NO ONE IS SAFE ... The Hidden Raaz

The forest was swallowed by darkness.

Rain poured through the dense canopy, dripping from the leaves and striking the muddy ground beneath. The wind moved between the trees, making the branches sway and scrape against one another. Somewhere deep in the darkness, an owl cried, its eerie call echoing through the forest before disappearing into the night.

Then came the sound of footsteps.

Someone was running.

Fast.

The figure stumbled through the wet undergrowth, struggling to see through the darkness and rain. Breathing came in short, desperate gasps. Clothes were soaked, branches scratched against bare skin, and mud splashed beneath every hurried step.

Fear had become stronger than exhaustion.

The figure kept running.

Then came another sound.

A footstep behind.

The figure looked back.

Only rain.

Only trees.

Nothing could be seen clearly through the darkness.

Another footstep.

Closer.

The figure ran faster.

The footsteps followed.

They were not hurried.

They were steady.

Patient.

The figure pushed through a cluster of wet branches, almost losing balance. Panic tightened in the chest as the sound behind grew nearer.

Another step.

Closer.

The figure suddenly slipped.

A foot caught against a hidden root, and the body crashed heavily onto the muddy ground.

For a moment, there was no movement.

The rain continued falling.

Then even the forest seemed to fall silent.

The figure slowly lifted the head.

Between the trees, something moved.

A dark shape stood in the distance.

The figure tried to crawl backward.

And then a terrified scream tore through the forest.

---

Two Years Later

Rain hammered against the windshield.

The wipers moved rapidly across the glass, fighting to keep the road visible. Beyond the headlights, the night was almost completely black. Dense trees stood on both sides of the winding road, their wet branches bending in the strong wind.

Myra rested one hand against the cold window and watched the blurred darkness outside.

She tried to think about the reunion instead.

Seeing everyone again after two years should have made her excited. She had been looking forward to meeting her old friends, spending time together, and finally getting away from the routine of everyday life.

But tonight, something felt different.

A sudden burst of headlights appeared directly ahead.

Myra's body tensed.

Myra: "Zayn, watch out! Be careful!"

A huge truck came through the rain, dangerously close to their lane.

Zayn immediately turned the steering wheel.

The truck thundered past them, spraying water across the windshield. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Myra's heart was still pounding.

Myra: "Zayn, that truck almost collided with us."

Zayn: "I'm sorry, Myra. I couldn't see it properly through the rain."

Zayn rubbed his tired eyes and tightened his hands around the steering wheel.

Zayn: "I've been driving for almost two hours. My eyes are getting heavy, and this road doesn't seem to end."

Myra turned toward him.

Myra: "Then let's stop at the next petrol station. We can rest for a little while, get something to drink, and continue when you're feeling better."

Zayn nodded.

Zayn: "That's probably a good idea."

The car continued through the rain.

For a few minutes, Myra remained quiet.

Then she noticed something in the rearview mirror.

Two headlights.

A car was travelling behind them.

She watched it for a few seconds before looking away.

A little later, she checked again.

The same car.

Still behind them.

Myra shifted in her seat.

Zayn noticed.

Zayn: "Myra, why do you look so tense?"

She hesitated.

Myra: "There is a black car behind us."

Zayn glanced at the rearview mirror.

Zayn: "I can see it."

Myra: "It's been behind us for a long time."

Zayn: "Maybe we're going in the same direction."

Myra looked back again.

Myra: "I know. Maybe you're right. But something about it doesn't feel right."

Zayn gave her a brief smile.

Zayn: "Myra, you're probably overthinking it. You watch too many movies."

She didn't smile.

Instead, she kept watching the mirror.

Myra: "Slow down a little."

Zayn looked at her.

Zayn: "Why?"

Myra: "Just slow down."

He eased his foot off the accelerator.

The car slowed.

The black car behind them slowed too.

Myra's stomach tightened.

Myra: "Now speed up."

Zayn looked at her again, this time more seriously.

Zayn: "Myra..."

Myra: "Please."

He pressed the accelerator.

Their car picked up speed.

A few seconds later, the black car did the same.

Myra stared at the headlights.

Myra: "See?"

Zayn looked into the mirror again.

Zayn: "It could still be coincidence."

Myra: "Maybe."

She looked away from the mirror, but the uneasy feeling remained.

Zayn tried to change the subject.

Zayn: "Did you receive any call from them?"

Myra took out her phone.

She looked at the screen.

Myra: "No. There is no signal."

She raised the phone slightly, hoping another bar might appear.

Nothing.

Myra: "We're too far from the city. I can't contact anyone."

Zayn: "It's fine. We'll reach there soon."

Myra placed the phone beside her.

Then she looked into the rearview mirror again.

The black car was still there.

The rain continued to fall.

The road stretched ahead into darkness.

A few minutes later, a small illuminated sign appeared through the rain.

PETROL STATION.

Zayn turned the car into the station.

The place looked almost deserted.

A few dim lights flickered above the fuel pumps. A small shop stood at the far end, glowing faintly through the heavy rain. Beyond the station, the forest disappeared into darkness.

Zayn parked the car.

Zayn: "The rain is getting heavier. Stay here. I'll get something for us to eat and drink."

Myra: "Okay."

Zayn: "I won't be long."

Zayn opened the door and hurried toward the shop.

Myra watched him disappear through the entrance.

Then she looked toward the road.

Her heart suddenly sank.

The black car had entered the petrol station too.

It stopped several metres away.

Myra stared through the rain-covered windshield.

Nobody stepped out.

She waited.

Nothing happened.

She tried to see through the dark glass.

There was no clear outline of a driver.

No movement.

Myra looked toward the shop.

Zayn was inside.

She turned back toward the black car.

Still nothing.

A strange uneasiness crawled through her chest.

She reached down and locked the doors.

The sound of the locks clicking into place suddenly seemed far too loud inside the car.

Myra looked around the station.

The rain was falling harder now.

The lights above the pumps flickered.

Then a shadow moved near the side of her car.

Myra froze.

She slowly turned toward the window.

Nothing.

She looked toward the shop.

She couldn't see Zayn anymore.

She looked back toward the black car.

Her breath caught.

The car was gone.

Myra stared at the empty space where it had been parked.

She looked toward the entrance of the station.

Nothing.

She looked down the road.

No headlights.

No sound of an engine.

No tires moving across the wet ground.

The car had disappeared.

Myra's breathing became shallow.

She slowly turned toward the passenger-side window.

For a moment, she saw only her own reflection in the dark glass.

Then something appeared behind it.

A hand.

Pressed against the window.

Myra froze.

The fingers slowly spread across the glass.

She couldn't move.

She couldn't breathe.

And then she screamed.

---

End of Chapter One