The moment his feet touched the ground, he shifted into a small mouse and slipped silently into the luxurious house, where elegant furniture lay scattered as if telling the stories of those who once lived there.
He scurried past a marble table, darted beneath velvet couches, until he heard a faint voice coming from the outer balcony.
Creeping closer, he settled behind a sheer curtain swaying gently in the night breeze, and saw Judy and Daniel talking.
Judy – (sharp but quiet)
"I told you not to try to kill him… I want him alive!"
Daniel – (stepping toward her angrily, veins bulging)
"And who are you to give me orders?!"
Judy – (raising her brows in challenge, keeping her composure)
"We both want to know where the fortune-teller's house is… Do you think if you kill him, he'll still tell us?"
In a flash, Daniel lunged, his hand tightening around her throat, his voice a low growl:
Daniel –
"Lower your voice when you speak to me!"
He shoved her back hard; she stumbled and hit the wall. But she didn't yield—lifting her head, she snapped with ferocity:
Judy –
"Don't you want revenge for your son—the one Youssef killed?!"
Before he could answer, Daniel spotted the mouse between his feet. He kicked at it, but the mouse dodged and ran. He tried again, and on the third attempt cornered it, his face lit with the thrill of the hunt. But before his foot could come down, the mouse transformed into a massive bear, slamming him into the wall.
Daniel – (rising to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth with a twisted smile)
"Oh… I've missed you. Who told you where my house was?"
Then he shifted into a bear as well, and a brutal fight erupted between them—furniture shattered, shards flying. And suddenly—
Judy – (firing into the air, screaming through tears)
"Enough! You two… you're brothers! Don't you remember?!"
They froze, locking eyes in a long, silent stare. Then Youssef shifted into a bird and soared into the sky, leaving Daniel's roar echoing:
Daniel –
"Youssef! I won't stop until I bury you in the ground!"
⸻
Youssef returned to the middle of the forest, where Noah was still tied to the tree. The fire had burned out, but the rising smoke still carried the scent of wood.
Noah stirred at the sound of logs being thrown to the ground. He opened his eyes to see Youssef standing there, breathing heavily. Youssef handed him a sandwich.
Youssef –
"Here."
Noah – (looking from the sandwich to his bound hands)
"Thanks… but how—?"
Youssef – (glancing at the rope)
"I'll untie you, but on one condition… Don't run. And even if you try, we're in the forest—I can catch you… and eat you instead of this sandwich."
Noah nodded. Youssef untied him and forced him to sit by the fire.
Youssef – (gazing into the flames, as if recalling words he'd just heard)
"I overheard Judy talking about a boy named…"
Noah – (voice low, eyes glistening with sadness)
"Younes. Daniel's son."
Youssef –
"Ah… her lover, then."
Noah – (pained, fighting back tears)
"No… she married him."
Youssef –
"He's dead."
Noah – (eyes widening in shock)
"Really? I don't remember."
Youssef –
"What?!"
Noah – (looking straight at him)
"You're the one who killed him."
He took a bite of the sandwich, muttering:
Youssef –
"Wow… How many people have I killed by now?"
He swallowed with difficulty, as if the bite were a thorn, his eyes clouded with fear and hesitation.
Youssef – (eyes burning into Noah's)
"Why do I feel like there's a part of the story missing?"
Noah –
"That's all I know… They didn't tell me everything."
When Noah finished eating, Youssef stood and nudged him with his foot.
Youssef –
"Come on, back to the tree."
Noah – (bursting into tears)
"Please… let me go!"
Youssef –
"Why? You're not telling me everything… She doesn't care about you, yet you still care about her!"
He tied him up again and gagged him. Pulling out his phone, Youssef called Judy and put it on speaker.
Judy – (coldly)
"What do you want?"
Youssef –
"If you don't come to the place I told you, I'll kill Noah."
From the other end:
Judy –
"You think I care about that idiot?… Kill him."
He hung up. Then he removed Noah's gag, and Noah exploded in a desperate cry:
Noah –
"Why?! Why does no one love me?! What did I do wrong?!"
Youssef – (leaning close, voice low)
"No one loves the weak. Be strong… and they'll all fear you."
Noah –
"Turn me… make me like you, and I'll tell you everything I know."
Youssef – (studying him for a long moment before whispering)
"I taught you the lesson… and the first one you used it on was your teacher. Fine. Deal."
Noah –
"Do it now!"
Youssef –
"I don't remember you well… but I promise, you'll be my first new shifter."
He sat by the fire, deep in thought. Noah watched him from where he was tied, then said:
Noah –
"The witch's house… in the middle of the city. Go there—maybe she can give you your memory back."
Youssef – (eyes narrowing)
"You know where it is?!"
Noah – (pointing to the phone)
"Here."
Youssef untied him. Noah handed over the location. Youssef rose to leave.
Youssef –
"I'll take you back home."
Noah – (remaining by the fire, voice sad but steady)
"I'll wait here."
Youssef –
"There are wild animals. They might eat you."
Noah –
"I don't care."
Youssef placed his phone down beside him and pointed to a large stick.
Noah –
"I'll wait… Just don't forget to make me a monster like you."
Youssef shifted into a falcon and flew toward the city.
⸻
He stood before the house, shifting back to human. He knocked. Tamara opened the door—and when she saw him, she slammed it shut, leaning her back against it as silent tears streamed down her face.
On the other side, Youssef placed his hand over his heart, feeling an ache beyond words, as if it still beat her name despite everything.
Youssef – (in a soft, broken whisper)
"I'm sorry… I know you can hear me through the door. Why did I leave you when my heart still tells me I love you?"
He looked down at his chest, murmuring to himself:
"You always tell me I'm strong… so why do I grow weak every time I see you?"
He knocked again, his voice now a gentle plea:
"Please… open the door."
⸻
Sometimes, you don't need words to know you still love someone.
It's enough for your heart to speak before your lips do… but the mind steps in, guarding you from repeating a mistake.
And yet, there are mistakes… that can never be forgiven.