A Traitor Among Us

Rahil was sprinting towards the alleyway, his heart racing with every step, when a faint voice echoed from behind. "Rahim!" The sound sent shivers down his spine, and he skidded to a halt, his eyes widening in shock. How did she know his real name? He had kept it a secret, hidden from the world.

Rahil spun around, his gaze locking onto a figure clad in black. A girl with an air of mystery stood before him, her hand clutching her side as if nursing an injury. "How do you know my name?" Rahil demanded, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

The girl's eyes, gleaming with a hint of sadness, locked onto his. "Don't you remember me, Rahim?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Have you forgotten me completely?"

"Who are you?" Rahil demanded, his eyes narrowing as he tried to place the girl's face.

"You don't remember me?" she asked, a hint of sadness creeping into her voice. "I'm the one who fed you when you were hungry, when your parents and brother treated you poorly. I'm the one who was there for you in Pachpan."

Rahil's expression changed from confusion to shock. "But why are you wearing that dress? Were you the one who tried to kill Danish?" he accused, his voice laced with suspicion.

The girl's eyes widened in horror. "No, I could never do that! I'm not capable of hurting anyone," she protested.

Rahil's gaze fell on her black dress again. "But your clothes... they're the same as the assassin's."

The girl's voice trembled. "Someone threatened me, told me to wear this black dress and come here. I didn't know what they had planned."

Rahil's eyes searched hers, trying to understand. "But how did you recognize me? I was just a child when you knew me."

The girl's expression turned resolute. "I never forget a face, Rahil. Once I've seen someone, they're etched in my memory forever."

Rahil's mind reeled in shock, unable to comprehend the girl's words. Yet, something about her claim resonated deep within him - the memory of a kind soul who had fed him when he was hungry. His instincts urged him to trust her, and he found himself yielding to that trust.

As if sensing his vulnerability, the girl suddenly pretended to lose her balance and fell. Rahil instinctively rushed to her side, scooping her up in his arms. He began to walk away, leaving Rania lying alone on the deserted road.

The night air swallowed them whole, and Rahil didn't once glance back at Rania. Cradling the mysterious girl in his arms, he vanished into the darkness.

Rania struggled to her feet, her eyes fixed on the spot where Rahil had disappeared. A pang of sorrow pierced her heart, but she bit back her emotions, steeling herself to move forward. With a quiet determination, she set off into the night, leaving the fragments of her shattered heart behind.

As Rania stepped into the lab, she was met with a flurry of concerned faces. Javed, Danish, Mehwish, Rahil, and the mysterious girl, Alia, all gathered around her.

"Rania, where have you been?" Danish asked, his brow furrowed with worry. "And what happened to your foot?"

Rania winced, trying to brush off the pain. "I just slipped and fell," she replied, her eyes drifting to the girl standing beside Rahil. "And who is this?"

Mehwish smiled warmly. "This is Alia. She's an old friend of Rahil's from his childhood."

As the group flocked around Alia, Mehwish explained, "Alia took care of Rahil when he was young. She's been like a guardian angel to him."

Rania's eyes widened as Mehwish continued, "And it seems she's been injured. A bullet grazed her hand, but I've bandaged it for her."

Rania's gaze snapped to Alia's hand, her mind racing with questions. "What?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with concern.

Rania's eyes flashed with accusation. "You're the one who struck me on the head, Alia, aren't you? You did it to get close to Rahil."

Rahil intervened, his voice calm. "Rania, please don't make unfounded accusations. Alia wouldn't do that."

Mehwish chimed in, "Rahil, she's lying. Alia would never hurt anyone."

Alia's voice trembled. "I'm telling the truth. The person who sent me here shot me."

But Rania's memory was clear. She recalled the exact moment when she had shot Alia, the bullet grazing her hand. Rania's conviction deepened, her eyes locked on Alia.

Rania's voice trembled with emotion. "Don't lie! You were the one, Rahil."

