her pulse quickening as the eerie voice continued to linger in her mind. She shook her head slightly, trying to dispel the unsettling sensation that had taken hold of her.
Meanwhile, Thamer's focus shifted to Layan and her mother. Her mother's worried eyes searched Layan's face for any signs of an impending episode. "What's wrong, my little one? Is there a seizure coming?"
Layan tried to soothe the tense air as she turned to her mother, "No, don't worry about me, Mom. I'm fine," Layan replied with a childish smile. "I just liked the puffy couch." She jumped as she was sitting in the comfy couch with a small playful laugh.
Hakima sighed and said in a stern tone, "Then sit up straight. We're not at home for you to melt like this."
Layan quickly sat up and said in a hurry, "Yes, Mom."
Thamer let his imagination run wild for a moment, recalling memories that had passed quickly until he noticed the signs of annoyance on Layan's face seconds ago. "You discovered my lie, didn't you?" Thamer thought, a hidden smile appearing on his lips that no one noticed except Omar, who returned to discussing with his brothers.
Thamer suddenly observed Layan rise from her seat and whisper something into Hakima's ear. Hakima responded quietly, "There's no need to be shy. Ask the servant."
"No, it's too embarrassing."
"Then do it yourself."
Layan's face turned a shade of pink as she whispered, "Mum." Hakima did not respond; she wanted her daughter to learn to rely on herself, to speak with her grandfather, or at the very least, apologise for her earlier behaviour towards him.
Realising her mother's intent in ignoring her, Layan masked her annoyance and approached her grandfather, asking, "Excuse me, Grandfather. I want to ask you about something, may I?"
Her grandfather's face lit up with a smile, "How can I help my spoilt granddaughter?"
The term 'spoilt' irked Layan. She knew her grandfather enjoyed teasing her with that label, especially in front of everyone. She thought to herself, "Old man, you're taking advantage of my need, and not only that, but you're doing it in front of everyone." She pushed aside her scattered thoughts and asked, "The medicine is taking effect, and I need to go to the bathroom. Can you please show me the way?"
Thamer smiled warmly, "Anything for my granddaughter." As he began to call for a servant, Layan quickly raised her hands, saying, "Thank you, Grandfather, but I don't want a servant; I want to rely on myself and occupy my mind a little."
Thamer placed his index finger crosswise on his chin and remarked, "I like seeing self-reliance in this chaotic atmosphere." No one in the audience understood the deeper meaning of his comment except the twins, especially Layan.
"You want to underestimate my memory, do you?" Layan thought to herself. "I'll show you whose daughter I am…" She smiled slightly and said, "Well, my mind loves work and is not comfortable with idleness. We naturally love exploration and self-development, and this is one of our precious genes."
Thamer laughed heartily, "That's to be expected from Kareem's children!" He motioned for her to come closer so he could guide her. She stood beside him, slightly away, focusing intently on his directions.
After guiding her, he asked, "Have you stored the directions in your 'clear' mind? Remember, the house is big for a little girl like you…"
The word 'clear' made her feel as if he was challenging her to overcome her confusion. She answered confidently, "Yes, I am gradually starting to remember the place."
"Good to hear. I hope you can remember the rest soon…" Thamer commented. Seeing Layan signaling for him to lean in, he obliged.
After whispering something in his ear, Thamer's mouth hung open for a moment. Knowing Layan's nature and style, he wondered, "What happened to her to speak in this way?"
A cold comfort settled in his chest, and a welcoming smile appeared on his face. "It's alright, I'm not upset. I was a little cold in my manner with you," he added. "But I won't forget my promise to you." Layan nodded with a slight smile and walked away.
Before leaving, Layan heard her grandfather call out, "Don't be late returning. You also need to decide about your studies and meet other visitors."
"I won't be late, but regarding my studies…" Layan opened the door, turned to her grandfather, and with a confident smile, said, "This matter depends on my brother Omar's decision; whatever he chooses for me, I will follow. I trust him implicitly." She then left the room.
