Star The Unfathomable Vampire
The Marriage
In Maliha's room. 2.30 a.m.
Maliha Zara (FL)
You didn’t tell me you had a cousin coming over.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
Yes, he’s Omer.
Maliha Zara (FL)
Omer… Dameer?
*The name sounds like a thunderstorm.
Rich, cold, unreachable. Why does it feel like I’ve heard it before?*
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
Yeah, that Omer.
The one who owns half the city.
My… cousin. Sort of. 😅
Maliha Zara (FL)
You said “sort of.” What does that mean?
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
Nothing. Just… family is complicated sometimes.
Maliha Zara (FL)
Right. Everything is complicated lately.
Including my engagement.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
I still can’t believe your dad agreed to it.
I mean—have you even talked to the guy?
Maliha Zara (FL)
No. And I don’t want to. Baba said he is more rich and famous than him.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
Then why don’t you say something?
Maliha Zara (FL)
Because it won’t matter.
Everyone plays around me. No one plays for me.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
But you’re strong, Maliha.
Maliha Zara (FL)
Strong doesn’t mean free.
You know what’s funny?
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
What?
Maliha Zara (FL)
Everyone says I have everything.
But no one sees the cage.
I sleep on silk and dream of dirt roads.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
(Giggles) Yeah, that is actually funny.
Outside near the garden fountain
Maliha Zara (FL)
Sid, this place looks… unreal.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
Told you. Gothic rich and way too dramatic.
Omer comes out from the green house.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
So, Maliha... this is my cousin. Omer Dameer.
He just came back from Germany.
Maliha Zara (FL)
(Nods slightly, hiding her face by hijab, doesn’t look at him directly)
Nice to meet you.
Omer Dameer (ML)
(Eyes linger on her, voice calm.)
Likewise.
Maliha Zara (FL)
(Turns to Sidra)
I’ll go check on aunty. I think she needed help in the kitchen.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
She’s fine. Sit, yaar. You’ve barely talked to anyone.
Maliha Zara (FL)
That’s intentional.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
😐 What?
Maliha Zara (FL)
Nothing. I just need a minute.
Omer Dameer (ML)
(Quietly)
I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.
Maliha Zara (FL)
You didn’t.
(pauses, then looks directly at him once, her tone stern)
I just don’t prefer talk with men.(Whispers)
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
Oh-kayyy...
(trying to break tension)
He’s harmless, promise.
Maliha Zara (FL)
Nobody is harmless. Everybody is selfish.
(She walks away, leaving silence behind.)
Interior – Kitchen doorway
Maliha Zara (FL)
(leans against the wall, her fingers gripping her sleeves.
Her eyes close for a moment.)
Maliha Zara (FL)
*That voice.
Why did it sound familiar?
Why did it make my chest feel like it forgot how to breathe?*
(shakes her head.)
*Don’t be stupid, Maliha. Don’t fall for strange things. Don’t trust men. Don’t talk. Don’t open that door again.*
Midnight 4 a. m. | Dream Sequence
It began with wind.
Cold, screaming wind tearing through a forest of broken trees. The sky was ash, and the ground was cracked like dried blood. Maliha stood barefoot, alone, her breath forming clouds in the darkness.
She couldn’t move. Her legs wouldn’t listen.
In the distance—
Footsteps.
Slow. Heavy. Familiar.
She turned her head slightly, and a figure emerged from the fog.
A man in black. Cloaked, tall. His face was hidden beneath a long hood, but his eyes glowed faintly—like silver fire in the dark.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
She stepped back.
But the man didn’t move any closer. He stood still. Watching.
"Why are you following me?" she asked, though her voice didn’t sound like her own.
The wind swallowed her words.
He didn’t reply.
Instead, he lifted one arm slowly, palm open, as if offering her something invisible. In his other hand… was a blade.
A beautiful dagger—ancient, golden, with a blue gem in its hilt.
Maliha’s eyes widened.
Blood was dripping from it.
Her own hands trembled. And then—
She looked down.
Her dress…
Soaked in blood.
Not hers.
She gasped. Staggered.
"What did you make me do?" she whispered.
The man in black took a slow step forward.
He opened his mouth to speak—
But no sound came.
Instead, a voice echoed all around her. Familiar. Ancient.
"You promised you’d remember."
She clutched her ears.
"Stop. Stop—"
The forest began to burn.
Flames swallowed trees. Screams pierced the wind—hundreds of voices, calling her name.
"Maliha."
Her name sounded… wrong. Like someone else was speaking it from her past.
And the man—he was no longer a shadow.
He had a face now.
It was Omer.
