Prologue
Dr. Sharif pressed the pedal hard as she drove her blue Elantra up the steep hill. With great difficulty, the car rode up the hill and stopped before a brown two story house. She turned off her hybrid car and left it. She locked the doors and stood outside, staring at the black starry sky.
She searched the sky for any constellations, and wasn’t disappointed. She found the Big Dipper, Orion, and a small cluster of stars that looked like a small tulip. She watched as the dark grey clouds scuttled across the night sky, hiding a good amount of stars.
Talk about annoying.
Dr. Sharif bit back a sigh and moved her gaze elsewhere. From her spot, she could see the glittering lights from the city of Gongura. She observed those sparkling lights with mixed emotions. She knew the horrid history of that place very well. That’s why she can’t enjoy the beauty of Gongura City without a guilty conscience. If it was up to her, then she wouldn’t have come back home. However, this was the only hideout she had.
It’ll take some time for that psychopath to find me.
And when he does—
At that thought, Dr. Sharif shuddered slightly. There was news that he’s somewhere in Kerala. What’s more, she heard the soft footsteps of an assassin. She felt for her pistol and gripped it tightly. She looked around, searching for that person.
Her heart rate quickened at the sight of the familiar yet menacing figure. Dr. Sharif calmed her heart down and pulled out her pistol from her coat pocket.
“It’s been a while, you psychopath.” she said coldly.
The figure before her, a pale individual with red eyes and a black cloak, glared at her.
“Look who’s talking,” came a cruel and bitter reply, “You’re no better, Doctor. Either you’re firing people or you’re sending them off to the Void. You and your dumb inventions have ruined—”
“Shut up,” she interrupted curtly, placing a finger on the trigger, “You know nothing, Ernesto.”
Ernesto stiffened at the sound of his name.
“Don’t call me that,” he retorted tersely.
“Why?” Dr. Sharif inquired, impertinent, “Aren’t you as psychotic as your father?”
“Shut up!” he shouted, enraged to the core, “I’m nothing like that jerk!”
At that, he aimed at Dr. Sharif’s heart, his hands shaking with rage. Dr. Sharif watched as he handled his gun upside down.
That psycho forgot how to use a gun.
Probably because he’s used bombs far too much.
“Your gun is upside down,” she pointed out, bored.
Ernesto didn’t respond and put his finger on the trigger. Together, they both shot and tried to dodge. Ernesto moved away on time. As for Dr. Sharif, no matter how hard she tried, the bullet followed her even when she ran down the hill. She paused for a second to look behind. Ernesto was climbing down the hill, his expression indescribable. Before Dr. Sharif could continue running, the bullet hit her heart.
Dr. Sharif winced as her heart throbbed painfully. Then, it started rising onto her throat. She choked on it and mumbled the shahada before losing consciousness.
Ernesto watched as she fell down the hill. He expected to feel gleeful at his enemy’s demise. However, he felt nothing but emptiness. Turns out, her death wasn’t the revenge he wanted.
No.. I should ruin her life, because she ruined mine!
He took out a piece of paper and a small blue marble with green and white specks from a velvet bag. Ernesto followed the instructions and stared at the portal below.
Let’s see where this takes me.