Ali and Hassan exchanged puzzled looks, then glanced back at the scene. Layan had looked at her grandfather with sharp, annoyed glances moments ago. What had changed her? Only Hakima seemed to understand, her face adorned with a satisfied smile.
Thamer chuckled to himself, "Hmph… She said 'implicitly,' she said…" He then addressed Omar, "So, what do you think, my grandson?" Drawing everyone's attention, Thamer continued, "Do you want to complete your studies at my expense? Or do you want to cover them yourself? And remember, your sister's decision depends on yours."
Omar, engrossed in his phone, replied, "Give me some time to decide, please."
"As you wish," his grandfather said, returning to the family conversation.
At just fifteen, Omar faced a decision usually reserved for those much older. His grandfather's guidance was both a help and a burden. His twin sister, struggling to concentrate after an accident, trusted his decisions implicitly, adding to his worries.
His mother, seldom seen due to his university commitments, was another concern. Omar's routine involved returning home to find his younger sister studying, waiting for their mother to come home safely, preparing her food, and finally sleeping. He aimed to ease his mother's financial burden from university expenses and ensure his sister continued her education happily. His older brothers, already established in their careers, were not a concern.
Balancing these responsibilities, Omar sought to bring comfort to his mother and support his sister, even as the weight of his own future decisions loomed large. As he searched universities on his phone, one caught his eye. He bit the tip of his lip, thinking, "I need to consult someone…"
*************Careful when you read**************
After successfully navigating the maze-like corridors of the grand old house to find the bathroom, Layan reentered the hallway, her head bowed, hands clasped behind her back lost in thought. Her eyebrows knitted and relaxed intermittently as if she were grasping at an elusive thread only to let it slip through her fingers.
The intensity of her concentration brought a strange tingling sensation to her head. She quickly touched her temple and turned around, but the hallway was eerily empty. Shadows seemed to stretch and waver, and for a fleeting moment, an inexplicable presence seemed to linger just out of sight, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Maybe my imagination is playing tricks on me again, or perhaps the tingling is from thinking too much," Layan thought, trying to calm her racing heart. She turned again and continued on her way, trying not to overthink. She remembered everything but couldn't confirm if it was reality or part of her dreams. The last few weeks of recurring nightmares had deprived her of sleep. Everyone asked if she was alright, despite the obvious dark circles under her eyes. Even strangers could see them, yet she always insisted she was fine. Layan knew she was lying to herself but couldn't afford to let her guard down, remembering the words of the amethyst-eyed stranger.
As she walked down the empty hallway, she raised her head, annoyed. She felt something was following her, but the corridor seemed devoid of life. The place was empty.
Layan, however, had a different opinion. The slight airflow that brushed the back of her neck suggested otherwise. Shoving her bandaged hand into her long black coat's pocket, she took a deep breath and spoke in her native British accent,
"If you want something from me, then speak already." As she finished, she turned to face a girl who was about ten centimeters shorter than her. The girl's messy black hair obscured her face, making it difficult to recognize her. Her clothes were torn, with bloodstains marring her white t-shirt and long, ragged black pants. Her arms were covered in long and short red marks, and her right hand was dripping blood from a long horizontal wound. Her left hand was handcuffed with several chains that trailed to the ground. To Layan's bewilderment, the dripping blood didn't stain the luxurious carpet along the corridor.
Taken aback but summoning her courage, Layan collected herself and offered, "What can I help you?"
The strange girl raised her head, and as her hair parted slightly, Layan caught a glimpse of her eyes. She wanted to make a mental note of the eye color to explain to others who might help.
Unexpectedly, Layan's eyes widened in shock, her breath hitching as she took several shaky steps backward. The girl's eyes were the same amber color as Layan's. She managed to stammer, her voice trembling,
"W-What are you up to…?"
