I spent the night in the hospital. Mom stayed with me, taking care of me like always.
I couldn't sleep. I didn't want to.
I was afraid-afraid that I'd get stuck in that nightmare again.
Afraid it would crawl into my reality.
I kept my eyes open in the dark room, where only a sliver of light seeped through the door.
Then I saw it-a shadow behind the door.
Then another.
And a third.
"No... no. Not again."
I hugged my pillow tight and buried my face in it, leaving only my eyes exposed, waiting for the shadows to either burst in or slither under the door and drag my soul out again.
Voices. I heard voices this time-different ones-murmuring something I couldn't make out. Until one of them said my name.
"Taf..."
My vision blurred with tears. I clamped my hands over my ears, waiting for the loud pain to return.
Then-The door creaked open.
My heart pounded. My breath raced. My tattoo burned like fire under my skin. I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Taty?" mom's voice came gently, followed by the light switch flicking on.
"Are you okay?" Dreck asked, stepping in behind her.
"Yes. I... I thought you..." I whispered.
"Daughter?" Mom said, her face tense with worry.
"I'm okay. It was just... just a bad dream." I tried to steady my breath.
"You want some water?" Dreck offered.
"No, actually... I'm hungry," I admitted.
"I'll grab you something from the café," Mom said. Then, glancing at Dreck, added with a sad smile, "Would you like some coffee? You've been here longer than her father."
"I'd love some. Thank you, Mrs. Belghit."
Mom stepped out, closing the door behind her.
Dreck sat by my bed. "Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"No," he said firmly. "Don't lie to me. I know something's happening. I'm not here to judge you, Taty-I just want the truth. Tell me how you really feel."
I opened my mouth. I wanted to say everything.
That I felt weak.
That something dangerous was coming, something I might have unleashed.
That I was terrified-of sleeping, of waking, of the tattoo burning on my skin, of losing my mind.
That every time I closed my eyes, I saw it-the shadow-and woke up vomiting.
That I didn't want to close my eyes. I just wanted to live.
That I didn't understand any of this.
Why me?
Why now?
That I hated the idea of Adam's replacement living in our house.
That I was furious at my dad for not caring, for blaming me.
That I hurt Mom with every word I couldn't say.
That Dreck came back too late-after pushing me away and hiding so much.
That this is my final year at school, and I have no dream, no direction, no idea what I want to study or who I even am.
And now-now I was supposed to face some ancient evil?
I had no strength left.
Dreck took my hand and looked deep into my eyes.
"I'm sorry I left," he said softly. "I had to. I'll explain everything... when the time comes."
I searched his face-his expression. He could hear my thoughts.
"Yes," he said.
I stared harder. That's when I saw it-just a smudge of purple in his eyes. But it wasn't just color. It spread like a virus.
Then it hit me.
The shadow... had purple eyes too.
I yanked my hand away and backed up on the bed.
"What are you?" I demanded.
"Taty, let me-"
"Are you like it? Are you it?"
"No!" he screamed, and the lights snapped off.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Only the purple glow in his eyes remained, getting closer.
"Stay away... stay away from me!" I raised my arms to shield myself as the tattoo began to burn again, the symbols glowing hot.
Then-
He laughed. A disgusting, unnatural laugh.
And in a blink, he was on me.
His hands clamped around my throat, his eyes inches from mine.
"Dreck... what are you doing?" I whispered, barely able to speak.
The room was so quiet, my voice echoed in my own ears
.
I didn't want Mom to walk in. I didn't want her in danger.
"You have something I need," the voice said.
That voice...
"You're not Dreck."
"Give me the key, and I'll let your little boyfriend go."
"What key?" I gasped as his grip tightened. I clawed at his arms. The tattoos-nothing. They weren't working.
He laughed again. "Come on, child. Give me what I want, and everyone you love will live."
"I... I don't... kn-know..." I struggled.
Then-
He launched me through the air and slammed me into the wall.
My spine crunched on impact. My ribs pierced something inside me.
I collapsed to the ground.
I couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
Mom.
Help.
Someone.
Bad.
I couldn't believe I thought of him.
He never showed he cared.
But deep down... I knew he would die for me.
Just like I would for him.
I remembered when I almost drowned at four-he dove in without hesitation.
When I cut my hand, and he punched the doctor who told him to wait and fill out paperwork.
When a driver almost hit me, and he nearly beat him unconscious.
