Above them, the shadows shifted. Out of the swirling darkness stepped the man in the neat suit. He looked down at the girls with cold eyes.
He sighed. "Such brave students… and yet, so foolish."
He snapped his fingers. The smoke lifted for a moment, revealing the girls lying motionless on the floor.
He bent down beside Misbah and brushed her hair from her face.
"Do you know why this place is full of sorrow?" he whispered.
"Because secrets feed on pain. And I… feed on secrets."
He stood up and looked at the others.
"I gave Minha a purpose. Now… you're part of her story too."
He stepped back into the shadows. The smoke thickened again, wrapping around the girls like a blanket.
Outside the orphanage, the wind howled through the broken windows.
Inside, everything went silent.