The Stranger In The Dark
𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐝 Destinies~ The Secrets of Us ~
Written by: Tahreem Anwar
Chapter One: When Silence Spoke
It was a quiet afternoon in the park. Children laughed in the distance, swings creaked rhythmically, and the breeze danced lazily through the leaves. The sun cast a golden hue across the grass.
Zara, a simple girl of five-foot-three with fair skin and enchanting green eyes, sat beneath a large tree with her best friend. Her yellow shalwar kameez fluttered softly in the breeze. A white mask hid her face, as she was nursing a mild fever and cold. Despite feeling unwell, she had insisted on coming out to clear her mind.
Meanwhile, in a completely different world, Zavian was trapped in one of the city’s most prestigious schools. Six feet two, lean but strong, with a calm face hiding a storm underneath. His blue eyes scanned the result board—his name was on top again.
Student: “Of course Zavian topped. It’s the money, not the brains.”
Another: “Bodyguards, luxury, power… must be nice to buy success.”
He didn’t respond. He never did. Their words echoed in his ears as he walked home in silence. His parents congratulated him with hollow smiles and grand promises. Yet inside, Zavian felt nothing.
Late that night, unable to sleep, he wandered into his father’s study. The room smelled of old leather and secrets. Behind a dusty shelf, he found a locked drawer—and the key hidden inside a thick book titled Inheritance & Legacy. Within the drawer: a photograph of a young girl with green eyes and a bracelet he would never forget, standing beside his father. Written on the back: Zara — Confidential.
Zavian (confused, whispering): “Who is she? Why would my father have this?”
Driven by frustration, anger, and a deep sense of betrayal, Zavian climbed out his window and vanished into the night. The city lights blurred as he ran through backstreets and alleys, eventually disappearing into the one place he remembered as peaceful—the old park.
Zara, still playing hide and seek, had found the perfect spot to hide: an old storage room tucked behind the maintenance shed. She snuck inside, unaware of the storm about to crash into her world.
Zavian ran into the same room moments later, panting. As he turned, their eyes met. She gasped. He froze.
In a single moment, he reached forward, placing his hand gently over her mouth. She was startled, trembling. His eyes softened. Green eyes. That same bracelet. It was her.
Zavian (softly): “Please... don’t scream. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Zara (muffled): “Mmhmm…” (nods slightly)
They stood in silence as the world outside moved on. Footsteps passed. Then… click. The door locked. They were trapped inside together.
Zara (panicking): “W-we’re locked in! Someone, help!”
Zavian (calm): “It’s okay. They’ll leave soon. Just… stay quiet.”
She turned to him, breathing heavily. There was something about him—something broken yet strong. Something familiar.
Zavian: “Your name… is it Zara?”
Zara (suspicious): “Yes… why?”
Zavian (pulling the photo from his pocket): “Because I’ve seen this…”
Before she could react, loud footsteps rushed toward the room. The door burst open. Bodyguards stormed in, grabbed Zavian by the arms.
Zara: “Wait! What’s going on?!”
Zavian (struggling): “Zara… there’s more... you need to know... find me!”
As he was forced outside, something slipped from his jacket — a small ID card with his photo, name, and a strange symbol.
Zara picked it up, heart pounding. She stared at it, then toward the van vanishing into the street.
She whispered to herself, stunned: “Who are you, Zavian?”
And so, one quiet afternoon unraveled into a mystery far greater than either of them imagined. The silence had finally spoken.
~ TO BE CONTINUED ~
