In the middle of the night, when only the whisper of wind and the steady chirp of crickets filled the valley, a scream ripped through the stillness.

It was sharp, raw, and heavy with pain—cutting the silence in two.

A girl stumbled into the open, clutching her stomach. Warm blood slipped between her trembling fingers, soaking her clothes, dripping onto the dry earth with every desperate step. The valley was a graveyard of shadows, lifeless and cold. Her breath came in short, panicked bursts, each one laced with agony.

She glanced over her shoulder—darkness stretched endlessly behind her, but somewhere in it, she knew, they were coming.

Her path ended abruptly. Towering mountains loomed ahead, jagged black walls under the pale light of the moon. The way forward was blocked.

Her heart slammed against her ribs. No. No. Not here.

“Ereen!”

The name tore through the air, chased by the sound of footsteps crunching on gravel. Three dark figures emerged from the shadows.

Ereen ducked behind a jagged rock, pressing her body into the stone as if it could swallow her whole. Her chest rose and fell in quick, shallow breaths. She dared not move.

Malvin’s voice cut the night, sharp as broken glass.

“Where is she? I told you both we couldn’t let her escape tonight. You couldn’t even handle one job!”

Chriss jabbed a finger at the woman beside him.

“It was her fault.”

“How is it my fault?” Bella shot back, her voice dripping with contempt. “Who would’ve guessed she’d try to run? You’re the one who told her about her family’s death before killing her.”

“Enough,” Malvin growled. His tone left no room for argument. “Find her. If she lives, everything we’ve done will be for nothing.”

“That’s right,” Bella said coldly. “As long as she’s alive, we can’t get our hands on her family deed or her research.”

Chriss smirked. “And don’t forget the life insurance.”

Their boots crunched over the stones as they fanned out, disappearing momentarily into the shadows.

Ereen’s heart slowed just enough for her to think. She shifted slightly, preparing to slip away—

—and froze.

They hadn’t left. They were right in front of her, their faces illuminated by the moon. The masks of false kindness they once wore were gone, replaced with the raw, ugly truth—greed, cruelty, and a hunger for power.

Bella smiled, her expression like a knife.

“Sweetheart, why are you running from us? Aren’t we your family?”

“You are not my family,” Ereen spat. “You’re hyenas hiding beneath human skin.”

Their laughter was low and cold.

Chriss stepped closer, his voice heavy with mockery.

“Call us what you want, little thing. You can’t escape. Blame yourself for being naïve—believing us, caring for us, sheltering us. Poor little thing. Don’t worry… we’ll end your pain quickly.”

They raised their guns.

The night shattered with the roar of gunfire. Bullets tore into her body.

She fell, the earth rushing up to meet her. Blood spread beneath her, warm at first, then chilling in the night air. Her breaths came ragged, but inside, something fierce burned brighter than the pain.

Never again.

If there was any chance—any breath left—she would hunt them down. She would take back everything they had stolen.

The three criminals watched her, their smiles wide with satisfaction.

Through the haze of fading vision, Ereen forced out her last words.

“I’ll take back everything you stole. You may think you’ve won… but I’ll turn it all around. Even if I die tonight… I will haunt you. I will take it all back. I will—”

Her voice broke. Her eyes closed. And in that final heartbeat, her promise etched itself into her soul.

In a noisy classroom, students enjoyed their breaktime, chatting, laughing, and minding their own business. Despite the noise, a girl in the last row, near the window, lay on her desk as if in a deep sleep.

Time ticked by, each second bringing them closer to the bell. When it finally rang, students hurried to their seats, ready for the next lesson. But the girl remained unmoving in her comfortable position, oblivious to the bustle around her.

The physics teacher walked in, greeted by the standing students. Everyone — except her.

His eyes narrowed. “Ereen?” he called gently. No reaction.

A couple of classmates leaned over and shook her shoulder. “Hey, wake up.” Still nothing.

Mr. Scott walked to her desk, his patience intact for now. Ereen was one of the school’s brightest prodigies — not the type to ignore a teacher.

He bent slightly and spoke again. “Ereen…?”

Her breathing didn’t change.

Finally, his tone hardened. “Wake up, Ereen!”

Ereen’s POV

The moment I closed my eyes; back in the dead valley. Darkness pressed in from all sides, thick and suffocating. Their laughter, their mockery.

No matter how hard I tried, my limbs wouldn’t move. I had no idea how long I had been here — minutes, hours, years. Trapped, forced to replay their betrayals over and over in my head.

“Take back everything, heh. Try it!” …..

“Take back what was yours, if you can.”

The whisper slid into my ear, cold as ice. I spun toward it and threw a punch into the darkness. anything to make it stop.

“I will take back what they stole from me,” I shouted into the void, “every second, every minute, every little thing!”

Somewhere far away, something stirred. A voice, muffled and distant: Ereen…

I ignored it, my fists still swinging. Then it came again, louder, sharper: “Wake up, Ereen!”

The blackness cracked. Jagged lines of light tore through the void, widening until the shadows shattered like glass. My body jerked — something was shaking me — and instinct took over. My arm shot forward.

Back to Reality

I blinked — the valley was gone…

I was standing in my old high school classroom. Mr. Scott was on the floor, clutching his bleeding nose. My breath came fast and uneven. Sweat slid down my temple. Was it… a dream? But how could a dream feel so real?

“Ereen, look what you did!” a girl’s voice rang out. Students rushed to help the teacher, pressing tissues to his nose.

Another voice, closer, softer: “Ereen, are you okay? You look… shaken up a bit.”

I turned toward it — and froze. “Thea… Eshal… Reem…” My voice cracked.

“You’re all fine.” Relief surged through me.

I pulled them into a tight hug. They hugged back, whispering reassurances, their warmth comforting me, trying to calm my trembling shoulders. When we pulled apart, Thea searched my face. “Are you sure you’re, okay? Did you hurt yourself.”

Three of them checked from head to toe. “I’m fine,” I said with a small smile; though my mind still reeled.

Mr. Scott, now standing again, stared at the scene in front of him in disbelieve, as if unsure who the real victim was.

“Sorry, sir,” Thea said quickly. “Ereen must have had a bad dream. She never sleeps in class like this.”

Mr. Scott nodded. He knew Ereen’s habits well — she might take a short nap during breaks, but she always woke up in time for lessons.

“It’s alright. Ereen, you should consider martial arts club,” he said dryly, recalling her punch. “You clearly have the talent for it.”

Shaking off the memory, he clapped his hands. “Alright, everyone, back to your seats. We’ve wasted enough time.”

As the lesson began, Eshal leaned over to Ereen with an admiring grin.

“I had no idea you were that strong! Even as the martial arts club’s vice-captain, I’m impressed. You have to join us now — and you can’t say no. But… maybe hold back next time. Poor Mr. Scott probably saw stars”.

Ereen gave a small smile and nodded, still trying to piece together the blurred line between her nightmare and reality.