Flashback
"Your son, Reda, is too violent. We can't handle him. He hits his friends, tries to kill anyone who annoys him at night, and even hurts animals like cats or anything else.
We won't keep him here another moment. And when we talk to him, he says: 'I'm taking revenge because you made the nurse leave.'
He's strange. If I didn't love you, I would've called the police already."
Father: "I'm sorry, Mr. Director, but I can't take him home. He might hurt my new son. And I'm also happy that my wife has recovered… I don't want her condition to get worse again."
Director: "I have a solution. There's a man who wants to adopt children from the orphanage. He said, 'Give me the ones who seem strange or mentally disturbed.' Should I give Reda to him?"
Father, with a bit of guilt: "Fine. But we need a guarantee that he won't hurt the man."
Director: "Okay. I'll require the man to bring Reda in every month so we can examine him and make sure he's okay."
Father: "Alright. That's good."
---
"Don't be afraid, Reda. Come, I'll show you something beautiful."
We went to a garage, then walked down some stairs.
Reda: "What is this room, Mr. Shaker?"
Shaker: "This will be your place most of the time. It's big, white, and beautiful."
Reda: "I want my family, please…"
Shaker got angry and slapped Reda hard across the face:
"Your family abandoned you. You're nothing to them."
Reda: "No, that's not true…"
Shaker: "Fine, let's see."
He took him near his house, from a distance, to watch. Reda saw his father holding a baby and smiling, living in happiness—as if Reda was just a mistake or a ghost that never existed.
Reda: "Take me to the room."
Shaker smiled widely.
It turned out he was a sadist who loved psychological pain.
---
Shaker put Reda in the white room and said:
"If you survive everything that happens until you grow up, I'll give you this garage room to use however you want. I'll even give you an apartment."
He closed the door and left Reda alone.
---
Beautiful things can always turn into something else—something dark, unexpected.
How can we imagine that this angelic color could become a tool for torture?
White torture relies on keeping the prisoner inside an isolation room where everything is white: bed, sheet, mattress, pillow, window, door… Even clothes are white, and the only food is plain white rice in a white plate.
It's not just the color—it's the unbearable silence. That's the core of the torture.
The sound of a pin drop becomes deafening. The prisoner speaks to no one.
No beating, no burning, no physical pain.
Just… white, silent torture.
It's the cruelest form of torment.
It plants fear deep inside you, and slowly, you lose your identity.
Who are you?
Who is your family?
Some prisoners lose their minds completely.
White becomes the color of death.
They begin to wish for death—or even suicide.
This was the test Shaker gave to Reda.
Could he survive it for years?
---
Back to Present
This threat was nothing compared to what Reda had endured for years in the white room.
Masked Man: "Sit down quietly and put your hands behind your head."
Reda calmly: "Alright."
But he slammed his right foot hard on the ground before sitting down.
The masked man brought a rope to tie him.
The moment the gun was no longer pointed at Reda's head, Reda moved fast—his shoe had a small blade hidden in the front.
As his foot spun, the blade scratched the man's leg.
The pain made him drop the gun.
Reda pounced like a lion on its prey.
He began choking the man, while Menna stood in complete shock.
Reda accidentally smiled wide while killing him.
Reda, in his mind: Good thing I wore Mr. Shaker's shoes. The hidden blade comes out when I slam the ground.
Menna was frozen—speechless.
Reda untied her and said, "Let's go, there's no time."
He grabbed her hand quickly and they rushed out.
He locked the door behind them.
Menna climbed into the car with difficulty.
As Reda drove, he thought: Did she get scared of me… like my mom did?
This time I fixed the situation—we were in real danger. I saved her. I didn't kill her… like my mom believes I did.
But she stayed silent.
He dropped her off at her house.
Still… no words.
Reda: "Please, talk to me. Did something happen?"
Menna, struggling: "No… but this is the first time I've seen someone kill another person."
Reda quickly: "That wasn't murder! It was self-defense. I was protecting you!"
Menna, stammering: "I… I want to go up to my apartment."
Reda, understanding the shock: "Okay… we'll talk tomorrow."
---
Damn… I'm really angry.
I'm scared she'll fear me… like my mom.
That she'll leave me too.
Reda tried to hold back his tears.
I don't want to feel abandoned again. Please, Menna… don't be like them.
Reda, in his mind: Even if she hates me, I won't let anyone else have her.
Just like I saved someone from the white room because of her… someone else will die because of her too.
---
Reda stood angrily in front of Majed.
Reda: "If I told you I love Menna, what would you do?"
Majed: "I'd ask her… and if she wants you, I'd back off."
Reda, angry like that answer wasn't what he wanted:
"Why are you so kind? Won't you try to kill me to get her?"
Majed: "She's not a game. She's a human being—with feelings and the right to choose."
Reda, boiling with rage: "To hell with your philosophies. Always acting perfect."
He pulled out a hammer he had hidden behind him.
Majed: "I'm sorry, I—"
Reda hit him in the head with fury.
Majed fell—dead.
Reda took the body to the back of the room, opened a hatch, and dropped it into a small fire pit.
The body burned slowly—no trace, no proof—like nothing ever happened.
He picked up Majed's phone.
It was unlocked.
He messaged Majed's father:
"I'm going to Alexandria, then heading to a business trip."
Just to buy time.
Reda thought: If they go to the Alexandria apartment, they'll find the body.
They might think Majed killed someone… or got killed during a robbery or kidnapping. Either way, I'll be safe.
But… why hasn't Menna talked to me yet?
I'll spend the whole night cleaning this room.
But… why did I kill him? Am I really a monster, like my father said?
Maybe I'm just lying to myself.
Menna was the reason I saved someone… and the reason I killed another.
---
Next Day
Damn… I just remembered.
I forgot to close my apartment door.
I'm getting so careless.
Reda walked in, then paused at the door.
He stared at it for a long moment.
Then he stepped out—looked like he was getting something.
He came back in and slammed the door shut.
He walked slowly.
Something felt off.
He moved cautiously, checking left and right.
Then he went straight to the living room.
Someone was holding a gun.
He was shocked.
Reda, smiling: "Menna… hi. What are you doing?"
Menna, full of sadness, anger, and mixed emotions:
"Hello, Reda.
We need to talk… before you die."