"I will kill you if you don't stop your antics," I glare at Zayan who's giving me a mischievous smile.
"Relax, Insha, we have like four weeks until our deadline. I don't understand why we need to get on with it already." He sits back in his seat and I watch him as he raises his arms and puts both of his palms behind his lower head. My eyes rake over his muscular biceps and oh man, the veins.
Why is this guy so good looking? My words die on my tongue as I continue admiring him and I don't even realize he's suddenly right in front of my face.
I look in his eyes, with my own surprised ones and I feel something funny in my stomach as he watches me with darkening eyes. His expressions and the look in his eyes does something to me but I don't know what.
My heart is beating insanely fast and I part my lips, not being able to breath properly.
He inches his face closer and I feel like I can faint any moment. "If you look at me like that, darling, you need to prepare to be responsible for many things." He says in a thick voice.
I abruptly move away from him, trying my best not to show him how fast my heart is racing.
Ya Allah, what is happening to me?
I clear my throat and look anywhere but him, "W-what do you mean? I wasn't looking at you."
"Really?" His voice, thankfully, goes back to the normal teasing-friendly tone and he laughs, "It seemed to me that you were checking me out."
I cough. Shit.
I look at him, pretending to be indifferent. "Ha! Very funny. Why would I check you out? I mean, have you seen yourself?" I roll my eyes, waving him off.
He raises his eyebrows. "Well, of course I have. That's how I know why the ladies love me." He smirks. "And so do you."
I snort. "I would rather drink bleach, dude."
He scowls and I let out a laugh.
"You wound me, darling." He puts a hand on his chest.
I roll my eyes, yet again, and playfully slap him on his shoulders. "Enough with the dramatics. Let's get to work." I hear him groan as I open the document on my laptop. "We need to choose one topic today and then we'll divide the work in half."
Zayan lazily leans forward and roams his eyes on the topics given. A second later, he nudges his chin to the screen. "How about the government policies?"
I hum, deciding to agree. After a second, I say, "Alright, this looks okay. We'll go with this one."
"Cool, now shall we go? This library is giving me a headache." He complains and I give him an incredulous look.
"No way you just said that!" I whisper yell at him. "We can't be friends now." I shake my head in sorrow.
He slings his arms around my shoulder and pulls me a little closer to him. "Is this an insinuation to be... something more?" He grins with a glint in his eyes.
I punch him in the ribs and he lets out an 'ow' before fake glaring at me.
"Never in a million years. I can't believe a person can get a headache because of library. A library." I narrow my eyes at him, skeptical. "Are you a psychopath or something?"
He lets out a dry laugh and then suddenly gives me a very malicious, evil and unsettling smile. "Do you think I am?"
Weirdly, the hairs on my back stand up. i shake my head mentally and start chuckling nervously, hitting his arm lightly.
"Stop joking around, you idiot."
I don't like that smile. Although I know he's joking (he is joking, right), I just don't like how his expressions and his eyes and his aura look with that smile. That smile looks like a smile which promises pain, hurt, evil and everything bad.
He laughs again this time, mockingly. "You got scared, didn't you?" He shakes his head. "If this was enough to scare you, how are you going to survive later on?" He expresses and I can't help but think there is an underlying double meaning in the sentence.
My mind immediately goes back to that night. The gun, the blood, the torture, the flesh, the murders, and then how I barely got away in time.
I don't even want to imagine what would've happened if they had caught me. I would have suffered from the same torture as those poor victims, if not worse.
The thought itself is enough to scare the ever living daylights out of me.
That was the time when I was truly scared. The extreme fear I had felt that day, it was like I was going to die.
Fingers click in front of my eyes and I snap back, away from those haunting memories that just won't leave me alone.
"Hey, you okay? I was just kidding," Zayan says apologetically, concern etched over his features.
I collect myself together. "Oh yeah. I'm fine. Nothing's wrong. I was just... out of it for a moment, haha," I try to force a smile. He opens his mouth to question me again but I shake my head. "I'm fine, chill. Anyways, you're right. We're done for today." I gesture towards my laptop. "From tomorrow onwards, we'll each take subtopics of the main topic and research about things like definitions, characteristics, effects, advantages and disadvantages, examples and so on." I look at him for approval.
