Destined Strangers

Chapter 9

"For a woman to be, beloved is a rare freedom of joy."

Jaweria kamil

🌙

The night has passed, and it's surprising that no one has come to the room yet. The cold seeps through the walls, biting at Sania's skin, making her shiver. She pulls her knees to her chest, trying to conserve warmth, but without a coat, it feels hopeless. Her head spins from exhaustion and fear, and there's nothing she can do except pray-pray that someone, anyone, will come to her rescue.

Does anyone know where she is? Has Hassan found out? Will he come to save her? The questions swirl in her mind, mingling with the quiet desperation gnawing at her chest. Still, amid the uncertainty, a faint glimmer of hope flickers. She closes her eyes, inhaling deeply, and sits down on the edge of the bed, willing her heart to calm its erratic rhythm. But then, the sound of the door creaking open shatters the stillness.

Her eyes snap open. A man steps into the room, and her pulse quickens. It isn't the same figure from the night before. This one is shorter, his face hidden beneath a cloth mask, casting long shadows in the dim light.

A sudden surge of fear courses through her veins. The silence amplifies the echo of his footsteps as he walks toward her with slow, deliberate movements. She straightens her spine, her breath catching in her throat as she forces herself to appear brave.

"Don't be afraid," he says, his voice low and gravelly, but Sania doesn't answer. Her gaze is fixed on him, every nerve in her body tensing. He turns his head toward her.

"You know what? You're still as beautiful as ever,"

He says, his rough hand reaching toward her face. Sania flinches instinctively, trying to pull back, but her body feels locked in place, frozen by fear. The man chuckles darkly, the sound heavy and unsettling in the quiet room.

"Do you know me?"

Sania asks, her voice trembling slightly as she tries to find her courage. Her face is set, though the uncertainty within her makes her stomach twist. The dim light of the room casts shadows on his masked face, making it hard to read his expression. He doesn't respond, and instead, he moves closer. His face is almost touching hers now, his breath hot and unsettling against her skin. This time, when Sania speaks, her voice quivers like a leaf in the wind.

"What do you want from me?"

In that moment, he presses his face into her hair. Sania's whole body goes cold, and a shiver runs down her spine as the air around her feels heavy with dread. Her limbs are paralyzed, her body trapped in this nightmare, unable to escape or even react.

"You've made me wait a long time," he whispers, his voice low and husky.

"But now you're here, and that's the most important thing to me."

Sania pulls back, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

"But I didn't come here willingly. You brought me here by force," she says, her voice thick with the weight of the truth, trying to regain some control. With shaky hands, she tries to push him away.

"Are you insane? Let me go!"

She says louder this time, surprise filling her at the strength of her own voice. His face remains hidden, but she can see the fury in his eyes, cold and relentless. Still, he doesn't move forward, his silence heavy in the room.

"If you don't know, then let me tell you-you'll be staying here with me now,"

He says, his voice laced with a dark finality. His grip on her wrist tightens painfully, his fingers digging into her skin, leaving a mark.