𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐦 & 𝐇𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐦

Chapter 7

"Erum, take a look at—"

"I, uh, it's enough for today. You should rest, Zoya. It's already midnight," Erum said cutting Zoya off, who came into the basement just a few seconds ago.

She stood from the table. The laptop still showing the not-so-significant data about Veilbreaker.

Erum had realised that she is losing her memory. And it terrifies her a bit.

"What happened?" Zoya asked stepping towards her.

"I said it's nothing. I just don't feel like staying up," Erum spoke back and made her way towards the door.

But she was stopped in her tracks when Zoya reached out, grasping her wrist.

"Are you trying to hide something from me?" Zoya spoke, her voice firm.

"No—"

"You're cold," Zoya spoke when she sensed Erum's cold hands.

"Just let go of me already!" Erum snapped.

Zoya's grip on her wrist loosened before letting go entirely. "Alright." She spoke and turned towards her setup and began shutting the system.

"I didn't meant to snap at you like that," Erum said, realizing her behaviour.

"I would've done that too if I were in your place."

That made her smile faintly. And the next moment, Zoya's yawn broke the silence.

"Guess you're not the only one who feels like staying up," she spoke awkwardly in between her yawn.

Erum nodded now fully feeling lighthearted.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, mera shona bacha."

———

The night stretched long.

Erum lay on her bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. The room was dark — the only light seeping in was the faint blue hue from the digital clock — 1:43 am.

But sleep refused to claim her.

She was losing herself.
Her mind wouldn't stop.
She just wanted a moment of peace.

Today had been worse. She had scrolled through files about Veilbreaker for hours, reading the same lines over and over again without realizing it.

She had known those things before, she knew. But all of it felt new.

'So I have lost first 15 years memory of my life and I'm slowly losing the others.' She thought.

'But how? The hit by that truck two years ago could make sense but... continous memory loss? How is that possible?' She closed her eyes.

Erum rubbed her temples and shut her eyes tightly. 'What? What could be the real reason? Think, Erum, think.'

But nothing would come to her mind. It was like her brain becomes blank whenever she tried thinking about past.

She sighed.
She needed a moment. Just one moment of peace.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking the silence.

Erum blinked. Slowly, she reached out, the screen lighting up in the darkness.

One notification.
A message.
From who?
Who else?

Him.
Veilwalker.

The text was simple — unsettling, like always.

'Why are you up this late, Sevgilim?'