But younger. Sharper. His eyes darker.
A scar on his cheek.
And he was kneeling before her.
Not like a servant.
"Save me," he said.
And vanished into fire.
This dream always chased Maliha
She never saw the face of that man
But today It was Omer....Omer Dameer.......
Maliha woke up with a scream caught in her throat.
Chest heaving. Face drenched in sweat.
The world was silent except for the pounding in her skull.
Maliha Zara (FL)
( sat up, pressing her hands against her face.)
It was just a dream.
But her pillow smelled like burnt leaves.
And her fingers… were stained with crimson dust.
Maliha Zara (FL)
(Get up to offer her prayer tahajjud and Fajr...
Then sleeps again.... )
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
Wake up. Today’s a special day for you.
Maliha Zara (FL)
What do you mean special?
I have an exam next week. That’s the only thing on my calendar.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
You’ll see. Just… wear the dress I kept on the table. It’ll fit.
Don’t ask questions today. Just follow what I say, Zara. Please.
Maliha Zara (FL)
Sid... you’re being weird.
Is this your way of surprising me with cake?
Maliha Zara (FL)
Okay okay, I’ll get ready.
Maliha Zara (FL)
This dress is way too expensive to be “just a special day,” Sid.
Tell me what’s going on.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
You look beautiful.
Just... walk down the stairs.
Everyone’s waiting.
Maliha Zara (FL)
Waiting?? Who—
Wait—what’s going on?
Steps echo down the marble stairs.
The moment Maliha reaches halfway—
Maliha Zara (FL)
What —?!
Why are there guns pointed at me?!
Sidra—what is this?! Even the maids—!?
Omer enters through the front doors in a black suit, red tie, silent, eyes cold, every step heavy with authority and dominance
Omer Dameer (ML)
You were told this day would come, Sayyed Maliha Zara.
You just chose to dream instead of listening.
Maliha Zara (FL)
No.
No no no no.
This is a joke.
It has to be.
Tell me this isn’t happening.
This is prank right?!
Omer Dameer (ML)
Call it what you want.
But you’re already mine.
And you will walk down those steps.
Now.
A heavy breath behind her. A hand on her waist.
A cold metal barrel presses against her side.
Omer Dameer (ML)
You’re still… breathtaking.
Maliha Zara (FL)
(gets goosebumps)
Get your hand off me.
Omer Dameer (ML)
(smirks)
Say that after you sign the nikah papers.
Maliha Zara (FL)
I won’t do this.
You can’t make me.
Omer Dameer (ML)
Try running.
See what happens.
Maliha Zara (FL)
Let go of me!
Don’t you dare touch me!
(She pushes him, tries to run back up—)
Daud Dameer (Dad of Sidra)
One more step—
(BANG.)
A servant collapses. Blood pools at the base of the grand staircase.
Maliha Zara (FL)
No…
No no no! You killed him—he was just a boy!
Maliha stands frozen. Trembling. Breath shallow.
Sidra Dameer (Friend-FL; Cousin-ML)
(whispers)
Please, just listen. I tried to stop them.
Maliha Zara (FL)
You... you let them do this?
Omer Dameer (ML)
Walk.
Say yes to me in front of God.
Or more people die.
She walks, tears blinding her. The imam waits. Nikah papers lie open. A trembling pen in her hand. Omer’s hand firm on her back. Her voice barely comes out—
Maliha Zara (FL)
Q....Qub..... Qubool hai!
Omer Dameer (ML)
Qubool hai...Qubool hai.... Qubool hai.
And like that—it’s done. Signed. Stamped. Sealed.
Maliha tries to leave, heart pounding. She grabs her phone. No signal. She runs to the door.
BOOM.
All doors slam shut. Thick iron locks crash into place across the palace.
No signal.📵
Her phone screen turns blank. Emergency call fails.
Maliha Zara (FL)
Open this!
Open this right now!!
Maliha Zara (FL)
(screaming)
Is this a prison or a palace?!
Omer appears behind her, silent again. He doesn’t speak. He just… gestures to a room. Hers now. His, too.
Omer Dameer (ML)
Inside. Now.
Maliha Zara (FL)
No, no, no, .....
No—don’t you dare—!
He doesn’t force her. But behind them, Daud cocks a gun. Her heart sanks in surrender. She walks into the room.
The door slams shut behind her. Locked.
Maliha Zara (FL)
(Knocking the door)
Let me out…
Let me out… please…
She’s sobbing now, slumped to the floor in her red bridal dress, makeup ruined, hair falling apart, hands shaking. Her voice breaks—
Maliha Zara (FL)
This isn’t happening.
This can’t be happening…
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