Ali's footsteps echoed in the quiet hallways as he walked away from Malick's room. The conversation had left him shaken, his mind whirling with unanswered questions. He had always believed in the bond he shared with Malick, in the friendship that had driven them to pursue a better life, to escape the oppressive conditions of their homeland. But now, standing in the darkened corridors of the compound, Ali couldn't shake the feeling that the person he had called his closest friend was slipping away, swallowed by the darkness that was overtaking them all.
The compound seemed to stretch endlessly before him, its high walls and guarded entrances trapping him in a world where nothing was as it seemed. He couldn't trust anyone—not even Sonia anymore. As much as he wanted to believe that she had come to him out of concern, he knew that there was a price to be paid for knowledge, and Sonia was too deep in the sheikh's world to stay completely untouched.
Ali stopped at the edge of the courtyard, where the cold night air bit into his skin, his thoughts a tangled mess of fear and confusion. The stars above were barely visible through the haze of city lights, a reflection of the bleakness that had settled in his chest. He had come so far—he had made so many sacrifices—and now it seemed that he was losing everything he had fought for. Even the dream of a better life, the reason he had come here in the first place, now felt like a distant, unattainable mirage.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, interrupting his thoughts. He pulled it out, staring at the screen for a moment before answering. The name on the display was enough to send a chill down his spine.
Malick.
Ali hesitated, his finger hovering over the screen. What could Malick want now? He had already made it clear that they were on different paths, that their futures no longer aligned. But curiosity got the better of him. He pressed the answer button, bringing the phone to his ear.
"What do you want?" Ali asked, his voice sharp, betraying the frustration he felt.
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, the only sound the muffled noise of distant conversation and footsteps. Then, finally, Malick spoke.
"We need to talk," Malick's voice came through, strained but urgent. "It's about Sonia."
Ali's heart skipped a beat. "What about Sonia?"
Malick's voice dropped lower, barely a whisper. "She's in danger, Ali. I made a mistake. I didn't mean for things to go this far, but now we're all involved. The sheikh... he knows she's been talking to you. He's not happy about it. And if she keeps poking around, asking questions, they'll kill her."
The words hit Ali like a punch to the gut. He had always known that the sheikh was dangerous, but hearing the threat against Sonia's life made everything feel far too real. She was in danger because of him—because she had trusted him enough to tell him the truth about what was really happening here. And now she was paying the price.
"What do you mean, they'll kill her?" Ali asked, his voice rising with panic. "What do you want me to do?"
"I'm telling you because you need to know," Malick said, his voice cracking. "Sonia's not safe, Ali. I can't protect her anymore. Not with everything that's going on. But you can. You're the only one who still has the chance to stop it."
Ali's mind raced. He could feel the walls closing in around him, suffocating him. He had always believed that the right thing to do was to stand up, to fight for what was just. But now, standing on the precipice of this dark world, he wasn't sure where to start. He had no allies here, no one he could trust. He could feel himself slipping into a dark place—into the very world he had vowed to avoid.
"I'll do what I can," Ali said, his voice low and determined. "Where is she? I need to see her."
Malick was silent for a moment, as though weighing his words carefully. "She's at the compound's far end. The one with the locked door. You know the one."
Ali's stomach twisted. That part of the compound was off-limits to most people. It was a place where the sheikh's most trusted men went to conduct business, a place where even the guards were given strict orders to keep outsiders away. Ali had always steered clear of it, knowing better than to question the sheikh's authority.
"I'll go there," Ali said, his mind set on the task. "But if anything happens to her, Malick, I won't forgive you."
Malick's voice hardened. "It's not my fault. I never wanted any of this. But we're all too deep now. Just get to her before it's too late."
The line went dead, leaving Ali with only the heavy silence of the night to accompany his thoughts. He stood there for a moment, staring at his phone, trying to process what he had just heard. Sonia's life was in danger. She had trusted him, and now he had to save her, no matter the cost.
But as Ali moved toward the far end of the compound, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking into a trap. He had known Malick for years, but the man who had spoken to him on the phone was not the same person he had once called a friend. And if Malick had truly betrayed him, there was no telling what awaited him on the other side of that locked door.
The courtyard grew darker as he moved through the shadows, his steps echoing softly against the cold stone. The air felt thicker here, more oppressive, and the silence weighed heavily on his shoulders. He reached the door, the one Malick had mentioned. The thick metal bars that lined the entrance were like a silent warning, telling him that whatever lay beyond this point was not meant to be discovered.
Ali hesitated. His hand trembled slightly as he reached for the door handle. Every instinct told him to turn around, to walk away before it was too late. But he couldn't. Not now. Not when Sonia's life was on the line.
With a deep breath, Ali turned the handle and pushed the door open.