He sighs, but still, nods. "Sure. We can also meet up somewhere outside for this."
I shrug. "Sounds good to me." I play with my fingers and finally get up. "So, I'll get going then. I have to meet up with the girls and then leave for home."
He stands up too, packing his stuff. "Yeah, okay. Catch you tomorrow."
I smile and turn to leave but his fingers wrap around my wrist. This time, his hold is gentle and soft.
I turn around and he stares at me for a while before letting out a small smile. "You know, if you want to talk about something or anything at all, you have me."
I stare at him as he looks at me with soft eyes and an even more soft smile and that face, that look and everything about him in this moment, tugs at my heartstrings.
My heart tells me that I trust him. We just met a few days ago but somehow, I feel like I can trust him. It's like he's someone who cares for me, looks at me and wants to be there for me.
I smile brightly at him and it warms my heart as his eyes lit up. "Thank you, Zayan. I appreciate that." I tilt my head to the side, with the smile still playing on my lips. "I'll take you up on that offer, soon."
I take my wrist out of his grasp and leave.
My brain plays his words and then that night. I want to tell him. I want to tell him how frightened I was. I want to tell him how, sometimes, I have nightmares because of that night. I want to tell him everything. I want to show him the video.
"Yo, Insha, here." I stop once I see Noora and Layla.
"Where's Manal?" I ask, looking around.
"Oh, she left as soon as we got out of class. Her mother came to pick her up. Probably had to do something."
I nod, "okay then, I guess we should leave too."
"Ugh, my brain exploded studying physics!" Layla whines as we start walking towards the gate leading us outside to the parking lot. "Lucky you Insha, you had a free class. I'm so jealous."
I chuckle. "You were the one who chose physics."
Noora slaps the back of Layla's head. "Stop complaining, Laylie. I completed all the work for you, you lazy ass." She rolls her eyes in annoyance.
Layla pouts at us and I nudge her shoulder. "Such a drama queen."
Coming out to the parking lot, we bid each other goodbyes, as Noora went to her car, Layla to hers with her driver waiting for her and me to my fathe9car parked in front of me.
"Assalamualaikum Papa," I greet my father as I settle down in the car.
" Walaikum assalam. How was your day, today?"
I shrug, smiling at him. "It was good. Alhamdulillah."
"What do you wanna eat? Noor is still at school as the teachers have an event today and Safiya took a day off. So, there won't be any food for you to eat." He informs me, checking the time on his phone.
I have yet to learn how to drive and because of this, my father has to drop me and pick me up during his work hours. It's kind of an hassle, but I'll soon register for my driver's license to make it easier for him as well as for myself.
Safiya is our home chef who mostly prepares lunch and dinner and I absolutely love her cooking. I sigh, dejectedly.
"Oh okay. Um, what about McDonald's?" Papa raises an eyebrow at me.
"Safeer prefers pizza, you know."
I huff, "we got pizza last week! Now it's my turn to decide."
He shakes his head with a smile. "Okay, let's pick up Safeer first from school, and we'll discuss then."
°•°•°•°•°•°
Days pass and finally it's the weekend. I stand in front of the mirror, combing my hair, getting reading to go to the mall with my friends.
I am wearing a dark green dress which reached until my knees and black leggings. I paired this up with a black scarf hung loosely around my neck.
I tie my hair in a half up half down hairstyle, letting the waves fall behind my back.
Giving my makeup a last touch, I trab my purse and slip on my small heels and wait for Noora to come pick me up.
My mind wanders back to the night, once again. That night too, I was getting ready, unaware of what was going to come.
My phone pings and I look at the message.
Noorie:
I'm here, come out
I get up and leave, saying goodbyes to my parents and Safeer.
"Inuu, bring me chocolates!" Safeer calls out from behind me.
I shake my head. "Okay!"
"Looking like a princess, babes." Noora winks as soon as I sit in the passenger seat.
I laugh, looking at her. She wore a light blue shirt, the front tucked into her jeans and a white scarf draped over her shoulders.
"Thanks, Noorie. You look beautiful as usual." I give the compliment back.
She flips her brown wavy hair in style and smirks, "I know, thanks."
