Nine Year's Earlier
Rain pounded relentlessly against the windows while thunder roared through the sky, each clap shaking the house beneath it. Every flash of lightning illuminated the darkness for a heartbeat before everything faded into black once again.
Curled up on her bed, Twelve year old Liyana was completely lost in the pages of her favorite storybook, unaware of the storm raging outside.
Bang!
A gunshot shattered the silence.
The lights flickered once before the entire house was swallowed by darkness.
Liyana froze.
Her book slipped from her trembling hands as her heart began pounding violently against her chest.
Slowly, she climbed off the bed and pushed her bedroom door open.
"Mom?" she called softly, her voice trembling.
"...Brother?"
No answer.
Fear creeping into every step, she made her way downstairs, gripping the railing tightly.
"Mom...?"
"Brother...?"
Before she reached the last step, someone suddenly pulled her back.
She let out a frightened gasp.A hand quickly covered her mouth."It's me," her brother whispered. "Don't make a sound."Relief washed over her, but only for a moment.
The fear in his eyes frightened her even more.
Without saying another word, he took her hand and hurried her into the living room. He opened a large wooden cabinet and gently helped her climb inside.
"Brother" she whispered, her voice shaking. "What's happening?"He crouched in front of her, holding both of her small hands tightly."Liyana listen to me carefully."
She nodded.
"No matter what happens... don't come out until I come back for you."Tears welled up in her eyes."But why?"He gave her a faint smile, the kind that tried to hide the fear behind it.
:When all of this is over, we'll go out for ice cream."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
He gently brushed her hair away from her face before placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
"And one more thing"
His voice grew quieter.
"No matter what happens, Liyana always be brave."
He paused, forcing another smile.
"And never ever lose your courage."
She looked at him for a long moment before giving a small nod.
"I won't."
Her brother smiled one last time.Then he slowly closed the cabinet door and walked away.Moments after her brother disappeared, silence settled over the house.
Then
Bang!
Another gunshot.
Followed by another.
And another.
The deafening echoes shook the walls, making Liyana flinch. She squeezed her eyes shut and clamped both hands over her ears, trying to block out the terrifying sounds.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the house.
More voices.
She couldn't make out what they were saying.
"No matter what happens always be brave."
Her brother's words played over and over in her mind.
"Never ever lose your courage."
She repeated them to herself, clinging to them as though they were the only thing keeping her together.
Then
A familiar voice drifted into the room.
Her father's.
Liyana eyes flew open.
Her heart pounded against her ribs as she hesitantly reached for the cabinet door, opening it just enough to peek through the narrow gap.
The sight before her stole the air from her lungs.Her father was on his kneesA gun was pressed against his head.Her mother stood a few feet away, tears streaming down her face, another man holding her at gunpoint.
On the floor
Her brother lay motionless.
His clothes were soaked in blood as someone dragged his body across the marble floor, leaving a crimson trail behind.
Liyana felt the world collapse around her.
A tiny, broken gasp escaped her lips.
She instantly slapped both hands over her mouth, desperately stopping herself from making another sound.
Tears spilled from her eyes, one after another, refusing to stop.
Her entire body trembled violently.
She wanted to run to them.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to hold her brother and tell him to wake up.
But she couldn't.
She could only sit there
Hidden inside the cabinet
Her father's hands shook as tears streamed down his face.
"Please..." he begged, his broken voice filling the room. "Kill me if you want but don't hurt my children. Please leave my wife alone. Do whatever you want to me, but let them go."
The man standing in front of him looked to be around forty years old. Dressed in a black suit, he stared at him for a long moment before a cold smile spread across his face.
"You should have thought about that." he said quietly, "before making me your enemy."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Only the sound of rain hitting the windows and thunder rumbling outside broke the silence.
Several armed men stood behind him, their guns pointed at Liyana’s family.
Among them was a young man, no older than eighteen.
He stood silently, his face calm and unreadable. His sharp eyes slowly scanned the room, taking in every corner.
Then
His gaze paused.
On the wooden cabinet.
Liyana’s heart almost stopped.
She quickly moved a step back, pressing herself against the back of the cabinet. One hand covered her mouth while the other rested against her racing heart.
She didn't dare breathe.
She didn't dare move.
Outside, the young man's expression didn't change.
After a brief moment, he looked away as if nothing had happened.
But Aniya couldn't stop shaking.
She had no idea whether he had noticed her.
Or whether she had just imagined it.
Before another word could be spoken
Bang!
Another gunshot echoed through the house.
Then another.
And another.
Liyana flinched at every shot.Her body shook violently as tears blurred her vision.In just a few secondsEverything changed.
Her father fell to the floor.
Her mother's scream was cut short before she collapsed beside him.
Blood spread across the white marble, turning it crimson.
Liyana stared in horror, unable to understand what had just happened.
Her mind refused to believe it.
Her eyes slowly moved to her brother.
He was already lying on the floor, covered in blood.
With the little strength he had left, he turned his head toward the cabinet.
Their eyes met.
Very slowly
He shook his head.
A silent warning.
Don't come out.
A sob caught in Aniya's throat, but she quickly covered her mouth with both hands, stopping herself from making a sound.
She didn't understand.
Why was this happening?
Why was everyone leaving her?
A cold voice broke the silence.
The middle-aged man looked toward the young man standing a few steps away.
"Razael"
The eighteen-year-old immediately looked at him.
"Yes, Dad."
The man glanced at the lifeless bodies on the floor before speaking.
"When someone chooses to become my enemy and refuses to listen"
A cruel smile appeared on his face "this is how their story ends."
His eyes settled on Razael.
"I hope you've learned your lesson."
Razael lowered his gaze.
"Yes, Dad."
At the same time, the other men were busy killing the remaining bodyguards and workers in the house.
The room was filled with screamsGunshotsAnd silence that followed.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Alex quietly walked toward the wooden cabinet.
He stopped in front of it.
For a second.
He simply stood there.
Then he slowly opened the cabinet door just enough to look inside.
Curled up in the corner was a little girl.
Tears streamed endlessly down Liyana's pale face. Her small body trembled with fear, but she didn't make a sound.
For a brief moment
Razael simply looked at her.
"Razael?"
His father's voice echoed from behind him.
"What is it?"
Without taking his eyes off the frightened little girl, Razael gently pushed the cabinet door closed.
"Nothing, Dad."
He turned around as though he had seen nothing at all.
