The room fell silent instantly. All heads turned toward Liam, their faces filled with shock and fear.
"Aisha?" Daniel stopped mid-step, his voice trembling slightly. "That's impossible, Liam. Aisha is dead, and it's been over two years. Dead people can't come back to life and seek revenge."
Liam stared at Daniel with a serious look, as if trying to convince both himself and his friends. "Aisha is dead, but you've forgotten something. She still has a mother, and back then, she threatened us. Have you all forgotten? She swore she'd take revenge on us."
Rafa, who was lounging casually though his face showed a hint of unease, let out a small laugh. "Liam, you've been watching too many horror movies. Aisha's mother? Come on, she's just a weak old woman. There's no way she could touch us, especially Tony. You know Tony's trained in martial arts; he's not easy to beat."
Liam straightened up, his eyes filled with seriousness. "Don't underestimate a mother, Rafa. You don't know what a mother who has lost her child is capable of. You know how anger and grief can turn someone into..."
"Turn someone into what?" Rafa interrupted, his voice still filled with disbelief. "A monster? You're exaggerating, Liam."
Just as their argument was heating up, Daniel raised his hand, stopping them. "That's enough!" he commanded firmly, his restless eyes sweeping the room. "This isn't the time for us to argue. We need to focus on the fact that Tony is missing. We need to find him, and fast."
Dexter, who had been mostly silent, finally spoke up. His voice was low but filled with an unease he couldn't hide. "Maybe Liam is right. Remember the threat Tony received a few days ago? Maybe it's connected to that. We can't afford to ignore this."
Rafa scoffed softly, though the confidence in his gaze was beginning to waver. "Tony probably just wanted some alone time. That's why he left without telling us. We're overreacting."
But despite Rafa's attempt to reassure himself and his friends, fear slowly crept into their hearts. Dark possibilities began to fill their minds, visions of something far more terrifying than they could have imagined.
Daniel took a deep breath, trying to control his anxiety. "We have no other choice. From now on, we need to be more careful. And most importantly, we need to find Tony immediately."
They all nodded in agreement, though within their hearts, fear was beginning to spread. They realized that what they were facing might be much bigger and more brutal than just an empty threat. Behind every word, there loomed a shadow of vengeance—one they knew might soon catch up to them.
After his friends left, Daniel felt a heavy silence fill his luxurious home. The sound of their footsteps faded into the distance, leaving Daniel alone with his thoughts. He headed toward the minibar in the corner of the living room, reaching for a bottle of Glenfiddich whiskey, his favorite drink usually reserved for special occasions. But tonight felt different. It wasn't a celebration he sought, but a way to drown his desperation.
He poured the whiskey into a crystal glass, watching the golden liquid swirl slowly before finally bringing the glass to his lips. The first sip burned his throat, but Daniel didn't care. He needed something to distract him from the growing horror in his mind.
With the glass in hand, Daniel stepped out onto the balcony of his top-floor home. The balcony was usually a place where he would relax, enjoying the expansive view of the city below. But tonight, the view felt distant, untouchable, as if an unseen chasm separated him from the reality out there. The night wind brushed his face, but it couldn't calm the anxiety engulfing his heart.
Daniel sat in his usual rattan chair, staring blankly at the star-filled sky. But it wasn't stars he saw in his mind. It was Aisha's face—the image of a girl who should have long faded from his memory but had now returned with terrifying intensity.
"Aisha… why is that name coming up again?" Daniel murmured, his voice barely audible in the stillness of the night. He took another sip of whiskey, hoping the alcohol would dull his anxiety, but it had the opposite effect. His mind drifted back to two years ago, to the night they had all tried to forget—the night that had turned into a nightmare that never really went away.
Daniel closed his eyes, but Aisha's face became clearer. Her laughter, her smile, and her final scream. It all replayed in his head, reviving the guilt he had buried deep inside. He exhaled heavily, his chest tight with memories that continued to haunt him. Memories of Aisha, of Randy, of that fateful night.
**Two Years Ago…**
Two years ago, at a bustling university filled with the chatter of freshmen, Aisha, a new student with a naturally warm and charming demeanor, stood on the edge of the field, panting heavily. She was late to the freshman orientation event and now had to face the consequences. A female senior in charge, Vivi, stood nearby with her arms crossed, watching Aisha with a scornful look.
"You're late. Run around the field ten times," Vivi ordered coldly.
Aisha nodded, initially accepting the challenge with enthusiasm. But after five laps, her body started to falter. Sweat poured down her face, and her complexion grew pale. Her steps became slower until, right in the middle of the field, her vision blurred. Her legs gave way, and without warning, Aisha collapsed to the ground.
From a distance, a young man had been watching her the whole time. Randy, a senior admired for his good looks and natural charm, immediately reacted. The moment Aisha collapsed, he sprinted across the field, unhesitatingly lifting Aisha's weakened body. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but his hands remained steady as he carried her to the campus medical room.
Vivi, still standing at the edge of the field, sneered. "So weak. She couldn't even last five laps before passing out," she muttered with disdain, her eyes narrowing as she saw Randy's concern for Aisha.
Randy heard the comment, and his face immediately grew stern. "That's enough, Vivi," he said firmly, causing Vivi to pause for a moment. "If you can't be a decent senior, it's better if you leave."
Vivi, who had long harbored feelings for Randy, felt her heart burn with jealousy. But she couldn't argue. Reluctantly, she left the scene, her eyes still filled with anger.
In the medical room, Aisha slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry, but she saw the figure of a man sitting beside her bed. Her half-opened eyes caught the sight of a gentle smile. Randy sat there, watching her attentively.
"What… happened?" Aisha asked in a raspy voice, still confused about the situation.
"You passed out on the field," Randy replied, his smile unwavering. "But you've been checked out, and the health staff said you just need to rest for a while."
Aisha tried to sit up, but Randy gently held her shoulder. "Don't force it. You need to rest."
"But… the orientation…" Aisha tried to argue, her voice weak but full of determination. "It's the first day, and I don't want to stand out."
Randy's smile widened, his eyes showing a calming reassurance. "Don't worry, I'll handle it. I'm the head of the orientation, so you don't need to stress about it."
Hearing that, Aisha felt relieved, though some reluctance still lingered in her. "Alright," she murmured, giving in to Randy's advice. "Thank you."
Randy nodded. "I'm Randy, by the way. A senior in the Law department. I've been watching you since earlier."
Aisha gave a faint smile, still weak. "Aisha… a new student."
They exchanged glances for a moment, something unspoken yet palpable passing between them. Randy couldn't hide his interest—something about Aisha had captivated him, but he didn't know what. He wanted to know more, to get closer.
But they didn't realize that from a dark corner, a pair of sharp eyes had been watching their every move since the beginning.