Even when he threatened to sue the school.
He always acted distant. But his love was there-buried under the grief.
Dreck sat calmly on the bed, a smirk that didn't belong to him stretching his face.
"Give it to me," he said.
"I... don't... know what you want," I said, trying to breathe through the pain.
"But I know you can't take it without my permission. And I'm not giving you anything."
He chuckled. "Alright. If you don't value your life..."
He moved toward the door.
"...I'm sure you value your-"
"No!" I screamed just before the door swung open and Mom stepped in.
"Why are the lights-" She dropped the tray of food and coffee the moment she saw him.
Dreck grabbed her by the scarf and shoved her to the ground.
"Mom! No! Let her go!" I cried out, tears spilling.
"Dreck?" she whispered, breathless. "What are you doing? I always treated you like a son..."
"That's not him!" I yelled. "He's possessed. It's a demon, Mom-it's not Dreck!"
"Ya Allah..." she whispered, beginning to pray, crawling slowly toward me. "Tafukt... Run!"
"please just let her go," I begged, my voice trembling.
Dreck crouched beside us and extended his hand. "Give me the key."
"I don't have a key! I don't even know what you're talking about!" I cried, shaking.
His smile twisted. "I'm running out of patience."
He seized Mom by the arm and slammed her into the wall.
"No! Please! Stop!"
He kept hitting her-fists, rage, violence. He tortured her.
With every scream she let out, I begged him. I clawed at the wall, dragging myself to my feet. I lifted my hands-but the tattoos... they weren't glowing anymore.
I had to focus.
I closed my eyes-but I couldn't. Her screams tore through me, sharp and wild-until they stopped.
That silence.
"No..."
I opened my eyes, but I couldn't bring myself to look. I already knew what I'd see.
Still, I looked.
Down.
There she was-on the floor, eyes open. Blood everywhere.
I collapsed to my knees.
No pain. I felt... nothing. Heard nothing. Said nothing. I just stared.
Dreck's voice broke the silence.
"I actually wanted to play a little longer," he said with a grin. "Guess I'll have to find someone else. Oh, I heard you've got daddy issues..."
He walked toward me slowly, taunting. "Maybe he's next. Or Emmeline... Taylor?"
He tilted his head. "Or maybe I'll just keep Dreck. He's fun to wear."
Silence.
Darkness.
Then-I heard it.
Mom's voice.
Singing.
"Mom?" I whispered, unsure if it was real.
I reached for her-crawling. Slowly. Desperately.
I didn't care about the pain buzzing through my limbs. It was nothing compared to the storm inside me.
"Mom?"
Closer.
And closer.
"Mama?" My eyes blurred. The world swayed. I felt like I was about to pass out.
"Wait-wait, I'm almost there..."
I could still hear the song.
I reached her.
I grabbed her face. Her eyes were open. But she wasn't breathing.
"Mama... no. No. No..." I shook her gently, pleading. Screaming I could feel my voice tearing itself out." No.. God.. no, not her"
Then I sat as still as I could, I still heard the lullaby she used to sing for me when I was scared of the dark and couldn't sleep. i cradled her in my arms, closed my eyes and sang with her-softly, brokenly.
**
Sleep, my little star, the moon is high,
The wind hums softly, the night drifts by.
Your mother's arms are warm and near,
Close your eyes, there's nothing to fear.
The sheep are resting on the hill,
The olive trees are calm and still.
The desert sings a lullaby,
Beneath the wide and starlit sky.
Dream of mountains, strong and tall,
Of rivers that in silence call.
Dream of Tamazgha, proud and free,
The land of your roots, your family tree.
**
My tattoos began to burn-hotter than ever.
I opened my eyes.
The ink crawled higher up my skin like flames, and I could feel it: the magic.
I couldn't let go of her.
But I had to.
I laid my beautiful mother down, gently-so gently.
I closed her eyes.
I stared at her face for a long time.
Then the tattoo pulsed. It was calling me to stand.
The more I resisted, the more it burned.
I finally rose to my feet.
All the pain I'd felt before vanished.
So did... everything else.
No fear. No sadness. No me.
Just silence.
My body burned like fire as I stared at him. I wasn't breathing. My heart wasn't beating.
I wasn't in control-but I knew one thing.
I was powerful.
More than him.
He knew it, too. I saw it in his eyes.
That line between his brows.
That moment of doubt.
That's when he realized:
"You're dead."