Layan knew the girl might not speak, but she tried her best to understand who this strange girl was. However, fate had other plans. With each step the girl took towards her, Layan retreated another step. The eerie echo of clinking metal chains and dripping blood filled the hallway. Desperately wanting to recheck, Layan's gaze moved to the girl's back, but she saw no trace of the handcuffs or the dripping blood.
Layan was uncertain if the strange girl was an illusion or if the place was truly haunted. As she carefully stepped back, she tripped over her clothes and fell onto her back. Her heart pounded faster, her breath came in rapid, shaky gasps, and her body was drenched in cold sweat, trembling uncontrollably. Immobilized by fear, Layan watched as the strange girl approached. Unable to move, she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the worst, fearing that the girl might possess her body like in horror movies.
But nothing happened.
The echo of the clinking chains stopped, though the sound of dripping blood persisted. Layan cautiously opened her eyes to see the strange girl standing over her, taking deep breaths, staring at Layan with a deadly intensity. In the chaos of her storming mind, Layan thought, "Why is she staring like that? I don't remember committing any crime…"
The hallway was silent except for the rhythmic drip of blood, and Layan's mind raced to make sense of the inexplicable encounter.
"Wh…" The strange girl's voice was barely audible, a mere whisper lost in the eerie silence of the corridor.
"Huh?" Layan couldn't understand, so she slowly got up and asked, "What did you say, young one?"
"Why…?" the strange girl's hoarse voice grew louder, her gaze piercing through Layan with an unsettling intensity. Layan gulped, cautiously approaching the girl, believing she might have misunderstood her intentions but still unable to let her guard down. She raised her hand to comfort the girl, asking, "What is wrong, pal?"
Layan took a step forward, but the strange girl recoiled, grabbing the long chain connected to the handcuffs. Layan noticed the action but pressed forward, determined to help and clear the misunderstanding.
"Let me help-AKK!" Suddenly, Layan found herself ensnared by the chains, which tightened around her neck with alarming speed. She clawed at the chains, struggling to free herself, but the girl's strength was overwhelming, pulling the chain tighter and causing Layan to lose her balance and collapse to her knees. Desperation clawed at her as she searched for any weakness in the chains, the girl's voice rising to a haunting pitch.
"W̷̮͑h̴̜͐ỹ̸ͅ?" The question hung in the air, laden with an unspoken burden.
Layan couldn't respond; the chains tightened further, choking her. She struggled to cough but couldn't. The strange girl, noticing Layan's struggle, loosened the chains just enough for her to catch her breath, her eyes filled with a strange mix of shock and sorrow. Layan coughed and gasped for air, trying again to remove the chain. But the girl's face, obscured by her disheveled hair, tightened the chains once more, causing Layan to let out a silent cry as she struggled.
"W̴̗͛h̴̨͈͚̓̆͠y̶̡̨͊̂?" the girl's voice grew more pitched, "W̵̲̠̺̜̹͂́͋̕h̵̩͂̓̐͊͠͠ẙ̶̧̇̊͛͛…. W̴̡̛͙̙̯͇̜̲̓̈́̀̋͜ḧ̴̛͉̝͓̫́͑y̶̨̦̺͕̼͍̙̒̃̈̐ͅ?"
"...A...I-"
Layan tried to speak, but the strange voice was now tinged with profound sadness as she leaned closer to Layan.
"W̷̖̩͍͓̱̟̻͖̹̮̠̲̒̃̈́̆̇̉̓͂̾͘h̴̭̘͇͌̋́̑͛y̷̡̻͍͉̺̮͕͎̙̻̑̋̍͐͛͐̔̀͜͝ͅ? W̵͍̅̃͋̃̑̑h̵̨̧̡̧̟̘̲̳̗̖̫͉̦̉͆̓̅̿̋̕͝͝y̵̨̙͓͎͇̮͎͊̀͠ͅ? W̶̢̬̬̹͈͎͉̗̑̀͑͋͛͘͘͜h̴̛͇̣̯̟͈͌̎̐́̉́̅̋̈́̇́͗̐̇̐͘̕͠͠͝ͅý̵̢̦̗̲̥̞̳̲̯̣͇̘͕̥̾̿̐̆̆͋͝ͅ?"
