Jad returned to his village after seven years of absence. His childhood friend, Altair, greeted him warmly and embraced him. They then got into Altair's car, which was a rusty, grayish-black junk car. Jad sarcastically put on his seatbelt and said,
"Didn't you change this junk?"
Altair replied in the same sarcastic tone,
"And I have no intention of doing so."
They drove for two hours until they stopped at a park next to a small store selling some food. Altair asked Jad to find a place to eat outdoors. When Jad returned, he saw Altair sitting on a wooden bench next to another bench where a man in his twenties was sitting. His hair was messy, with some strands falling over his forehead, and his eyes were sharp green. When Altair saw him, he grabbed Jad and took him back to the car, starting to drive. Jad, surprised, asked,
"Why did you pull me away like that? Why didn't we stay there?"
Altair stopped the car by the side of the road and said,
"The man sitting next to you..."
"What about him?" Jad asked.
"Because of him, you'll be cursed by his sister!"
Jad was shocked and said, both confused and sarcastic,
"A curse? You're talking nonsense!"
"I'm not talking nonsense, you're the ignorant one!"
"What's so ignorant?"
"You don't know the truth."
Jad, losing patience, said,
"Stop talking in riddles."
"Fine, fine," Altair said. "That man with the green eyes, his name is Elias. He's now 25 years old and had a younger sister, two years younger than him."
Jad interrupted,
"Had?"
"Yes, 'had' because his sister died."
"How?" (Jad asked, shocked)
"You'll know once I finish the story."
"Alright, go on..."
"His sister, Iris, and Elias were in high school—she was in the first year, and Elias in the third. Seven years ago, on a rainy day, the people in the village saw Elias carrying his unconscious sister, Iris, on his back, barefoot. She was bleeding, and drops of her blood were falling onto the wet ground. There were no hospitals or doctors in their village, just an old man who could help. Elias went to him for help, but the old man couldn't do much because she had severe injuries. So, Elias took her to the city center where they managed to save her."
Jad said,
"I don't think that's the end of the story."
Altair continued,
"When Iris woke up, they asked her, 'Why were you in that condition? Why were you covered in blood?' She said she didn't remember anything. Then they asked Elias, and he said that when he came back from school, he found his sister unconscious and covered in blood, her body full of wounds, and their parents were away on a trip."
"When they returned to their village, Iris was unusually calm, which was strange because, according to the villagers, she had been a talkative and lively girl before the incident. But after the accident, she became calm during the day and would scream at night, saying that a man was watching her and wanted to harm her. The villagers started to call her crazy, and she was expelled from school. One day, Iris was home alone—Elias was at school, and their parents were at work..."
Jad interrupted,
"Did they leave her alone?"
"Yes, because she didn't act strangely during the day, and it wasn't the first time she stayed alone."
Altair continued,
"When Elias returned from school, he found his sister stabbed with a kitchen knife. When the police investigated, they found Iris's fingerprints on the knife, and they closed the case, declaring it a suicide. After that incident, people began to spread rumors that Iris had been cursed, which led to her madness and suicide. No one approached that family ever since."
Jad was shocked by this part and said as they started driving again,
"Aren't you a detective?"
"Yes, I am."
"Then why didn't you take the case?"
"The case was given to a novice detective, and there was another more important case at the time. Besides, it wasn't complicated enough to require my involvement." (Altair said casually)
They continued their journey to Altair's house...
When they arrived at Altair's house, his mother welcomed them and made pastries for them.
Jad stayed at Altair's house for hours, but it was time for him to leave. Altair's mother said,
"My son, there's no need to stay at a hotel, stay here."
"...I'm not going to the hotel... I'm going to my house."
Altair intervened,
"Jad, no one has been in that house since your parents' death."
"I know... but I need to stay in my house to relive the memories that time has stolen from me."
Altair, resigned, said,
"Alright, as you wish."
Jad bid farewell to his friend and his family, then went to his house. When he entered, the lights were on, which was strange for a house that no one had entered for years. But Jad wasn't surprised. He shouted,
"Alden!"
A man in his forties, with light hair, a light beard, and some gray strands in his beard, appeared and said,
"Yes, sir?"
Jad pointed to a metal door at the end of a dark corridor and said,
"Open the door."
Alden walked forward, and Jad followed him. Alden opened the door, and the sound of the door echoed as it creaked. Then they descended a rickety wooden staircase leading down. They found a girl, her features clear in the moonlight, her green eyes like leaves, and her beautiful brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Her hands and feet were chained in iron shackles.
When Jad saw her, he smiled wickedly and whispered almost inaudibly,
"Iris..."