The night felt colder as Ali made his way through the compound. The once comforting hum of activity now felt oppressive, like the compound was closing in on him, drawing him into a web he couldn't escape. He walked with purpose, each step heavy with the weight of what Sonia had told him. He had to find Malick. He had to confront him, figure out where he stood in all this madness, and if there was still a chance to stop it.
Ali's mind buzzed with thoughts as he moved through the darkened hallways. He could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating. There was no mistaking it now—something terrible was happening here. It wasn't just the ritual or the sacrifices Sonia had mentioned; it was the way everyone had started to change. Even Malick, once so hopeful and driven, now seemed like a different person, consumed by something darker.
Ali knew that if Malick was involved in whatever scheme the sheikh had in mind, there might be no saving him. He had seen the glint of ambition in Malick's eyes in recent weeks, the way he had grown distant, focused only on his own rise to power. It scared Ali more than he cared to admit.
He reached the door to Malick's quarters, his heart pounding in his chest. He stood there for a moment, staring at the door, weighing the decision. Was he ready to confront Malick, to force the truth out of him? What if Malick was too far gone? What if the friendship they once shared was a lie?
Taking a deep breath, Ali knocked.
The door creaked open after a moment, revealing Malick standing in the doorway, his face unreadable. For a split second, there was a flicker of recognition in Malick's eyes, but it quickly faded. He stepped aside without saying a word, allowing Ali to enter.
"You wanted to talk?" Malick asked, his tone casual, almost too casual.
Ali hesitated for a moment before stepping into the dimly lit room. The air felt thick, charged with an unspoken tension. Malick had always been open with him, but now there was a distance between them, a wall that Ali couldn't quite see but could feel with every passing second.
"Yeah," Ali said, his voice tight. "I think we need to talk. About everything."
Malick raised an eyebrow but didn't respond immediately. He closed the door behind Ali and walked over to the small table in the corner of the room, where a few empty glasses sat beside a bottle of something dark and unidentifiable.
"I don't know what you're getting at, Ali," Malick said, pouring himself a drink. "Things have changed around here, sure, but you know that's part of the game. You don't rise to the top without making sacrifices."
Ali's heart sank. It wasn't the first time Malick had mentioned sacrifice in passing, but hearing it now, in the context of what Sonia had revealed, made Ali's blood run cold.
"Is that what this is about?" Ali asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "Is that why you're working so closely with the sheikh's men? What's going on, Malick? What do you really want?"
Malick's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Ali saw the flicker of something dark behind them. Something dangerous. "What I want?" Malick echoed, his voice lower now. "I want what I've always wanted, Ali. A better life. Power. Control. You think I'm the only one? We're all here for the same thing. You, me, Sonia… we all want more. The sheikh promised us that. But you're too busy questioning everything to see it. And that's where you're wrong."
Ali took a step back, the weight of Malick's words sinking in. This wasn't the Malick he had known—the hopeful, determined friend who had left everything behind for a better future. This was someone else, someone consumed by ambition, someone who would do anything to climb the ladder.
"You're not the same," Ali said quietly, his voice trembling with the realization. "You've changed, Malick. This place, this life—it's changing you."
Malick scoffed, but the bitterness in his laugh sent a chill down Ali's spine. "And what about you, Ali? You think you're still the same? You're not. You've been consumed by your own doubts. You've been trying to hold onto something that doesn't exist anymore. You're just as trapped as the rest of us, and the sooner you accept it, the better."
Ali felt the sting of those words. Malick was right, in a way. He had been holding on to a version of the world that no longer existed, a world where dreams came true through hard work and dedication. But that world had slipped away the moment they had entered the sheikh's compound. Now, the only thing that mattered was survival—and at what cost?
"You don't see it, do you?" Ali continued, his voice growing more intense. "This place isn't what we thought it was. It's not just about power, Malick. It's about control. And you're letting him use you. You're letting him turn you into something else. Something unrecognizable."
Malick's face twisted with frustration, his jaw clenched tightly. "You're weak, Ali. You always have been. I thought you were better than this, but you're just like the rest of them. You think you can change things, that you can stand up to the sheikh, but you can't. No one can."
Ali felt a surge of anger rise within him. "Maybe I can't change everything, but I can change something. I won't let him turn me into what he wants. I won't be another pawn in his game."
For a moment, the room was silent, the only sound the faint hum of the air conditioning. Malick stared at him, his expression unreadable. Ali could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by something colder, something more final.
"You're on your own then," Malick said, his voice barely a whisper. "If you want to fight this, you're on your own."
Ali swallowed hard, the weight of Malick's words settling over him like a heavy fog. He didn't know what to say. He had hoped, deep down, that Malick would come to his senses. That he would see the truth before it was too late. But now, it seemed that hope was lost.
"Maybe," Ali said quietly, his voice shaking with emotion, "but I'm not giving up. I'll find a way to get out of here, and I'll make sure everyone knows what's really going on."
Malick's lips curled into a slight smirk, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Good luck with that. You'll need it."
Ali turned and walked toward the door, his heart heavy with the weight of what he had just learned. As he stepped out into the hallway, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had just lost his best friend—and that whatever came next, he would have to face it alone.