What is that sound?
I shouted loudly: "Mom, are you okay?!"
It sounded like a thief had broken into the house.
I slowly walked out of my room, looking right and left.
I went to a drawer in my room—my mom keeps a weapon there in case something happens.
I stepped out slowly and heard what seemed like my mom screaming, or trying to hold back a scream.
I moved quietly until I got close to the kitchen.
I pressed my back against the wall and looked with the corner of my eye.
I saw a man wearing a mask, holding a gun pointed at my mom, who was on the floor saying, "Believe me, my son is outside!"
The man started to pull the safety...
But I fired from behind.
I was terrified. My hands were shaking.
Then my mom hugged me and said:
"You did the right thing to save me. This is not killing. It's protection, and it's a good thing. Thank you."
---
Nadim woke up
From a nap that came after his finger was cut off by people from the prostitution company.
But why did that happen? Why?!
He started trying to remember…
One time, when he was with Ghufran.
(Flashback)
"This place is beautiful.
Yes, they are animals, but they are better than humans," Ghufran said with a smile.
Nadim, very happy just to talk to her, said:
"What about me?"
Ghufran laughed: "Are you comparing yourself to animals?!"
Nadim, embarrassed: "Sorry… as you know, my social skills are zero."
Ghufran: "It's okay."
Nadim: "I have a question. How does Khaled keep the girls from running away?"
Ghufran, her mood clearly ruined, said:
"He makes us sign contracts to keep us.
Each girl signs one.
The contracts are electronic, and he writes them himself, so he puts huge penalties that no girl can afford.
That's why they stay."
Nadim: "And where are these contracts kept?"
Ghufran: "There's a special room for Walaa—she's the manager.
It has a laptop with all the contracts.
And I think there are paper contracts in the same room too."
Nadim: "I want to ask you a favor.
Try to stop doing the job.
Do something that makes the client hate it or feel turned off.
I don't want you to go through this again."
Ghufran: "Like what?"
Nadim: "Anything, like… I'm sorry—maybe hurt yourself a little, or make a small scratch, or spray something with a bad smell.
Trust me, maybe the client will stop."
Ghufran: "Okay… I'll try."
---
A week later
Ghufran, on the phone with Nadim:
"Thank you.
It worked.
The client refused."
---
Back to the present
Nadim said:
"I don't know why they cut off my finger,
but maybe it was because of this…
But how did they know?
Sadly, I need to get my finger back."
He called Ghufran, full of sadness, and asked to meet her.
He also prepared a listening device.
---
"Hi Nadim.
Honestly, I'm really happy to see you.
What's this?
Your finger is cut off?
What happened?"
Nadim: "I fell."
Ghufran: "No way.
What really happened?"
Nadim: "Nothing.
Believe me, I'll get my finger back today.
But I need to tell you two things…
Don't be surprised."
Ghufran: "What?"
Nadim: "First, I love you.
And I'm ready to do anything for you."
Ghufran's face turned red and she was about to speak, but Nadim interrupted:
"I don't want a reply now.
Second… I don't want to see you again.
I don't want to know you."
He said it while holding back tears with great difficulty.
She was silent for a moment, then cried and said:
"Nothing new…
Everything good turns bad.
I thought Khaled came to ask my dad to marry me because we had meetings and moments.
So I fell for him.
But in the end, he used me.
And you… you're the same.
No different.
You were my only hope."
Nadim: "Believe me, I have to.
I'm sorry."
Ghufran left immediately.
Nadim tried to follow her, but he stopped.
He went back home.
The doorbell rang.
He opened it and found a box.
He brought it inside.
Opened it…
And found his finger inside.
He immediately went to the micro-surgeon.
---
Nadim came back after the surgery to reattach his finger.
It was a success.
But he came back angry…
He wanted to do something.
They destroyed his only love.
He opened his phone and called someone he barely knew.
"Hi Sherif.
I need a favor.
I'll pay you."
— "What is it?"
"I want to hack a computer.
What do you need?"
— "Just bring the computer.
Don't worry.
And get as much money ready as you can."
Nadim ended the call…
And began preparing his plan to destroy the prostitution company.