I smile, shaking my head. Soon we stop at Layla's house to pick up Manal and her.
"Who are these hotties?" Manal lowly whistles once they both enter the car.
Manal is wearing a black shirt with a black leather jacket on top, paired with black jeans and black boots. Her small black scarf was hanging loosely around her head, her auburn hair strands out, framing her face.
Layla, on the other hand, had worn a pink long loose t-shirt with light blue jeans and a pink scarf around her neck, the same as me.
Noorie grimaces, "Eww, why do you sound like those spoiled stupid guys who catcall and whistle at girls?"
Manal gives her a death glare while me and Layla laugh. "Come on, Noorie, the girl just complimented us." I give her a scolding look.
"Everyone except Noora over here, looks amazing." Manal sticks her tongue out.
Noora raises her eyebrows in the rear mirror. "Couldn't care less about your words, dear Manny. I don't need validations from others to know I'm hot." She half smiles.
Layla sighes dreamily. "I aspire to have even 10% of your confidence, Noorie."
Soon enough, we arrive at the mall. The four of us enter the mall and start visiting different shops, skimming through dresses, shirts, jeans and what not.
I was looking at one dress when I felt it. I felt like someone was watching me. A cold shiver runs down spine.
I immediately look back and around the whole store. I even stepped out and looked around the nearby stores.
But there was no one. When I turn back to get inside, I feel it again. I feel a stare on my back. I immediately turn around again to find no one there.
What the hell?
"Hey, Insha, what are you doing outside?" Layla calls out to me with a confused look.
I shake my head to clear the thoughts. "Uh.. nothing, I am coming."
My hands tremble slightly as terrible ideas pop up in my mind. What is wrong with me?
There was no one there. I'm just being really paranoid. No way it is what I'm thinking. If the criminals did find out it was me, I would've been killed without a second thought.
No, no. It's just in my head.
After a few stops, we all decide to go to the end side of the outer mall where there was a function going on. There were so many rides and a haunted house, house of mirrors and so much more.
Manal smiles excitedly as she points to the rollercoaster.
"Nope, not happening." Layla steps back with wide eyes. "I refuse to invite death."
Manal rolls her eyes. "Come on, Laylie, it's gonna be so much fun!"
Layla shakes her head with her arms crossed. "Wait, how about, you and Noora go ride that, and Insha and I will go to the house of mirrors! I really wanna go there."
Noora and Manal agree but I speak up. "Wait, no. I don't want to go in the house of mirrors. I've seen videos and that looks frightening! What if we can't find the door out? I'm gonna die of anxiety."
I give them all a blank look as they roll their eyes.
Manal and Noora leave just like that to the rollercoaster ride and Layla grabs my arm. "Relax, Insha. It's gonna be fun. You'll see."
I sigh and let her drag me there. My mind is still going back to what happened back in the store but every time, I try to get rid of those thoughts, deeming them as baseless and ridiculous.
Our turn comes and me and Layla is about to enter the door leading to the mirror maze when her phone rings. She looks at the caller Id and tells me to wait for a minute as she goes to the side to attend the call.
There are hardly any people here and I feel a little off waiting here. Nevertheless, I stand near the door and wait for her to end the call.
Suddenly, a hand grabs my elbow and pushes me in the mirror maze, the door closing behind. I don't even have time to scream and the next second, I find myself alone in the maze.
I look around abruptly, trying to understand what's happening. I try to for the entrance door but when I try to push it, it doesn't budge.
Shit, shit, shit. Was it this door, or was this a mirror?
My heart falls when I feel there is someone with me. Someone who pulled me in this.
I start shaking and trembling and running and panting. I end up colliding with mirrors in every corner but I fail to find the exit door.
My breathing starts going haywire.
Oh no, I'm gonna die. It's the killer. Killers. They found me. I'm going to die.
A whistle echoes through the mirrors.
I scream.
"Who's there?!" I shout looking around. "Let me out!"
My mind imagines those culprits coming out and stabbing me. I imagine them slicing my flesh, pointing guns at me. I imagine the pain the pain I'll feel, my voice begging them to stop.
Tears spurt out of my eyes and my heart falls to the floor when I see a man's reflection in one of the mirrors. He's wearing all black with a hood on his head and a black mask covering half of his face.
