Red threads and shaky

Some memories don't come back. They come for you.

Safiya's pov

Her hand hovered above the screen.

The video ended minutes ago, but the scream still echoed in her ears. She'd tried to convince herself it was fake — a prank maybe, from one of those jealous girls who hated how close she was to Zayd.

But something inside her whispered:

This wasn't random. This was personal.

She didn't sleep that night. When she closed her eyes, flashes of a red door, a dark corridor, and the cold grip on her wrist returned.

The next morning, Safiya watched Kamal stir sugar into his tea. He didn't notice her watching.

"Do you remember anything about 2009?" she asked suddenly.

Kamal froze. Then said, "You were eight."

"You were ten."

He looked away. "You fell down the stairs that year. Hit your head. Lost some memory. Why?"

She didn't believe him. Not anymore.

Zara's pov

Zara sat by the cracked window in her father's study. A place she'd never been allowed into alone before.

Old boxes lined the shelves, labeled with years and names. Most meant nothing.

Except one:

"A. Musa – Settlement (2009)"

She opened it.

Inside: court documents, a picture of her father standing beside a man in white… and a torn envelope with the Ahmad Musa family name.

Her heart dropped.

Safiya's father.

Later that evening, Zara's father found her in the study. He didn't shout.

He only said, "You opened something that could destroy people."

Zara stood. "Tell me the truth. Why do you want me away from Safiya?"

His voice was low. "Because if she ever remembers, she'll never forgive what our family did."

Zayd's pov

He watched both girls from a distance now.

He had his own secrets — ones tied to the past and to them. Ones he never asked to inherit.

But it was too late.

Because soon, the truth would come for all of them.