Rahil grasped Rania's hand, his eyes filled with concern. "You can't accuse her, Rania. That's not fair."

Rania's tears flowed freely as she spoke. "I'm telling the truth! She saved your life, maybe it was all an act, but it was her!"

Rahil's face darkened with anger. Danish intervened, "Wait, let's clarify what happened. Rania, what exactly occurred?"

Rania took a deep breath, recounting the events. "I was in my position, but someone attacked me from behind. I tried to defend myself, but they hit me on the head with a stick. I was losing consciousness, so I fired my gun, and the bullet grazed her hand."

Alia's voice rose in defense. "I was here before that assassin, but you fired at me without reason. The one who misled you wasn't me."

Rahil's anger boiled over. "You dare to question me? Your voice is loud and laced with venom!" Alia's words had ignited a fire within him.

Rania trembled, tears streaming down her face. Rahil's fury intimidated her, but she stood her ground.

"If you had tried to harm her before, it would have been disastrous," Rahil warned, his eyes blazing.

Rania sobbed, "You'll never trust me now. You've found this girl, a murderer, and you're blind to it!"

Rahil's anger snapped. He raised his hand, and for a moment, Rania thought he would strike her. But he restrained himself, his chest heaving with rage.

Rania pleaded, "Why Stop, hit me, hit me! You've lost faith in me. I'm telling you, she's the killer!"

Rahil's voice was low and menacing. "Say one more word, and..." He left the threat hanging.

Rania realized the futility of arguing. "Why should I even talk to you?" she cried, before turning and fleeing the scene, her sobs echoing through the air, she turned and walked away.

Danish beckoned to Javed, Mehwish, and Rahil. "Let's talk. Leave Alia to rest. Come with me."

As they stepped out of the room, Mehwish whispered to Danish, "You shouldn't have lied to her. There's no need for deception."

Danish nodded. "You're right, Mehwish. She has nothing to gain from this."

Rahil chimed in, "Then what's Alia's motive?"

Rania, who had been quietly observing, spoke up, "She's the killer. Her only gain is to deceive you."

Rahil's eyes flashed with anger. "Don't say another word, Rania."

Rania stood her ground. "You're not the only one investigating this case. I won't back down. She's lying, and you're blindly trusting her."

Rahil's fury intensified. "Stay out of this, Rania!"

He strode towards her, his voice low and menacing. "How can I trust you? You're the one who ruined our plan, then shifted the blame to Alia. You're not even loyal to your own team."

Danish intervened, "Rahil, stop. The plan was Rania's to begin with."

Rahil's eyes narrowed. "Exactly. She designed it to serve her own interests."

Rania's voice rose. "And what about you? You mentioned a wall on that deserted road. But the wall was broken. Was that part of your plan?"

Rahil's expression turned cold. "Don't forget, I allowed you to work on this case, Rania."

Rania's eyes flashed. "I'm working on this case, regardless of whose it is. And I suspect Alia's involvement. We won't share any information with her."

Rahil's tone turned menacing. "You're not working on this case, Rania."

Anger flared on Rania's face. Mehwish stepped in, "Rahil, you can't do this."

Rahil's gaze locked onto Rania's. "You're fired."

Rania's head injury began to take its toll, her vision blurring as she spoke. "Fine, I'll leave. But you'll never solve this case. You're revealing the entire plan to the real culprit."

Rahil's patience snapped. "Shut up!"

Just then, Rania's legs buckled, and she collapsed, unconscious. Rahil caught her in his arms, concern etched on his face. "Rania, what's wrong?"

Mehwish rushed to her side, binding her head wound. "She was telling the truth, Rahil. You wrongly accused her."

Danish intervened, "You owe her an apology, Rahil. And today, you'll take care of her. Mehwish will look after Alia, while Javed and I fetch some food. We'll all stay in this lab tonight, since the killer has seen our faces. It's safer if we stick together."