The sound of Nora and her brother's sobs filled that heavy night.
Yousef stood silent by the mesh, his face pale, his eyes fixed on nothing—
as if words had abandoned him,
as if the night itself was growing thicker.
When the first light of dawn began to slip between the branches,
the mesh quivered ever so slightly,
but did not move any further.
The air carried whispers from afar,
as if the forest was breathing again after a night of nightmares.
Noah crept forward on hesitant feet,
his eyes searching through the shadows.
Noah (in a worried whisper): Yousef… can you hear me?
Yousef (weakly): Bring something sharp… the mesh won't open without it.
A voice came from the mesh beside him—the boy:
Boy: No… nothing sharp will open it. Burn it. This kind can only be undone by fire.
Yousef: Don't listen to him… he's lost… adrift.
Nora (pleading): Burn the mesh. It won't harm us.
But he didn't listen.
He drew a sharp knife and stepped forward cautiously.
The moment the blade touched the mesh,
a strange force lashed out,
knocking the knife from his hand.
Yousef (breathing fast): Then… burn it. But start with mine.
Boy (with bitter sarcasm): I hope you burn with it.
Noah grabbed a tree branch and lit it from a small fire he had kindled with the coals of the past night.
Slowly, hesitantly, he brought the flame to Yousef's mesh.
The moment it touched the metal,
it ignited with frightening speed.
Noah cried out, thinking Yousef was burning alive—
but then he saw him fall from the frame to the ground, unharmed.
Noah leapt with joy, tears brimming in his eyes.
Yousef (with a tired smile): Save my children…
He burned the second mesh,
and Nora and her brother tumbled to the ground without injury.
Boy (hesitant): Are… are you okay?
Nora (tearful whisper): Yes… but Tamaris… she's dead.
Silence fell heavy with grief.
Yousef approached slowly,
but the boy's eyes suddenly flared with a fire of anger.
Boy (sharply): Don't come closer! Don't!
Yousef stopped, a hand on his chest, searching for breath.
Yousef (looking at them): I'm sorry… truly sorry.
He looked at his sister—
and then, suddenly, he turned into a black crow,
cawing loudly,
and she followed him.
Two black specks vanished into the gray sky.
Yousef fell to his knees, hands clutching his chest,
breaking into bitter sobs.
Noah stood watching him with worry,
a ghost of an old memory stinging his mind.
He began to walk away,
eyes welling with tears—
but stopped suddenly.
Yousef (sobbing wildly): Don't leave me… my friend… please, don't leave me.
Noah (coming back and sitting beside him): No, I won't leave you… I'm your friend.
Suddenly, two black birds landed,
shifting into human-like shadows behind Yousef.
Noah jumped in fear and hid behind him.
Then a phone rang—
followed by the nanny's angry voice:
Nanny (over the phone): Yousef!! Where are you?! Where is Tamar?!!
Noah pulled out his phone quickly,
trying to capture the shadows on camera—
but a notification popped up,
freezing him in place.
Noah (in shock): Yousef! There's breaking news… your daughter Eva has been kidnapped! They're searching for her right now!
Yousef (jerking upright): What?!
Nanny (shouting): Where is Tamaris?!!
Yousef: I'll explain later… but I have to go.
He transformed into a massive bald eagle
and soared away.
Noah (trembling at the shadows): Yousef… don't leave me with them…
But Yousef didn't answer.
Noah (in a pained whisper): You said you were my friend…
Suddenly, the eagle returned,
snatching Noah up and flying through the clouds,
until he set him down safely in the middle of the city.
Then he shot off toward his palace—
his heart breaking,
his mind filled with the image of his little girl dancing, laughing,
calling him Daddy.
He landed at the palace garden gates,
returning to human form.
His eyes glistened with tears,
his breath uneven.
But the moment he took his first step toward the palace—
flames exploded from within.
He froze in shock,
and everything inside him shattered in an instant