The girl's eyes brimmed with tears of blood as she slammed Layan to the floor over and over... Layan could no longer bear it. Her face turned crimson as she desperately tried to free herself. The strange girl kept asking, her voice a relentless echo in the hallway.
"W̵͍͇̖̘̝̊͆̓́͂͂ḣ̸̖͔̽y̴̡͙̱͛̔͐͗̅̂?̷̧̙̝̈̓͝.̴̛̛̲̱̞̌.̴̢͖̬̫̞͆͋.̵̨̟̩̠̬̜̪̍.̵̟̖̬̗̻̹͖͕̐̀̆́̎̊̀͠.̸̢̜͖̆̕W̸̝͍͙͐̏͛͋͊͜͝h̸̗̀̔͋̌͘ͅy̴̱̭͉̓͗̍?̷̨̜͚͔͆̅̌̓̌̎́̀.̶̤̭̻̠͚͊͂͝.̶̨̝͉͎̿̄͜.̶̢̼͈̠͉̫̮̇͠.̵̎̅̊̕̕͜͝W̶̟̄͊̍̃̐h̷̡̡̫͎̦͙̀͗̐̇y̷̧͙͉̕?̷̯̦̻̤̇͂̑̌͘͘.̴̡͓̯̜͍͈̠̈͠.̷͓͋̊̓͐̀͆̑̈W̷̪̰͖͓̬̟̳̾̅̋̀̒́͒h̷̛̟̘̤̄̃͜y̴̢̞͎̥͙̱̾̍?̶̢̟͙̮̯̤̭̑͊̾͌͗.̴̤̟̪̳̓̃͑̀͊͂̀̈́ ̷͎̪̐̾̾ͅW̸̖̤͗̽̉́̈́̐̕͜͝h̶̛̳̰̤̳̉̃̃͝y̶̢̼̠̹̩͚̩͘ͅ?̵̬̬̯͎̠͙̞̑͛̾̄͛͘͠"
Layan noticed the chain loosening slightly, giving her a chance to respond, but she could only stare at the girl, paralyzed by confusion and exhaustion. The strange girl, growing more agitated, grabbed Layan's collar with her injured arm, staining Layan's new white shirt. Layan, weakened by her illness and frail body, couldn't resist, only catching the girl's injured hand, helplessly trying to break free from her grip. The girl, not receiving a response, roared with a high-pitched cry, raising Layan and slamming her to the ground repeatedly.
The strange girl's relentless questioning echoed through the hallway, each iteration more chilling than the last.
"W̸̨̢͉͍̭͖̞̲̣̙̥̞̥̹̦͎̭̦̪͈̗͋̍̇̈́͛̿̋͑͗̓̈́̌̐̉̓̒̂͘͜ḧ̵̢̧̡͎̟͈̳̰̱́̋͊̂̔y̵̢̱̤̘͊́̃̾͒̉̽W̴̡̨̞̪̰͉̱͈͇̩̞̩̗͚͚̻͉̱̝͑̔͒̿̀̅̍̀̓̀͛̒̂̐̚̚͜͝͝ͅH̴̯̖͇͇̖̞͍̟͔͇̃̔͌Ÿ̴͉̜̻͚̖͚͕̫͔͓̥̹͎́͊̅̆͑͗͋̎͋́̇̒̎̇̍͋̀̋͗͑͠?̸̧̱̜͎͚̬̣͙̟̻̪͕̞͗͗̐̒!̷̧̟͕̜̗̥̮̯̫̳̥̫̬̤͔̳̗̓̃͆̑̔̒̂̓̓̍̑̔̒͂̒̕͘̚̚͘ ̶̢̢̨̡̢̣̠̱͇̞̹̬͍̩̹̦̆́͆̏͆͋̀̏͑̋̃̉̊͘̚͝W̸̨̱̫̰͕̳̝͓̠̘̫̩̝͎̻̠̥͈͍̥͐̈́̒̄́͐̉̇͘͜͠Ḥ̸̢̨͙͙͙͔͍̠̲̝̅͋̃̔̎͒̀͆͛̂̅͘͝Y̷̪̻͍̼͕̲̳͚͕̰̣̖̮̩̩̅̔̄̏́̓́̉̀̐͑̄͂̕͝͝ͅ?