As Imran took a step toward him, Amir could see the years of pain and bitterness etched in his face. This wasn’t just about ideology—Imran had become a product of the very hatred they had once vowed to overcome.
**Amir:** (pleading) “Imran, stop. We don’t have to keep fighting. We can still fix this. There’s still time.”
Imran hesitated, his knife poised in his hand. For a moment, the fire in his eyes flickered, and Amir saw the friend he had once known—the young man full of hope and passion for a better future.
But then, something hardened in Imran’s gaze.
**Imran:** (whispering) “There’s no going back, Amir. Not for me.”
Before Amir could respond, another explosion rocked the nearby buildings, sending another wave of debris crashing down around them. The roof beneath them groaned and began to shift. They were running out of time.
**Amir:** “Imran, don’t do this! If we go down this path, there’ll be nothing left. Not for us, not for the country. We can still—”
Imran’s hand tightened around the knife, his jaw clenched.
**Imran:** “It’s too late.”
Suddenly, the rooftop caved in again, and Amir felt himself falling once more. He hit the ground hard, his vision going black for a few moments. When he came to, everything was chaos—flames licking at the walls, smoke filling the air. He could hear voices in the distance, shouting commands, but it was all a blur.
Through the haze, Amir saw Imran lying a few feet away, his body limp among the rubble. Amir crawled toward him, his body aching with every movement.
When he reached him, he could see the life fading from Imran’s eyes.
**Imran:** (weakly) “You… should’ve… stayed out of this.”
Amir shook his head, his voice breaking.
**Amir:** “I couldn’t. You know I couldn’t.”
Imran coughed, blood trickling from his mouth. His eyes flickered toward the burning city behind them.
**Imran:** (whispering) “It’s all falling apart… isn’t it?”
Amir’s heart ached. He wanted to believe that there was still hope, that they could still salvage something from the wreckage. But as he looked at Imran, he realized that some things couldn’t be undone.
YOU ARE READING
The Three Gates
AdventureA journey of a man discovering himself, finding love and fighting for his motherland. Can he hold the fort on all three gates?
