Inside Mustafa's room, moments of silence had barely settled when they were shattered by a muffled scream and the thunder of furious footsteps. The door exploded inward under a violent kick.17Please respect copyright.PENANA7j9TFT5JOV
Mohamed stood there like judgment itself.
His face burned with rage, eyes blazing beneath a storm-dark brow. In one hand, he held Omar by the neck as if dragging a child to trial. Omar's feet barely touched the ground, hands clawing helplessly at Mohamed's wrist.
Mohamed (roaring):
"You think I'm blind?! I sleep for one hour and you turn this house into a brothel?!"
Sarah gasped, jerking upright from the bed. She snatched the sheet and wrapped it around herself, trembling with fury and humiliation.
Mustafa stumbled backward, grabbing a pillow to cover himself, pale as death.
Mustafa (shaking):
"Brother... listen to me... it's not what you think..."
Sarah (through gritted teeth):
"Mohamed! What do you think you're doing, you vile bastard?!"
Mohamed did not answer.
Instead, he calmly raised his pistol and fired into the floor between Mustafa's feet.17Please respect copyright.PENANASIKZpfwETN
The gunshot exploded like thunder.
Dust rose. Metal rang. Everyone froze.
Mohamed (coldly):
"Take one more step... and the next bullet goes through your chest."
Omar raised both hands instantly, nearly crying.
Omar:
"I have nothing to do with this! I swear! I came looking for... for my sword!"
Mohamed slowly turned his head toward him.
Mohamed (mocking):
"And your sword just happened to be lost in my brother's bed?"
Sarah stepped forward despite the pain in her side.
Sarah (furious):
"If you touch a single hair on his head... I swear I'll kill you myself."
Mohamed stared at her for one long second.
Then, without warning, he hurled Omar at her.
Both crashed into the wall with brutal force. Sarah groaned and collapsed, Omar sprawled across her, wheezing.
Mustafa (shouting):
"Mohamed! Enough!"
Mohamed (without looking at him):
"You have five minutes. Wash yourselves. Dress yourselves. Stand outside."
He took one step closer.
"Or I burn this room with all of you inside it."
Sarah coughed, trying to rise.
Sarah (weak but defiant):
"You think you're a man? You're only a twisted shadow hiding behind religion. Even Islam gives people freedom."
Mohamed's expression did not move.
Mohamed:
"Freedom exists."
He chambered another round.
"So do consequences."
Omar crawled backward toward the door.
Omar:
"If Father were here... he'd have killed them already. I'm actually helping."
Mohamed glanced at him once.
Mohamed:
"Five minutes."
Then he slammed the door behind him.
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
Mustafa crawled to Sarah, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders. His hands shook as he checked her ribs.
Mustafa (softly):
"Are you hurt?"
She lifted her head, pain in her face but fire in her eyes.
Sarah:
"I'll survive."
Then she gripped his wrist.
"But if he touches you again... I won't stay silent."
Mustafa said nothing. He simply looked at her with gratitude and shame.
Slowly, he began dressing.17Please respect copyright.PENANAFyxGGyjmaR
Every button he fastened seemed to restore some fragment of dignity stripped away moments earlier.
Sarah dressed beside him in silence, watching the door like it might explode open again.
When they were ready, she stepped close, cupped his face, and whispered:
Sarah:
"Don't be afraid. I won't let him kill you."
Mustafa gave a tired smile.17Please respect copyright.PENANAvvrnvpjXLF
Then lightly smacked her hip.
Mustafa:
"I know."
He sighed.
"And because of you... he probably will."
She laughed despite herself.17Please respect copyright.PENANAUndyfTXNnc
Then kissed him long, slow, defiant.
A kiss for war.17Please respect copyright.PENANApU5OqWTpXV
A kiss for tomorrow.17Please respect copyright.PENANALFfUgknB7A
A kiss for those who may never see dawn.
Mustafa (against her lips):
"If we leave... we may not come back."
Sarah (steady):
"Then we leave together."
