Episode 5
Haroon was wiping the blood off his torn shirt when suddenly the door opened on its own and Helen entered the room. Haroon looked at her with protest in his eyes and showed her his blood-soaked shirt.
"Look... this is how your friend treated me," he said angrily.
"I'm sorry, Haroon... but honestly, if you'd just agreed to what she asked, none of this would have happened," Helen said, avoiding his gaze.
"What are you saying? Instead of reprimanding her, you're blaming me?" Haroon asked in disbelief. "I want to leave this place immediately."
"I... I want to explain something to you," Helen said, trying to sound conciliatory.
"What? What exactly do you want to explain?" Haroon said sharply.
"Relax, Haroon... Right now, we're all forced to follow Jenny's orders," Helen explained.
"But why? Why are you so powerless in front of her?" Haroon asked with confused eyes.
"Because we all work under her. She has great powers. This farmhouse also belongs to her, and it's completely enchanted. No one can enter or leave without her permission. She just wants to keep you with her for a few days," Helen tried to explain.
"Why does she want to keep me? I'm not her servant to stay here at her command!" Haroon's patience was wearing thin.
"You don't understand her power. Things here go exactly how she wants. She's very stubborn, and if you disobey her, she won't even spare her friends. You'll have to stay here for a few days and obey her... or else..."
"Or else what?" Haroon interrupted, sensing her changing tone.
"Or else she could hurt all of us," Helen said, still trying to reason with him.
"But... you didn't tell me any of this earlier. You tricked me. You set me up deliberately. And all of it was at Jenny's request!" Haroon said sternly.
"Yes, yes, I did all that. If Jenny liked you, how is it my fault? From your behavior, I thought you'd enjoy it too. But you turned out to be so old-fashioned. Asad isn't like this—he goes on dates with girls all the time," Helen said with frustration.
"I don't care. I just want to get out of here!" Haroon said bitterly.
"That's not possible now. You'll have to stay here for a few more days," Helen said firmly.
"So you'll just leave me here?" Haroon asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Helen replied bluntly.
"What will you tell my brother?" Haroon asked, staring at her.
"Leave that to me," she said, decisively.
"So, you've had me imprisoned here?" Haroon asked helplessly.
"You're twisting things. It's just a matter of a day or two. I'll come back and take you myself. Just don't provoke Jenny anymore. I'll try to get you out of here soon. I'm going now. We'll meet again soon."
As she was leaving, Haroon called after her, "I'm not obeying her!"
Helen turned back angrily and said, "To hell with you."
He sat down in sorrow, watching Helen leave.
---
Haroon sighed and began thinking about his situation. Out of nowhere, he had landed in this trouble. Now, he saw no way out but to stay. He had to accept this unexpected misfortune.
Suddenly, he noticed the door—Helen had left it open. Using the table for support, he stood up. Due to his head injury, he was dizzy. He tore his shirt and wrapped it around his head like a bandage. Slowly, he moved toward the door.
He stepped down the stairs and entered the hall, where that terrifying statue stood—the one with a human head and the body of a beast. The hall was now dimly lit.
He felt like he wasn't alone.
"Is someone there?" he asked while scanning the room.
Fear gripped him. He couldn't see anyone, but someone was surely watching him.
Suddenly, he felt a chill he had never experienced before. He froze. His feet were stuck like nails. He couldn't move forward or backward. Panic took over. He wasn't a coward, but in that moment, he had become one—or had been made into one.
With immense effort, he managed to turn his head. But just as quickly, it felt like someone forcefully turned his head forward again. He was now fully in someone's control—some strange force had possessed him.
His heart pounded. Something was forcing him to look in a specific direction—a pitch-black area.
Suddenly, two glowing eyes appeared in the darkness.
Haroon wanted to run but couldn't move a muscle. Something was crawling up his leg, and he couldn't even look down.
Some creature was climbing up his body. He couldn't stop it. The creature reached his chest, then his neck. When it touched his lips, the slimy texture made him nauseous.
He shook his body violently and the creature fell to the floor with a thud. At that moment, he regained control of his body and tried to run, but a voice from behind said, "Stop."
He froze—as if enchanted.
"Turn around."
He obediently turned toward the darkness.
"What is your name?" the voice commanded.
"Ha... Haroon," he barely managed to speak.
"Open that wardrobe," the voice ordered.
Haroon walked toward the wardrobe in the corner and opened it. It was full of clothes. He looked toward the source of the voice, as if asking, "What now?"
"Look at yourself. Take off those clothes and put on something new."