̶̛͛̒̑̉͒͐͐̃̎̄͒̎̂͊̋̕͘ͅ!̶͖̹̠̺̩̙͔̃̂̍͂̆̌͆̉̍̔͑̕̚ ̴̢̛͙̠͉͚̻̣̱̠̳̼͍͕̯̩̳̟͍͔̻̗̩̓̀̀͛̇̾̑̄̿́̊͊̓̈͒̓̕ͅW̴̡̧̯̟̩̰̗̜̮̝̗̮̋̂̎̔̋̀͐̓̉̈̓͂H̸̱̗̣̝͚̻̣͉̼̯̼̊̎̋͗̚Ÿ̸̛͚̤͓͍̙͎̖̜̥̜͓͎̳̯̩̯̼͇̘̗͈͍́̿̓̋͋͋̀̔̄̀̆̎̄̎͋̿͆̀̚͠͝?̴͎̟̗͕̙̼̞̝̟͍̋́͒!̴̡̨̟̜̫͙͍͍̞̪̖̬̬̮̈́̄͝ ̵̨̙̼̦͇̥̹͈͙̺̘̭̮̆̇̇̉̿̆W̷̛̛̯̼̙̫͎͙͇̼͍͂̂͊̒͆̒́̾̐̃̊͋̎̓̒̓͗̾̌̎Ḥ̸̼͈͓̋͌̓̃͐͛̌̈̃͂̈́̓̿̕̚Y̶͇̗̭͎͎͖͎̖̩͕̌͂̔̅̀̔͆͑̕͝ͅ?̴̢̡̨̼̻͉̙͍̗̦̰̗͉̰̤̯͍̼̜͕͙͎̓̎͘̚͘͠!̷̛̛͓͉̮͎̠͑̈́̍́͒̂̊̓͐͊͒̽̚͜͠ ̴̡̧̧͕̻̖͚̮̙̮̠͈͈͙̘͙̬̎̈́̃̌́͑̌̽͛̓̍̏͑̂̏̽͘̚͘̕͝W̶̧̮̗̪̖̼̠͙͕͖̤̼͕̣̪͚̬͚̓̀̑̆̀̌͐̐̀̚̚̕̕͜͝͝͠͝ͅḨ̸̱͖̝̘̥͓̳͖̠̞̯͉͉̲̙̥͎͓̪̿̾̀̎̑̓̈́̑͐̕Ỹ̸̲͖̻͈̖̳͙̦̋́͐͑͑͂̄̀̆̎͒͑̓͌͝?̸̻̹̙͓͔̈̈̈́!̶̧̝̏"
As Layan lay there, desperately trying to piece together the puzzle, she felt a sudden flash of memory strike her—a haunting recollection that made her realize the reason behind this horrifying encounter. The memory was dark and fragmented, but it carried a sense of deep, unsettling dread.
Layan's vision blurred as she struggled to comprehend the situation, her mind racing for a solution. The strange girl, not getting any response, seemed to reach a breaking point. With a fierce, guttural growl, she tightened the chain around Layan's neck, her eyes wild with a twisted determination to finish it. Layan's breaths came in ragged gasps, the world around her fading into a choked blur of shadows and fear...
As they both struggled, neither noticed that Layan's long coat pocket had begun to wriggle. The fabric seemed to come alive, bulging and shifting as if something inside was awakening. A faint, eerie pink glow began to seep through the pocket opening. Several small, soft-looking tails slipped from the pocket, twitching with a life of their own...
To Be Continued...
~Ze.21020