Behind the shattered wall, where darkness mingled with dim light, the ground began to tremble ever so slightly. From within the black mist, five creatures emerged, surrounded by a deadly silence, as if the universe itself was holding its breath.
Their bodies were tall and skeletal, their skin cracked and grey like burnt human ash. Their faces lacked noses, mouths stretched vertically to their ears, with blood-streaked tongues slithering out. Their eyes glowed bright red, unblinking, pulsing as they crept forward. The scraping of their claws against the ground sounded like slow-moving funerals.
At the center stood their leader… Jeros.
He was taller than the rest, with a crown of bone sprouting from his skull. His chest was open, revealing black hearts that beat slowly. When he spoke, it sounded like thousands of souls screaming at once:
Jeros (in a deep, whisper-laced voice):
Mohamed has returned… I can smell him… the traitor… the one who spoke my name in the light…"
One of the creatures crawled toward him on all fours, lifting its grotesque face and asked:
Creature One:
Shall we kill him, Jeros? Shall we feast on his heart?"
Jeros:
No… not yet. I want him alive… I want to see the fear in his eyes, like I saw in the ones before him. Search every path, every echo, every shadow!"
Creature Two (with a strangled laugh):
He's in the Iron Gate sector… we'll make the iron scream beneath him."
Creature Three (in a voice like a weeping child) :
Can we play with him? Like we played with Sofiane?"
Jeros (with a hellish roar):
Aaah! Mohamed… I'm coming for you, and I am starving. Bring him to me… by any means!"
The five creatures began to crawl and spread out, following the whispers, searching through the eight paths, while behind them, the darkness shut its wide mouth over what was left of the light.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed between the rusted stone walls. Breathing was ragged, sweat streamed down foreheads, and fear filled every eye. Sarah was still gripping Omar's hand tightly, despite his desperate attempts to break free, while everyone ran behind Mustafa, who led them through twisting, maze-like corridors.
Mohamed (turning back, hearing the creatures' screams drawing closer):
"Damn it… they're chasing us! What kind of hell did you unleash, Mustafa?!"
Mustafa (while running):
"The family house is close! Just beyond this stone bridge… we'll be safe for a while!"
Rayan (shouting):
"For a while?! What the hell is chasing us? I saw their eyes… they looked like death itself!"
Sarah (gasping for air):
"Is there another way? An exit? A hiding place? Anything?!"
Mustafa (sharply):
"Shut up and keep running! Our old house is fortified… they won't breach it easily. These creatures know fear—if only we remember how to make them feel it."
Mohamed (angrily stopping):
"This isn't the time for riddles! Who are they? Who is Jirus? And why did he say he's looking for me?!"
Mustafa (stopping, looking at him intensely):
"They're the People of the Last Silence… they were once human. As for Jirus… he was once our brother, before darkness swallowed his name and mind."
Omar (trembling):
"Dad… are we going to die here?"
Mohamed (looking at him, then at Sarah):
"Not while I'm still breathing."
They reached a massive steel door covered in ancient engravings. Mustafa opened it by pressing a secret stone panel. The door creaked open slowly, revealing a large stone house, shrouded in silence and dust.
Mustafa (with a sad smile):
"Welcome… to our home."
Sami (entering, looking around):
"How much time has passed? Everything here feels… frozen."
Mohamed (whispering):
"Our childhood home… and the cradle of secrets."
Suddenly, faint knocking echoed against the stone walls from outside… as if something had begun searching for them.
Mustafa (looking at everyone):
"We don't have much time before they find us… but if we want to survive, we must face the truth we've tried to forget for years."
Mohamed (replying):
"Then tell it… from the beginning. Who is Jirus… and why is he coming for me?"
Inside the stone house, under the dim light of old lanterns, everyone sat around the wooden table while Mustafa stood silently for a moment, looking into their faces.
Mustafa (in a calm voice):
"You deserve to know… who Jeros really is. Not just because he's hunting us, but because our past is more connected to him than you can imagine."
Sarah (hesitantly):
"You… knew him?"
Mustafa:
"More than that… I was the one who opened the door to the darkness for him."
Ryan (shocked):
"What do you mean?!"
Mustafa:
"Jeros… his real name was Yusuf. Our brother… in faith, in revolution, in blood. He was the smartest, the purest of heart. But he carried a curse… the curse of curiosity. When the signs of the biological war began, he led us toward the tunnel of secrets— the one our ancestors warned us never to enter… the one now called The Passage of the Last Silence."
Mohamed (whispering):
"But no one ever came back from that tunnel…
Mustafa:
"Yusuf did… but he didn't come back alone. He returned with something… something that now lives within him. He is no longer Yusuf. He has become Jeros."
Sami (terrified):
"And is he… alive?!"
Mustafa:
"He's alive in a way no human can understand… and now, he's looking for you, Mohamed."
Mohamed (sharply):
"Why me?"
Mustafa:
"Because you're the last heir to the light within this family… You're the seal of protection he wants. If he gets you… nothing will stop him."
A deep silence filled the room, broken only by the howling of the wind outside. Then Mohamed stood, looking at everyone with determination.
Mohamed:
"If Jeros is coming… then we won't wait for him to knock on the door. We prepare… and we fight."
Omar (fearfully):
"But father… he's not human!"
Mohamed (kneeling down and placing his hand on Omar's shoulder):
"Monsters are born from fear… and we'll defeat them with faith."
Mustafa's house is made of old stone. The windows are sealed with iron panels. Everyone inside moves cautiously, preparing whatever weapons and tools they can. Muhammad stands by the window, watching the darkness outside, while Mustafa draws a simple map on the table.
Mustafa (serious):
"We have three defense points: the main door, the rear cellar, and the eastern windows. Each of you will guard a location. Don't let them get inside no matter what."
Muhammad (interrupting):
"We don't have time for a drawn-out war… If Jeros comes himself, we must isolate him from the others. Without their leader, they'll lose control."
Sarah (holding Omar's hand):
"Can he even be killed? Is he like them?"
Mustafa:
"No… Jeros still has a human heart, though it's twisted. But he knows Muhammad… he won't kill him right away. He'll try to break him first."
Rayan (looking at Muhammad):
"Are you ready to face him?"
Muhammad (calmly, eyes still on the dark outside):
"I'm done running… I'll wait for him."
Jeros' Entry – The door bursts open with a tremendous force – dust flying – five creatures enter first
The creatures: Tall, deformed, with greyish skin, glowing red eyes, and half-open mouths that whisper chilling words:
Whispers:
"Blood… betrayal… Yusuf… revenge…"
Jeros appears behind them – taller than the rest, wearing a torn black coat. His face is half-human, half-creature.
Jeros (deep, gravelly voice):
"How long, Muhammad… how long have you pretended to be pure?"
Everyone steps back—except Muhammad, who stands firm.
Muhammad (with sorrow):
"I knew you'd return… but not like this, Yusuf."
Jeros (furious):
"Don't speak that name with your tongue! You killed Yusuf… You threw us into the tunnel… for what? Power? Leadership? Hollow glory?!"
Muhammad:
"You were digging into darkness, and I tried to stop you."
Jeros:
"Stop me?! You used me… then left me to die down there. You're the one who handed us to the Silence!"
Mustafa (angrily):
"Enough! We all lost Yusuf… but we didn't abandon you. He made his choice!"
Jeros (voice dropping):
"No… I betrayed myself."
Jeros raises his hand, and the creatures begin advancing. The battle begins.
Muhammad shouts:
"Plan B—now! Isolate Jeros!"
Rayan and Sarah lure the creatures into the traps while Muhammad charges at Jeros. Their swords clash in a furious duel.