Haroon silently obeyed. After changing, he looked back toward the voice.
Two glowing eyes appeared in the darkness and began to approach. Haroon flinched when he saw Jenny standing there with a smile.
"What happened? All your pride gone now? Now you've seen what I can do."
Haroon stared at her in shock.
"I could make you my servant forever. But I'm not cruel. I'm not forcing anything on you. I'm still offering you my friendship. Now it's your choice—stay trapped here forever or win your freedom."
Haroon looked at her nervously, unable to decide.
"You must be tired. Go rest now. I'll give you time to think."
---
The next day, Haroon sat on the bed thinking about everything—especially Asad. If Asad had warned him about Helen earlier, he wouldn't have gotten so close to her.
Suddenly, Jenny entered the room.
"You still look tense. Come, let me show you around."
Haroon didn't want to go, but he decided to compromise with the situation. "Okay, as you wish."
Jenny took his hand and led him outside. What he saw stunned him.
Last night, there had been nothing but darkness and shrubs. But now, in front of him was a vast ocean. The sky was dotted with clouds, birds flying here and there. A small boat floated near the shore. Haroon felt like he had stepped into paradise.
"Come, Haroon," Jenny said, pulling him into the boat. As they sat, it began moving gently on its own. A soothing breeze blew.
Jenny pulled out a cigarette pack from her purse and handed it to him. "The first time I saw you, you had a cigarette between your fingers. You looked really good then."
Haroon took the pack and lit one. He really needed it.
Jenny smiled at him. "Beautiful view, isn't it?"
"It's nice," Haroon said, taking a puff.
"I love views like this," Jenny said, looking at him. But Haroon remained quiet.
"Oh come on, you're still under stress. Please... relax. Consider me your friend. Treat me well and you'll find me kind in return."
"You're right. It's peaceful here," Haroon said, trying to change the subject. He dipped his hand into the water but it stayed dry. He looked at his hand in disbelief.
They stayed on the boat for a long time. Jenny continued speaking kindly, and Haroon nodded along. She kept assuring him she meant no harm.
Back on shore, she said, "Let's get something to eat. I feel so relaxed after that peaceful ride. Don't you?"
"Yeah... kind of," Haroon replied.
"Let's go eat then," she said.
"Does no one ever come here?" Haroon asked, noticing how quiet it was.
"No... because this place, including us, is invisible to the outside world. Without my permission, not even a bird can enter or leave."
Haroon looked at her in amazement.
At the dining table, Haroon sat across from Jenny. He wasn't hungry, but he forced himself to eat quietly.
"So... what have you decided?" Jenny asked with a sly smile.
Haroon looked at her nervously. He had no choice left. He now understood her powers.
"If I agree to what you want... will you let me go?" he asked.
"Yes. I promise. I'll set you free," Jenny replied with a triumphant smile.
"Alright... I agree," Haroon said after a long pause.
---
Meanwhile, Helen arrived at her house in her black BMW and noticed Asad's Mercedes at her door. She entered in panic to find Asad sitting on the couch, looking worried.
"You're back... any news about Haroon?" she asked with a fake worried expression.
"No... but I'll find him soon," Asad replied, staring at her.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Asad went to answer and returned with a police team. Their leader, a smart-looking officer, introduced himself and sat with Asad.
Helen stood up, suddenly remembering her hostess duties. "Would you like tea or coffee?"
"That's not necessary, Mrs. Asad. We just need your statement," the inspector replied.
"My statement?" Helen looked at Asad, then said, "Okay. I'll cooperate fully."
"Thank you, Mrs. Asad," said the inspector. "First, tell us where you were the night Haroon disappeared."
"I'm usually out a lot. That night too, I came home late. I thought Haroon was asleep in his room, so I didn't check. In the morning, he was gone, and his phone was off. That's when I called Asad."
"So you're saying you don't know anything about Haroon, and he wasn't with you that night?" the inspector asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Yes... I know nothing," Helen said, glancing at Asad, who was glaring at her.
"You're lying," Asad said.
"What are you saying?" Helen asked, surprised.
"Before you even called, Haroon had sent me a voice message," Asad replied.
"What message?" Helen asked.
Asad pulled out his phone, placed it on the table, and played Haroon's voice message, recorded before he went with Helen:
"Hello brother, you said people here don't interfere in others' matters and that everyone is free. But I still didn't feel right going out with Bhabhi without your permission. So I'm informing you now. Please don't be upset with her. I'm going with her of my own free will to meet her friends. Take care, goodbye."
Helen looked from Asad to the phone in disbelief.
To be continued...
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