I take steps backwards, my mouth opening to let out a scream but no voice coming out. I'm shaking like a leaf. My mind is blank. Fear takes hold of my wole existence.
My back hits the mirror behind me.
I am full on sobbing now. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. Allah please help me. Please save me from this person, Ya Allah.
The man's reflection starts getting closer and I lose it. I am screaming an running, trying to get out of here. My hands are in pain from banging all the mirrors, hoping for one them to be the exit door.
I turn around and see his reflection again. Everywhere I turn around, all I see is him.
"No, please no. Please let me go! I'm sorry! Please!" I plead with my face covered in tears.
Wait! My phone!
I quickly take out my phone from my back and just as I'm about to call someone, my phone gets yanked out from my hands and I hear a loud smack.
Without looking at the person, I start running again. No, no, no.
This time I hear footsteps behind me. I hear a low chuckle.
That's it. I'm going to finally die.
I still run, I run like never before. My body is aching from colliding into mirrors left and right but. don't care. I have to run. i need to run.
Just as my forehead was about to smash into a mirror, a hand is placed on it to save it. My eyes widen in extreme fear and I try to run away but those hands yank me back and trap me in between the walls and his body.
I feel like I can literally die out of fear rather then the torture he's about ro inflict on me.
I am crying, begging for my life, pleading for him to let me go.
I can't see his eyes as they are mostly covered due to the hood. One of his palm moves from beside my head, and rests on my cheek.
My body is paralyzed in fear. My mind has shut down.
He's going to strangle me.
I gulp as his fingers move to wipe my tears. What?
"Please don't kill me," I whisper.
His face moves closer to my ears, "Don't worry, darling. I would never do that."
My heart stops. Wait a minute.
His hand moves to removes his hood from his head and I stare at him with wide, shocked eyes as he takes off his mask.
No. This can't be happening. No. No.
"Zayan?" I say, my voice barely audible.
He grins, "The one and only."
A million emotions go through my heart and I push him off of me harshly. My hand goes up and, in a second, connects with his cheek.
"What the hell was that?!" I yell at him, unable to breathe. "Do you know ho scared I was? I thought I was gonna die, Zayan! I thought you were my friend! How could you scare me like that? You saw how absolutely horrified I was trying to get out! You saw that I was crying! Still! How could you? How could you play with my feelings like that?!" I say in anger, my tears falling out because of both rage and helplessness.
How could he do something like that? Doesn't he care about me? I was gonna collapse from fear the whole time and he didn't even care. He was enjoying the pain his prank was giving me.
His face slowly turns to me, his eyes swirling with dark rage and fury. He smirks but it's not playful, it's feral, wicked, devilish. He might as well glare or scowl then this.
He looks like a completely different guy right now. I don't even recognize him.
I try to walk past his but he grabs my shoulders and pushes me back. I wince in pain when my back hits the mirror a little too hard.
He grabs both of my upper arms in a death like grip. No. The grip he had that in class, he holds the exact same area.
His face is right in front of me. "You slapped me." He states in an emotionless tone. As he said that, his grip tightens even more and more tears come out. Both from the pain and fear. "No one, no one has ever raised a hand on me. And you, you slapped me."
My heart is beating fast and I find it difficult to breath. "You crossed the lines this time. What the hell was this prank?"
His grip tightens again and I cry out in pain. "That was a harmless prank, darling." This time when he calls me darling, there's nothing fun in it. His voice sounds so scary, I want to run away. "But you slapped me."
I bite my lip, to stop myself from screaming in pain as his fingers dig in my arms. "That was not a harmless prank! How could you even say that after you saw my condition?"
His eyes darken in more anger. One hand leaves my arm and I sigh in relief but he grips my jaw from that hand. "Don't tempt me to do something you will regret, Insha." He pulls my face closer harshly, with my jaw. His fingers press and I start to feel the pain in my jaw. "You should be grateful it's you. If someone else had made the mistake of slapping me, I would've destroyed their whole life." He mutters something else which I couldn't catch.
All I could do is look at him with fearful eyes. Who is this person?
The pain is getting unbearable in both my jaw and arm. His eyes soften a little seeing more tears come out of my eyes. "Let go, you're hurting me." I say, painfully. "Please."
