Location: Maheeb Square
Sudais and Bahir were inside the car, moving. Bahir said, "Sudais, check the time."
Sudais turned on his phone; the screen lit up: 1:10 AM.
Bahir's car stopped in a corner. A heavy silence filled the car for a moment. Bahir looked at Sudais and said:
— "Sudais! Straight ahead, on the right, there's a street. If you go there, you'll find them…"
Sudais asked: "So?"
Bahir continued: "But… listen, the leader of this group has strong backing. I think because he's connected to one of the Houses, he does whatever he wants. As much as he can…"
Sudais cut him off: "Alright, I get it. So what does that have to do with me? Whoever he is, it's his business, not mine."
Bahir said worriedly: "I'm saying think about it and don't go. What if you get exposed? Even I, who work in the government, won't be able to save you. Don't you understand? Then all the Houses will get involved."
Sudais opened the car door and stepped out: "Look, Bahir, thanks for worrying about me, but have a little confidence like before! Why are you so tense?"
Bahir tried to get out too, but Sudais gestured: "No need. Stay here until I come back. It won't take long. I'm going."
Sudais started walking. Bahir whistled and tossed a weapon toward him: "Take this, it might make things easier…"
Sudais gave a slight smile, nodded, and disappeared into the thick fog.
For a moment, Bahir became emotional and said to himself: "Damn it! Why did I let him go? Damn… If something happens, what will I tell his family?"
He slammed his fist against the steering wheel: "Hey, you idiot Sudais! What are you doing? And me, the idiot, I didn't even insist…"
After a while, he calmed down. A memory echoed in his mind—the sound of laughter and old mischief. He remembered the classroom, the teacher shouting:
"You brats! Won't you sit still? Quiet!"
And a familiar laugh would rise… it was Sudais's laugh! Turning to Bahir, he would say:
"Hey, tell the teacher to be careful his stomach doesn't get a brain stroke!" and he would laugh.
Bahir whispered to himself: "No matter what… back then, he wasn't like this…"
Sudais had now become depressed; he had gone through a lot and was under pressure in every way. Bahir sighed:
"Nothing is left of the old Sudais… maybe if I insisted more, it would've made it worse. God, watch over him."
On that street, three cars with tinted windows were parked. A man in a black suit, standing straight, was leaning against one of the cars. Another man came out of the house.
Ajid lit a cigarette and, while exhaling smoke, said: "You're really thirsty for money! If you bring me the right people, you'll get proper money."
The man, stuttering with greed, said: "Hehe… Mr. Ajid, it doesn't matter, whatever it is, I accept."
Ajid gestured to his men: "Take it from the trunk and give it to him."
One of his men brought a bag. The man's eyes widened at the sight of the money: "How much is it?"
Ajid replied: "66 thousand dollars! A reward for the good people you brought. Now go inside your house, and from now on, only bring fair-skinned people with colored eyes, understood?"
The man said happily: "Yes, yes sir! I'll bring even better ones!"
But just as he was about to enter the house, the sound of two gunshots echoed in the street.
Ajid shouted: "Go see what happened, now!"
Two of his men ran and disappeared into the fog. Ajid muttered under his breath: "Idiots… couldn't stay quiet for even a moment."
Suddenly, an unnatural silence took over everything. Ajid became uneasy and called his men. At that same moment, a shadow moved toward him from within the fog.
He heard the ringing of one of his men's phones coming from that shadow.
Sudais stepped out of the thick fog, holding the ringing phone toward Ajid:
"Was this phone for your men… or were you for this phone?"
Ajid, confused and angry, asked: "Who are you? What are you doing with that phone?"
Sudais gave a cold smile: "I am the reason for your death… and your men's."
Seeing the bloodied dagger in Sudais's hand, Ajid realized the situation was serious. He quickly reached for his weapon:
"You've talked too much! You'll make a good corpse."
Before Ajid could pull the trigger, Sudais threw the dagger with force like a bullet. The dagger passed just millimeters from Ajid's face and embedded into the wall.
By the time Ajid reacted, Sudais was already in front of him, delivering heavy punches. But Ajid dodged with unexpected speed and growled:
"Where the hell did you come from?!"
Sudais threw a punch, but Ajid dodged. Sudais tried to adjust himself for the next strike, but Ajid, with a kick to his stomach, sent him flying several meters away.
The dust that had risen from the ground slowly began to settle. Sudais, empty-handed, looked at his dagger, which was embedded in the wall on the other side. He said to himself: "I have to get it… I can't go on empty-handed."
Before he could finish his thought, Ajid came out of the fog and struck Sudais across the face with the back of his hand, sending him flying again.
Dizzy, Sudais said: "I think I underestimated this guy… I need to focus."
Right there, he slammed his foot into the ground and lunged toward Ajid at high speed. Fast blows were exchanged between them.
Sudais was under the pressure of Ajid's attacks; when Ajid threw a direct punch at his face, Sudais forcefully knocked his hand down and, with a loud roar, landed a punch on Ajid's face.
For a moment, time slowed. The space emptied, and Sudais only watched. Ajid's face turned back from the impact of the punch.
He suddenly grew angry and, with a furious look, launched rapid punches at Sudais. Both of them were striking each other with pure speed. In one moment, under the pressure and power of Ajid, Sudais's hand slipped and moved back.
Sudais was in shock when Ajid aimed a heavy punch at his chest. At the last moment, Sudais brought his hand forward and blocked it, but even with that defense, he was thrown several meters away and slammed hard into the wall. Dust filled everywhere.
Panting, Sudais forced himself to stand. He looked at his bruised hand and said: "No… I have to go…" He took out his phone to call Bahir, but—
Ajid rushed out of the dust with speed and, with a kick to Sudais's chest, pinned him hard against the wall.
Sudais was under immense pressure and tried to dodge with force, but Ajid grabbed his face and held him in place.
He threw a heavy punch at Sudais's face, causing his head to slam hard against the wall.
Ajid said: "You got in the way!" He threw another punch. Sudais had lost his balance. As he was falling to one side, Ajid grabbed his collar again and delivered a strong kick to his face, cracking the wall. Again. And again…
— "You damn idiot! Get up… no, don't get up!"
The wall had cracked under the force of Ajid's blows. Sudais, his face and head covered in blood, lay at the base of the wall. His head was tilted toward the ground, and blood dripped from it like drops.
Gradually, the dust settled. Ajid said: "Useless bastard… you dare mess with me? What were you thinking?"
He turned to leave. He had only taken a step when—
Suddenly, a dagger pierced through his chest!
Ajid, shocked, looked behind him. It was Sudais! From behind, he had driven the dagger toward his heart. With a terrifying scream, Ajid tore himself away from Sudais.
His speed was so great that dust rose again. In panic, he looked everywhere, searching for Sudais—but Sudais appeared behind him again!
He grabbed Ajid's hair tightly, placed the gun against his temple, and with narrowed eyes and a blood-covered face said:
— "You weren't watching your back… bastard!"
Bang!
His brains splattered against the wall.