The American eagle soared through the gray sky, weaving its way between thick clouds, before landing gently in the garden of his home. In the blink of an eye, the wings vanished, and in their place stood a man—Yousef—his eyes silently following his children as they played, their laughter dancing in the air. His face was expressionless, yet his eyes brimmed with the salt of memories.
Yaqub chased after the children, while Sarah watched them from the balcony with a warm smile. A sense of loneliness washed over Yousef, as though he were trapped between two timelines—one where he was present, and another where he had become nothing more than a ghost.
Suddenly, someone placed their hands on his shoulder from behind, and a soft, feminine voice said gently:
"Peek-a-boo!"
Yousef flinched and spun around, his features tightening.
Yousef, sharply: "What do you want?!"
The girl, with a mischievous smile: "My name is Nora. I'm here to help you."
Yousef, frowning: "I didn't ask for help."
Nora, with a sly insistence: "Then I'm just here… to meddle in your affairs."
She grinned widely, then suddenly transformed into a translucent-winged butterfly and fluttered through the window into a dusty study. Yousef followed, changing into a butterfly himself. Once inside, she returned to her human form, rifling through books with wandering eyes.
Yousef, turning back into a man and speaking angrily: "Stop! Get out of here!"
Nora, raising an eyebrow in defiance: "Make me… if you can."
As he stood near the window, he heard someone trying to unlock the study door with a key. He rushed toward it, but Nora shoved him out of the window in a sudden move, then shifted back into a butterfly and escaped. Midair, Yousef transformed into a black cat with silver stripes, climbing the drainpipes with ease.
Sarah leaned out the window and saw the cat.
"Miaow? What are you doing here? Oh… you're adorable!"
Yaqub came up behind her, gently lifting the cat, followed by Adam and Eva.
Adam: "Let's keep him!"
Eva, jumping with excitement: "I'll name him Marco!"
The cat was placed in the middle of the living room, the children playing joyfully around him. Sarah and Yaqub sat on the couch, speaking quietly.
Yaqub, in a sorrowful tone: "My daughter loves animals… but I don't know what made her change like this."
The cat listened to every word, his shining eyes betraying nothing.
Then, a violent noise erupted from the study. Sarah pulled the children into their room and locked the door tightly. Yaqub rushed toward the study, weapon in hand, the cat darting behind him.
He opened the door cautiously—and saw two massive brown bears fighting fiercely. He fired, but the bullets struck the wall. One bear leapt out the window, the other faced Yaqub directly.
Yaqub, staring at it: "I know you're Yousef."
The bear approached with heavy steps, its breath steaming in the cold air.
Yaqub, shouting: "I know you're the Seer… you sacrificed your own son's soul!"
Sarah entered, weapon drawn, and fired. The bear fled through the window.
Sarah, breathless: "Are you okay?!"
But then, the children's screams echoed from their room. They ran together toward the sound, the cat racing ahead.
They flung the door open to find Judy and Noah trying to abduct Adam. Judy gripped him harshly, a weapon in her hand, while Noah aimed his gun at Yaqub and Sarah.
In the critical moment, a giant eagle swooped in through the window, snatching Judy and flying away. Stunned, Noah escaped out the window.
Silence settled over the house. Sarah hugged her son, and the cat went back to playing with Adam.
Yet in that quiet, the cat slipped away unnoticed, left the house, and transformed into a falcon. He soared high until he perched on a distant tree, watching Judy's house.
It was empty.
Yousef, now in human form, sat in the shadows, quietly observing, until a striking woman emerged—wild, gypsy-like hair, eyes the color of the forest, bronze skin, and a body shaped like a sand-sculpted statue.
She approached Judy's house cautiously, a knife hidden behind her back. She didn't know she was being watched.
Yousef stepped out of the shadows calmly: "Hello."
She looked at him coldly, then suddenly raised the knife and tried to stab him. He caught her hand and pinned it to a tree, his face dripping with sorrow.
Yousef, pleading: "Who are you?!"
She spat at him: "I will kill you, Yousef!"
He felt a sharp pain in his chest, closed his eyes, and whispered in anguish:
"I… have lost my memory. Who are you, for God's sake?!"
Her eyes welled with tears, and in a defeated voice, she whispered:
"Go to the nanny… she will tell you."
Yousef, struggling to breathe: "Where can I find her?!"
She lowered her head, a single tear sliding down her beautiful cheek, and murmured painfully:
"It doesn't matter… nothing matters."
Then she fled into the forest.
He chased after her, but Nora appeared before him suddenly.
Nora, smiling: "You really don't remember Tamara?"
Yousef, shocked: "That's her name?!"
Nora: "She's the mother of the boy… you don't want."
Yousef, confused: "Was she my wife?!"
Nora, calmly: "I don't know the whole story… but I know you separated before the handsome young man arrived."
Yousef: "Who is the nanny?!"
Nora, staring at him: "You mean the Seer?"
Yousef, stunned: "How many Seers are in this country?!"
Nora laughed: "Plenty… more than you think."
She leaned closer and whispered:
"I found her house… I'll take you there, on one condition."
Yousef, eyes narrowing: "What is it?"
Nora: "You tell me what you find inside her home."
He agreed, and she gave him a sly smile before transforming into a yellow bird, fluttering through narrow alleys until she stopped before a house.
They returned to human form. She pointed and said:
"I'll wait for you here."
Then she turned into a gray cat and sat beside a garbage bin.
Yousef stood staring at the old house, its windows broken, curtains tattered, and a wave of unease washed over him.
"Who is this woman? What am I to her? And am I truly the villain everyone says I am?"
He stood there, his chest filled with countless questions… and no answers.