Part Four: Entry into the Otherworld
Omar stood between the two doors, the mark on his hand burning as if it were an ember.
The wooden door from which he could hear Laila…
And the black metal door from which the Mistress of Wishes was calling him.
His breath was constricting, the walls were closing in…
As if the house was waiting for his decision.
And suddenly…
Laila's voice began to weaken, as if the distance between them was widening:
— Omar… if you go in… I won't be able to reach you.
The black door… is a road of no return.
While the Mistress of Wishes spoke in a low but powerful voice:
— Your whole life… has been preparing you for this moment.
Come… and see the truth you've never imagined.
Chapter One: The Decision
Omar closed his eyes.
He thought of Laila.
He thought of his life before her.
He thought of the mark on his hand… which was becoming more dangerous with every passing moment.
Finally…
He opened his eyes and said:
— I… will know the truth.
And he turned toward the black door.
Laila's scream pierced the space:
— Omar!!
But the door devoured him before he could complete a step.
And everything ended.
Chapter Two: The World of Wishes
Omar opened his eyes to find himself standing on a vast ground…
Not ground, not sky…
It was as if he was standing between dream and reality.
Strange colors moved… shapes changed…
And the world seemed to be made of smoke and memories.
There was a gigantic tree in the center,
Its roots trembling, its branches intertwined like souls.
And from behind it… she appeared.
The Mistress of Wishes.
She was taller than he had imagined…
Her face was beautiful but terrifying, as if looking at an ancient angel who had forgotten mercy.
Her eyes held a burning white light.
And her hair moved despite the absence of air.
She smiled at him:
— Welcome…
Oh, "the Called One."
— Where am I?
— In the World of Wishes…
The place where Laila was born…
And the place where everything humans have wished for is created…
before they pay the price.
She approached him a step…
She placed her hand on the mark on his arm.
— This mark… means you are the "Chosen One."
Not everyone is touched by the door.
And not everyone can enter this world.
Omar swallowed with difficulty:
— And why did you choose me?
— Because you were the right Wish.
— What does that mean?
— Laila… wasn't an ordinary wish.
She was an experiment…
And when she loved you… the matter went beyond my control.
Omar froze.
— So… Laila wasn't supposed to…
— Love you?
Wishes aren't meant to become attached to humans.
But she… did.
She approached him further…
And whispered:
— And that has put the World of Wishes in danger.
When a Wish feels…
It breaks all the rules.
Omar looked at her sharply:
— And why am I here? What are you going to do?
— You will choose.
Either you become the Wish Maker in her place…
Or you become fuel for this world.
— Fuel?!
— Every wish… needs a price.
And the price sometimes is… the human himself.
Chapter Three: The Unpaid Price
She circled him slowly:
— You were going to pay the price… the day Laila wished for her appearance.
But she…
Paid it for you.
Time stood still for a moment.
— Laila… paid the price?
— Yes.
To live…
And to be with you…
She sacrificed a part of her existence.
Now he understood.
He understood why she appeared and disappeared.
Why she couldn't cross the door.
Why her existence was incomplete.
— And where is she… now?
— In the world of the "Half."
A world between existence and nonexistence.
The world of Wishes that have lost their balance.
The Mistress of Wishes approached him, touching his chin as if examining him:
— If you become the Wish Maker… you will be able to reach her.
You might bring her back whole.
But…
You will lose your own humanity.
— And if I refuse?
She smiled a cold smile:
— We will send you in her place…
And you will become the incomplete Wish.
Chapter Four: The Appearance of Sara
Before he could answer, the world trembled.
As if an earthquake had struck the smoky ground.
And from afar… Sara appeared.
Yes… Sara.
She was emerging from a thick fog, her hair disheveled, her steps heavy, as if she had been forcibly dragged into the world.
— Sara?!
— Omar… help me… something pulled me here…
The Mistress of Wishes looked at her with disdain:
— This human… is not supposed to be here.
But her presence… is strong evidence.
— Evidence of what?
— That hearts intertwine.
And that a part of you… is turning toward her.
Omar looked at her in shock:
— Me?!
— You feel for her… more than you admit.
And that is a danger…
To Laila…
And to me…
And to the whole world.
She approached Sara, and touched her forehead.
Sara screamed with a sound that shook the place.
— Enough!! Let her go!
— Her presence here reveals your weakness, Omar.
And weakness… is forbidden.
She raised her hand to crush something above Sara's head…
But Omar lunged forward and shouted:
— Let her go!! I have chosen…
She paused.
— Chosen what?
— I chose… to pay the price.
Myself.
Not anyone else.
The Mistress of Wishes looked at him…
And silence descended.
Then she said:
— Then… you are ready.
And a huge light rose, covering the entire place…
And Sara disappeared…
And the tree disappeared…
And the Mistress of Wishes disappeared…
And Omar remained alone…
In a world that was collapsing.