“Tamara… The Shadow of Memory”

The American eagle soared through the gray sky, cutting its way between thick clouds, until it gently descended into his home's garden. In a blink, the wings vanished, and in their place stood a man — Yusuf. His eyes silently followed his children as they played, their laughter dancing in the air. His face was motionless, but his eyes brimmed with the salt of old memories.

Yaqub chased after the children, and Sarah watched them from the balcony with a warm smile. A deep sense of loneliness gripped Yusuf, as if he were suspended between two times — one where he was present, and another where he was just a shadow.

Suddenly, soft hands touched his shoulder from behind, and a gentle female voice whispered:

"Peek-a-boo!"

Yusuf flinched and turned sharply, his features tightening.

Yusuf, sharply: "What do you want?!"

The girl, with a mischievous smile: "My name's Nora. I'm here to help you."

Yusuf, frowning: "I didn't ask for help."

Nora, playfully insistent: "Then I'm just here… to meddle in your business."

She gave a wide, cheeky smile, then suddenly transformed into a transparent-winged butterfly and flew through the window into a dusty study. Yusuf followed, turning into a butterfly himself. Once inside, she returned to her human form, rummaging through books with searching eyes.

Yusuf, turning back into a man, angrily: "Stop! Get out of here!"

Nora, raising a brow, challenging: "Make me… if you can."

As he stood near the window, he heard someone trying to unlock the study door. He rushed toward it, but Nora shoved him out the window. Midair, he transformed into a sleek black cat with silver stripes and gracefully climbed the pipes.

Sarah peeked out the window and saw the cat:

"Meow? What are you doing here? Oh, you're adorable!"

Yaqub came up behind her, gently picked up the cat, and was soon joined by Adam and Eva.

Adam: "Let's keep him!"

Eva, jumping excitedly: "I'm naming him Marco!"

They placed the cat in the middle of the living room, where the children played around him gleefully. Sarah and Yaqub sat on the couch, chatting softly.

Yaqub, sadly: "My daughter loves animals… but I don't know what changed her — or him — to become this cruel."

The cat listened closely, its glittering eyes revealing nothing.

Suddenly, a violent crash echoed from the study. Sarah rushed to hide the children in their room and locked the door. Yaqub grabbed his weapon and ran to the sound, with the cat tailing him closely.

He opened the door slowly and found massive brown bears fighting fiercely. He fired, but missed. One bear leapt out the window, while the other turned toward Yaqub with fury.

Yaqub, staring hard: "I know it's you, Yusuf."

The bear moved toward him with heavy steps, its breath steaming.

Yaqub, shouting: "I know you're the seer — the sorcerer who sacrificed his son's soul!"

Sarah burst in with a weapon and fired. The bear fled out the window.

Sarah, breathless: "Are you okay?!"

Just then, they heard the children scream. They rushed to the room, the cat ahead of them.

Inside, Judy and Noah were trying to abduct Adam. Judy held him tightly, gun in hand, while Noah pointed his weapon at Yaqub and Sarah.

In the heat of the moment, a giant eagle swooped in through the window, snatching Judy and flying away. Noah, stunned, fled through the window.

Silence returned. Sarah embraced her son, and the cat resumed playing with Adam.

But amid the calm, the cat quietly slipped out, exited the house, and transformed into a hawk. It soared into the sky until it perched on a distant tree, eyes locked on Judy's house.

The house was empty. Yusuf, now in human form, sat behind the trees, watching quietly, until a stunning woman emerged. Her hair wild and gypsy-like, eyes as green as the forest, bronze skin, and a figure carved like sandglass stone.

She crept toward Judy's house cautiously, a hidden knife behind her back. She didn't know she was being watched.

Yusuf, stepping out of the shadows: "Hello."

She looked at him coldly, then suddenly raised her knife and tried to stab him. He caught her hand and pinned her to a tree, sadness flooding his face.

Yusuf, pleading: "Who are you?!"

She spat in his face: "I'll kill you, Yusuf!"

A sharp pain struck his chest. He closed his eyes and whispered in anguish:

"I… I've lost my memory. Please… who are you?!"

Her eyes filled with tears as she whispered in a broken voice:

"Go to the nanny… she'll tell you."

Yusuf, breathing heavily: "Where can I find her?!"

She lowered her head, a single tear sliding down her lovely cheek. She whispered:

"It doesn't matter… none of it matters."

Then she ran into the forest.

Yusuf chased after her — but Nora suddenly appeared.

Nora, smiling slyly: "You really don't remember Tamara?"

Yusuf, stunned: "Her name is Tamara?!"

Nora: "She's the mother of the boy… the one you don't want."

Yusuf, confused: "Was she my wife?!"

Nora, calmly: "I don't know the full story… but I know you split up before the handsome boy came along."

Yusuf: "Who is the nanny?!"

Nora, staring: "You mean the seer?"

Yusuf, in disbelief: "How many seers are in this country?!"

Nora, laughing: "Plenty… more than you think."

She stepped closer and whispered:

"I found her house… I'll take you there — but on one condition."

Yusuf, alert: "What is it?"

Nora: "You tell me what you find inside."

He agreed. She smirked and transformed into a small yellow bird, soaring above the alleys until she landed before a crumbling house.

They returned to their human forms. She pointed and said:

"I'll wait here."

Then she turned into a gray cat and sat beside a trash bin.

Yusuf stood staring at the old house — shattered windows, torn curtains — anxiety tightening around his chest.

"Who is that woman? What am I to her? And… am I really the villain everyone says I am?"

He remained still, questions swirling inside him… with no answers in sight.