His eyes bore into mine, raising my heartbeat from fear and for a second I feel his fingers dig more and I yelp out in pain. I try to wiggle out of his hold with all my strength, but let's be real. He's way more muscular than me and I'm only hurting myself more in the process. I choke back a sob. "It really hurts, Zayan. You're going to leave a mark. Please, it hurts."
He looks at me for a minute, an unknown emotion in his eyes. Finally, he lets go and steps a little backwards.
I look around and feel a very painful headache incoming. I want to get out of here. I can't breathe properly. I rush to the mirrors again, trying to find the door.
"Where is the door?" I ask him impatiently.
An evil look enters his eyes and he crosses his arms over his chest, leaning back on one of the mirrors.
"I will take you out of here, only if you apologize to me." He gives me a smile that is anything but sweet.
I stare at him in anger. "You broke my damn phone, Zayan! What the actual hell is wrong with you?! You're asking me to apologize when you started all this shit?!"
He laughs humorlessly. "I really want to do some not-so-good things to you when you talk to me in that tone." What the hell? " If I want to, you won't be able to leave this place ever." He smiles. "so if you want out, better do what I say. It's not even something difficult. Again, you should be grateful for that."
I hold my head. "I can't believe I thought of you as a friend. You're not a friend, you're an asshole." I spit. "I'll find my own way."
I start my quest to get out of this hellhole once again. I keep bumping and hitting the mirrors all the while feeling Zayan's burning gaze on me.
I run my hands through my hair. I need to get out before I get a panic attack. All around me, I see myself staring right back at me. I'm stuck. I'm stuck.
How do I get out? What do I do? I can't think straight. My mind is all over the place. My breathing isn't normal. I have to get out.
"Do you want me to lock you in this maze and leave?" A voice says from behind and I jump. "You just have to apologize, come on."
Angry tears blind my vision. "You psycho! I hate you, Zayan!"
He clenches his jaw and glares at me.
My eyes stop at the hem of his shirt and then his knuckles. Blood. There was blood.
I almost kill myself when I find myself being worried and concerned for him. Seriously Insha? After all that he has done today?
I just want to get out of here. "Please Zayan, show me the door."
"Just say I'm sorry then."
"You should be the one apologizing. How can you be so heartless?"
"Say sorry, Insha."
"Let me go!" I shout.
"Say. I'm. Sorry." He hisses.
I crouch down, trying to collect my thoughts. With a sigh, i stand up again and look at him with teary eyes. "You're evil, Zayan." I take a deep breath. "I'm sorry."
I can't believe I'm apologizing when he was the one who scared me shitless, bruised my arm again, held my jaw so tightly that it hurt and broke my bloody phone for his stupid prank. I mean, just what?
I knew befriending him wasn't a good idea. That's why I wanted to stay away. But my heart. Why does it still want to be near him, with him?
He's making me crazy. I really should stay the hell away from this psychopath.
He comes forward. "Now, wasn't that easy?"
"Go to hell," I spit in venom.
"I'll take you with me, love. I won't go alone." He winks. "You're stuck with me forever."
My heart falls upon hearing his words and the disturbing tone he used to say those words. I immediately shake away the feelings. I need to concentrate on the present for now.
Grabbing my wrist, he leads the way and finally, finally, he pushes open a door(it actually opened!) and I step outside. I have never been thankful than I am now to see the sky. To see light. I really was going to die in there.
"Take this as a lesson to do what I say," Zayan gives me a lopsided grin, "see you later, darling." With that, he leaves my wrist and walks away.
I slowly walk towards the bench in the corner and sit down. Against my will, new set of tears roll down my cheeks.
"Why is this happening to me? What have I ever done?"
"Insha!" Manal, Layla and Noora run to me with wide, concerned eyes.
I can't believe Zayan would do something like that. I can't believe he could be so cruel. What have I done to him? His look, his behavior, everything about him today gave me the creeps.
Have I made a huge mistake by getting to know him? Will he ever leave me alone now?
A strange feeling creeps up to me. A feeling that tells me there is so much more to come.
This was just the start. The start of a deadly obsession, a dangerous game. Catching his attention was the biggest mistake Insha ever made.