Chapter Twenty: " Zahid, he's at the gate "
Angel was in her room, this should be the place she's always in most of the time, no job,nothing else to do but to worry about, when the danger lurking around will come to bite them, yes, she's fond of over thinking as Zahid says, but, you can't judge her, what else will a mother do but to overthink, simply said she's just scared
Scared of the unknown and it remains unknown until Zahid explains to her who's trying to ruin her family.
She lay on her side, eyes open, listening to the not too quiet house. The kids had fallen asleep fast, the cartoon was still humming faintly from the TV in their room,
She could picture Zahid in the living room, with the lights dimmed, phone in hand, watching the cameras, looking for any hidden clues, that is what he's been doing every day and night when he's alone.
Every few minutes she heard him move, walking around, or adjusting his sitting positions.
For some minutes she heard nothing.
At some point, very early in the morning, she heard his steps outside the room. Then a soft knock.
"Angelina."
She sat up. "What is it?"
"I need to step out for a bit."
Her chest tightened. "Why?"
"I have to meet someone," he said quietly.
Angel quickly got off the bed, adjusting her night gown, as she walked to the door and opened it. Zahid was already dressed in a black hoodie, grey joggers and white sneakers with his car key in hand. He looked so sexy with his morning hair hand combed.
"How long will you be gone?" she asked.
"Not long," he said. "two hours at most."
She frowned. "You don't want to tell me who you're meeting?"
"No." His answer was immediate.
Angel exhaled. "Is it something to do with him?"
Zahid didn't confirm, nor deny it.
He shifted his weight, from one feet to the other, his eyes scanning her room, the staircase, the window. He was doing that thing again, listening to everything, and that spooks her.
"You'll lock the doors, immediately I leave," he said. "And don't answer if anyone knocks, I have the spare key to the front door, and I'll call you when I get to the front porch, okay"
"Zahid. . ."
"Angelina. Promise me."
She hesitated, then nodded. "I promise."
He seemed relieved for a second, then stepped closer. His hand hovered near her arm, like he wanted to touch her but wasn't sure if he should.
"If anything feels wrong," he said quietly, "call me. Even if it's nothing. Even if you think you're imagining it, trust your instincts."
Angel swallowed. "Okay."
He held her gaze one more moment, then left.
She listened until the front door clicked shut.
Listened as his steps faded.
Listened as the car started.
When the street finally fell silent again, something about the house felt… different.
It felt like a huge force left.
Angel locked every door and went room to room, checking the windows. Everything was normal.
Almost.
When she reached the kitchen, she noticed something strange: the back door curtain was slightly open. She was sure she had closed it earlier.
She stood still for a long moment, watching the curtain sway just a little.
She may have imagined closing it.
Maybe.
Or maybe not.
Angel closed it firmly and stepped away.
The lights flickered.
Just once.
A tiny blink.
Barely half a second.
She froze.
Her fingers tightened around her phone.
The lights steadied again.
Angel swallowed and moved to the living room. She sat on the couch where Zahid had been earlier. His scent lingered faintly on the pillow.
She opened the camera app on the tablet he left on the table.
All twelve camera views were online.
Gate.
Front yard.
Balcony.
Kitchen.
Corridor.
Living room. . .
Everything looked normal.
A few minutes passed.
Then the outside lights flickered too.
Angel's heart skipped.
She checked the cameras again. All twelve feeds were still active.
Nothing changed.
But something felt off. But she couldn't put a name on what exactly felt off.
The kids stirred upstairs, and she looked up sharply, listening.
Just rolling in their sleep.
Nothing else.
Angel took a slow breath. "Zahid… please come back fast," she whispered.
As if on cue, her phone buzzed. A message.
Her stomach dropped when she saw it wasn't from Zahid.
It was from an unknown number.
She quickly opened it.
One sentence.
"He shouldn't have left you alone."
Angel's throat dried instantly. She looked at the cameras again, still nothing unusual.
Within seconds, another message arrived.
"You look better when you're worried."
Her hand shook. Just a little.
A third message came.
This one with a picture.
Angel's breath caught in her throat
It was a blurry image of the house.
Taken from outside.
It showed it was taken right now.
By a close camera.
Too close.
She covered her mouth, fighting the scream that almost escaped her mouth.
Her phone buzzed again.
"Round 2 starts now."
Angel quickly stood up from the couch, stumbled forward one step, bumping into the table.
The house stayed quiet.
It felt eerie.
Her trembling fingers finally found Zahid's name. She pressed call.
He picked up on the first ring.
"Angelina?" His voice was sharp, alert. "What happened?"
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out for a moment.
Then
"Zahid… someone is outside."
The line went silent for half a second.
Then Zahid's voice changed completely, Angel could here the panick in his voice.
"Quickly lock yourself in the room with the kids," he said.
"I'm coming home. Don't look out the windows. Don't try to check outside. Just go. Don't try to be brave, Please, just take care of yourself, I'll be back soon"
Angel turned, ready to run up the stairs.
But before she took the first step.
There was a soft sound at the gate.
A metallic click.
It was slow and deliberate.
Like someone testing the lock.
Angel's breath stopped.
"Zahid," she whispered, "he's at the gate."
Zahid inhaled sharply on the phone.
"I'm five minutes away," he said. "Angelina, listen carefully. Take the kids. Go. Now."
Angel didn't argue.
She ran.