Hearing Jack's words, Beck was left a little confused. The depth in his voice unsettled her. She stepped closer and asked,
"Jack, what are you saying? What happened? Tell me everything."
Jack looked at her, his eyes reflecting pain and an indescribable fear. He slightly lowered his head, as if trying to hide his truth. But he knew it was no longer possible to conceal it.
"Beck," he said in a cold voice, "I am not who you think I am. There's something inside me… something that could be dangerous for you."
Staring into his eyes, Beck said, "Danger? Jack, I know you. You could never hurt me."
Jack took a deep breath. He knew he needed to gather himself before revealing anything. But the dangerous force of Zain within him had begun to awaken. Jack's hands clenched into fists involuntarily, and his breathing grew heavier.
"Beck, I really don't want you to stay near me," Jack's voice carried a trembling urgency. "You don't know what could happen if you're with me. I… I won't be able to stop myself."
Beck grabbed his hand. "Jack, I'm with you no matter what. I'm not afraid."
Jack's hand began to tremble. His veins seemed ready to burst. Suddenly, a faint glow appeared behind the library, and the air turned icy cold.
"Beck, get out of here!" Jack shouted suddenly. His voice had completely changed. His eyes glowed red, and his face started to transform.
Beck looked at him in shock and fear. "Jack, what is happening to you?"
Jack tried to distance himself from her, but the power of Zain had completely overtaken him. "Run, Beck! Before it's too late…"
---
Hidden Stories of the Hostel
Beck quietly left the room, her mind flooded with questions. But Jack's voice and his appearance left her with no time to understand. Meanwhile, Jack, struggling with Zain's mysterious power, slowly made his way back to his hostel room. His steps carried a strange authority, as though he belonged to another world. His movements held the quiet strength of a wolf, and his eyes had a cold glint.
But Jack wasn't alone. In the dark corridor of the hostel, Rocky was silently watching everything. Rocky, who always found new ways to annoy Jack, now had his eyes fixed on Jack's every move. His eyes reflected shock, and his mind was swirling with questions.
"What was Jack talking to Beck about? And his face… it looked completely changed," Rocky muttered to himself.
But Rocky's curiosity wasn't limited to Jack. He had been restless for days about the mysterious disappearance of his close friend, Aryan. Aryan had vanished without a trace, along with several others. Rocky felt there had to be some connection between Jack's strange behavior and Aryan's disappearance.
"Maybe Jack knows something about this…" Rocky decided. He began following Jack quietly.
Jack, now consumed by Zain's enigmatic power, suddenly stopped in the corridor. His eyes caught sight of a hidden shadow. He stared in the same direction for a while. Rocky, hiding in the corner, held his breath.
Without looking back, Jack changed his pace. Instead of heading toward his room, he took the stairs down to the basement — the scariest and most deserted part of the hostel. No one dared to go there.
Rocky's mind was racing with questions.
"Why is Jack going to the basement? And why does he look so fearless?"
Jack's footsteps grew heavier. The basement stairs were steeped in darkness. With each step, an eerie, wolfish smile spread across Jack's lips.
Rocky continued to follow him cautiously.
"I have to find out. Aryan's disappearance… and Jack's strange behavior… there's something here."
Suddenly, Jack stopped and looked back. His gaze fell straight on the spot where Rocky was hiding.
"Who's there?" Jack's voice no longer held its usual innocence. It was deep and cold, like a sinister whisper echoing in a cave.
Rocky's heart pounded. He pressed himself further into the corner, but Jack's lips curled into an even more sinister smile.
"Don't bother hiding. I know you're there," Jack said, his movements becoming more dangerous.
The basement stairs now seemed colder and more terrifying. Rocky stopped in his tracks, gripped by fear, but Jack's actions compelled him to keep following.
"If I back away now, I may never learn the truth about Aryan," Rocky reassured himself and cautiously continued his pursuit.
In the deep darkness of the basement, Jack suddenly stopped in front of an old door. He pulled out a strange key from his pocket, intricately designed with ancient patterns. The door creaked open, and Jack stepped inside.
Rocky stood frozen, unsure of what to do next.
"What is Jack hiding? And where did he get that key?"
A faint red glow emanated from inside, accompanied by the sound of Jack's sinister laughter.
"Welcome, Zain," Jack's voice had completely transformed.
Sweat dripped down Rocky's face.
"Zain… Who is that? Jack… or someone else?" he whispered to himself, trembling.
Now, Rocky faced two choices — retreat to safety or step forward and unravel the mystery.