Outside in the hallway, Mohamed stood in the center like a carved statue of iron.
His breathing was calm.17Please respect copyright.PENANAGLF6ndoiAr
His eyes never blinked.
People gathered at a distance, whispering anxiously.
One man finally spoke.
Resident:
"Mohamed... we heard gunfire. Is everything alright?"
Without turning, Mohamed answered:
Mohamed:
"Prepare to leave."
Another voice rose.
"But why? What's happening?"
Mohamed paused.
Then answered with surgical coldness.
Mohamed:
"What happens next is none of your concern."
Silence followed instantly.17Please respect copyright.PENANAqbrVhaAO4U
People backed away and hurried to gather supplies.
No one asked again.
Authority needed no explanation when spoken by a man like him.
Moments later, Mustafa's door opened.
He emerged beside Sarah.
Shoulder to shoulder.
Faces bruised, eyes tired, heads high.
Every eye in the hall turned toward them.
Mohamed slowly faced them.
No anger.17Please respect copyright.PENANAr6Oc1GkJsU
No pity.
Only the look of a man who already knew the price of what must come next.
Then the unexpected happened.17Please respect copyright.PENANASLKyp9QBnX
From behind the ruined wall near the entrance...17Please respect copyright.PENANAtpreFCljOZ
They emerged.
Figures in black robes from head to toe.
Faces hidden.
Only eyes visible glowing faintly like embers beneath ash.17Please respect copyright.PENANAe4gSa0sF2q
They moved without sound.
One by one.17Please respect copyright.PENANAW6DJbikFhq
Then all around them.17Please respect copyright.PENANA3Xk29zRSxz
The Last Silence had arrived.17Please respect copyright.PENANASbCSW3Agx7
Weapons were drawn.17Please respect copyright.PENANAMmxZPCmN0E
Breaths halted.
Even fear seemed afraid to move.
One of the robed figures stepped forward.17Please respect copyright.PENANAr2uiP5TPSb
Its voice was barely more than wind through bones.
Figure:
"One of you must be surrendered..."
A pause.
"Or all of you die."
No one moved.17Please respect copyright.PENANAZFeOOAlvtA
All eyes turned to Mohamed.17Please respect copyright.PENANAmQnUWYTksJ
He inhaled deeply.
Then stepped forward.
Mohamed:
"Fine."
He looked at no one.
"Take me."
Gasps erupted.
Mustafa:
"No!"
Sarah (grabbing his arm):
"You don't decide for us!"
But Mohamed never looked back.
Mohamed:
"Me... in exchange for their safe passage."
The masked figure lowered its head.
Figure:
"Deal accepted."
A chorus of horror filled the hall.17Please respect copyright.PENANAgg9nUWHUBS
But Mohamed raised his hand.17Please respect copyright.PENANANGwojrDWmZ
For the first time, something softer entered his voice.
Something final.
Mohamed:
"I have already begun to feel the breeze of Paradise."
His eyes lifted slightly.
"Yes... I hear it coming."
He turned last toward Mustafa and Sarah.
Memorizing them.
Mohamed:
"Forgive me... for everything."
He smiled faintly.
"My death may give some of you a beginning."
Sarah's tears fell silently.
Sarah (broken):
"No... Mohamed... don't leave us..."
Mustafa dropped to his knees.17Please respect copyright.PENANACCd1GQYKKz
Crushed beneath grief too old to carry.
Mustafa (whispering):
"You were harsh..."
His voice shattered.
"But you were my last shield against madness."
Mohamed nodded once.17Please respect copyright.PENANAUENmY8mpvP
Then walked forward.
The ranks of the Last Silence parted for him like doors to a tomb.
He entered.
They closed behind him.17Please respect copyright.PENANAz1tWHki6xY
And all that remained...17Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1qaKdY4Y8
Was silence.17Please respect copyright.PENANAUun1TaHMtc
Then darkness.
Then a wind as if passing over a grave not yet dug.
17Please respect copyright.PENANAJOOfpWB4ff


