Zuraiz instantly turned to Rameen, looking at her as if he wanted to hear the answer from her lips—despite already knowing what it would be.
Rameen didn't say a word.
She simply nodded.
Zuraiz nodded back in silence.
Then he spoke.
"We stand above the Earth," Zuraiz said calmly.
"Like gods, we are expected not to care.
But unlike gods… we are helpless."
Silence filled the space.
It was Limaan who broke it.
"But I want to be better than gods," Limaan said.
"And who even knows if gods truly exist? Imagine enduring everything—every injustice—just because you believe you'll be rewarded in heaven someday."
Mizaaz let out a slow sigh.
"Zuraiz. Rameen," he said. "Since you both stand above the Earth, it shouldn't matter to you if we proceed with the original plan. Right?"
Rameen answered without hesitation.
"That would have been true… if we hadn't already involved ourselves."
Mizaaz's tone changed instantly—sharp, cold, almost threatening.
"Then there's no path left," he said.
"Don't get in our way."
Silence returned once more.
Zuraiz finally spoke.
"I wish we could erase our involvement," he said quietly.
"Maybe then, we truly wouldn't stand against you.
But unfortunately… things never moved in our favor."
He paused.
"You know this, Mizaaz. Unless everyone agrees—
the plan cannot be followed."
A smirk formed on Mizaaz's face.
"Then hear this clearly," he said.
"There is no peace between us anymore."
His voice hardened.
"Prepare yourselves.
Either die—
or help us."
The connection cut off.
In the sudden emptiness, Zuraiz and Rameen felt it clearly.
Everyone was gone.
A faint laugh escaped both Zuraiz and Rameen.
Rameen chuckled and said,
"Did Mizaaz really just say that—"
Zuraiz finished her sentence, laughing softly.
"—that we should prepare to die. Even though he knows it's impossible."
But slowly, the smile faded from Zuraiz's face.
A realization settled in.
At the very least, it wasn't a universal truth—especially not in a world where the impossible had already become possible.
Zuraiz spoke quietly.
"…Or maybe it is possible."
Rameen's smile vanished the moment she heard those words.
For a few seconds, silence ruled everything.
Then Rameen finally spoke.
"Maybe," she said softly.
"Especially in a world like this."
After a few hours, Zuraiz made his way into the mansion's private cinema room, eager to watch the newly released action movie. Some of the kids were already there with Rameen, while a few others hadn't arrived yet. Just as Zuraiz entered, Raza came in behind him.
All eyes turned toward them.
Riyu spoke up loudly,
"Big bro! Raza, where were you? So late!"
Zuraiz and Raza answered at the same time,
"Sorry."
Riyu huffed in annoyance.
"Huh."
Rima frowned, a hint of disappointment on her face.
"What's the point? The movie's only going to start once everyone's here anyway."
Riyu crossed his arms.
"I want my own cinema room. You guys don't take movies seriously."
Rima grinned immediately.
"Count me in."
Zuraiz laughed and headed to the first row, center seat, next to Rameen—she had left the seat empty just for him. As he sat down, Hezil, sitting beside him, glanced at him with a confused expression. Zuraiz noticed her staring, and Rameen's gaze soon followed, catching Hezil in the act.
"Is something wrong, Hezil?" Zuraiz asked.
Hezil leaned slightly closer, studying them.
Rameen prompted softly,
"Hezil?"
Hezil leaned back a little, closing her eyes, arms crossed. After a few seconds, she said,
"You two… you look alike, and yet… not alike. I don't know, but something feels off. I just can't figure it out."
Still deep in thought, Hezil didn't notice Baraz in the second row speak up.
"Hey Hezil, just call them Big Bro and Big Sis already."
Zuraiz quickly said,
"Baraz, it's okay. She's just like that."
Before Baraz could respond, Hezil suddenly opened her eyes, as if a thought had struck her mind. She stared at Zuraiz and Rameen for a moment, then asked,
"Why are you two always together?"
Even Baraz's face showed confusion. He glanced at Hezil, then back at Zuraiz and Rameen, curiosity written all over him, waiting for their answer.
Rameen sighed softly.
"Hezil, just like you all kids stick together, we do too."
Hezil immediately shot back,
"But not every kid stays together. Some are… really different."
Zuraiz's eyes stayed on Hezil, and a smile slowly formed. Then a laugh slipped out.
"Hezil, from now on, I'll stay with you."
Hezil recoiled instantly.
"Eww!"
Zuraiz and Rameen said in unison,
"Eww!"
Baraz looked a little confused, but within half a second, he figured it out.
"Forbidden bond?" he said, his voice tinged with awe.
The words barely left his mouth when Zuraiz, Rameen, and Hezil all turned their heads sharply, wide-eyed. Baraz flinched—he had never been this startled before, not even by a real ghost.
For a few tense seconds, there was silence.
Hezil finally broke it, her poker face perfectly neutral.
"Baraz, I would've considered that a possibility if you'd said it earlier. But… that 'eww' reaction made it clear why these two are always together."
Zuraiz and Rameen exchanged nervous glances.
Before Baraz could say anything, a voice rang out loudly from the window.
"Guys! It's raining!" Riyu called, standing by the window, looking out at the courtyard. A faint earthy scent drifted inside, making his mouth water. He opened the window, and soon the kids were running over, pushing the windows open to enjoy the rain.
Zuraiz and Rameen stayed seated, watching the chaos. Thunder rumbled across the sky. Rain fell harder, gusts of wind shifting its direction constantly. Some drops hit the kids, who quickly backed away from the windows. Rima closed hers, but Riyu didn't, letting the rain soak his hair as he laughed.
From the first row, Raza approached, moving closer to Zuraiz and Rameen, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Big bro… big sis, I have something to show you," he said.
Just then, a flash of lightning cracked across the sky, and the lights went out.