đź“ś READER RULES
"A Realm Where Cowards Get Lost Twice"
1. This story uses a system structure.
Not a tax system, not a coding system— a choice-based survival system.
And every choice has consequences. (Yes, even the stupid ones.)
2. You must be as honorable as a grandmaster in desert chess.
Once your finger touches a pawn—no takebacks.
No crying. No "I didn't mean it."
Live with your decision.
3. Do NOT read all paths.
You're not an omniscient deity. Choose one route and stay loyal.
If you peek at the others, the jinn will judge your commitment issues.
4. The protagonist's fate is now in your hands.
If they die, that's between you and your conscience.
Do not DM the author at 2 a.m. to blame the plot twist.
5. Confused? Terrified? Regretting your choices?
Perfect.
That means the system works.
Proceed.
6. You may laugh, scream, or re-evaluate your life choices.
You may NOT go back and redo the chapter.
This is not a dating sim.
This is destiny—with lag.
***
Rafi dragged Sahim's fully unconscious body—head lolling, mouth slightly open, a soft snore slipping out like a baby who just finished milk. Sahim's body sagged heavily, deadweight like a sack of wet dates.
"Yaa RABB… why do you faint NOW of all times…?!"
Rafi's voice cracked—horror and frustration in equal measure. He pulled Sahim into the thicket of Nabat al-Muhayyil. The silver mist clung to their skin—soft, yet piercing the mind. And from behind the glass-like trees—
THE ROAR CAME CLOSER.
Deep.
Vibrating.
Splitting the air open.
Rafi hugged Sahim's limp body like holding a live bomb.
"Bro… wake up! Wallah just WAKE UP a little! Don't leave me alone!"
No response.
Rafi bit his lip.
Held his breath.
Chest burning.
Then… the creature approached.
Krek… krek… krrrr…
The glass leaves trembled, glowing with pale green light. Rafi held Sahim as if holding his own life. His chest rose and fell rapidly, but he forced his breath into silence. A long shadow crawled over the ground.
Not straight.
Not steady.
Like a predator choosing the best angle to pounce.
Rafi froze.
Eyes wide.
Water gathering from holding his breath too long.
"I'm dead. I'm dead. I'm definitely dead.
Ummi… I love you…
I'm sorry I ignored the guide…"
One tear fell from the tip of his eyelashes. His voice cracked out in a half-sob:
"Ya Rabb… if this is my end… I'm sorry… ya Allah…"
Footsteps.
Slow.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
Full of confidence—like a creature that knows it is the top of the food chain.
The ground quivered lightly. Rafi inhaled sharply—then the moment the creature stopped directly behind him…
He felt it. A hot breath swept across the back of his neck.
Deep.
Sticky.
So close his skin went numb.
Rafi nearly screamed—but only managed:
"—khhh—"
He trembled. His mind short-circuited and decided:
PREDATOR = THROW SOMETHING.
Without thinking, he grabbed anything nearby—pebbles, sand, even the Nabat al-Muhayyil blooms—AND THREW EVERYTHING AT IT RANDOMLY.
"HUAAAA—TAKE THIS! AND THIS! AND THIS TOO!!!"
TUK! TUK! TUK!
Silence.
The creature didn't move. It only exhaled—as if saying:
"Seriously? These are the creatures invading my territory?"
Rafi froze. Then—desperation peaked.
"Okay… okay… if rocks don't work…"
His hands trembled wildly.
"If flowers don't work…"
He looked at the blooms. At his life. At unconscious, completely unhelpful Sahim.
"…YA ALLAH FORGIVE ME."
He grabbed a whole handful—
six, seven, eight at once—
and then—
INHALED THEM BRUTALLY.
Like a drowning man taking one last breath of air. One hand on his chest, the other already grabbing more flowers.
"BISMILLAAH—ASTAGHFIRULLAAH—ILAAAHIIIII—
ALLAAAHU AKBAR YA RABB—
YA LATIIIF YA SALAAAM YA SATIIIR—
AAAHHTTT—!"
Hallucination hit instantly. The world tilted. Colors duplicated. Glass leaves stretched like alien fingers. He collapsed onto the ground—half high, half resigned. The world bent at the edges. Rafi sank into the dirt.
"At least… I'll be torn apart while asleep…" he mumbled.
He leaned back limply. Eyes drooping. The creature closed in.
Footsteps.
Another step.
A hot breath washed over his neck again.
Rafi shivered. Couldn't move. Vision blurring. Only one thought echoed:
"Do I faint first or get eaten first…?"
The creature stepped closer.
Srrrp…
Ssrrrp…
Something wet touched his cheek. Rafi went rigid.
A tongue.
Long.
Warm.
Dragging from his chin to his forehead like a malfunctioning wet tissue.
"Ya Allah… is this the pre-snack ritual before biting…?"
Srrrp…
Ssrrrp…
The creature licked Rafi's face like a giant cat finding a lost child. Its breath didn't smell like a carnivore monster…More like: grass + honey +… goat milk?
Rafi blinked, dazed. The creature sniffed his hair. Then lifted one leg. Rafi barely whispered:
"Don't tell me you're about to—"
ppppsssshhhhhhhhh—
Warm liquid splashed onto Rafi's shoulder. Then his back. Then a little on his face. The creature… peed. Casually. With the innocent expression of:
"I'm marking my territory, thanks."
The stench hit instantly. The flower's effects? Destroyed. Rafi jerked upright, sputtering.
"YA ALLAH—WHAT IS—WHY AM I—AAAH!!!"
The haze evaporated. He flailed his hands, half-panicked, half-traumatized. Sahim, still unconscious, coughed from the stray splash.
"Ahk… ahk… Bro… why does it… smell weird…"
Rafi slapped his cheek.
"WAKE UP! This is a miracle! Parallel-world detox!"
Sahim, dazed, tried to focus.
"…Why is my clothes wet…?"
Rafi pointed at the creature—which turned out to be… a cute, small camel-like animal with big round eyes and long floppy ears that wiggled like a rabbit's.
Sahim stared.
Rafi stared.
Both screamed together.
"W-WHAT IS THAT?!"
The creature sneezed softly. Sahim froze. Then slowly…picked one bloom from a safe distance—and tucked it into his lunch box.
"For Amina."
His voice was hoarse but determined. Rafi wanted to punch him. But he was too exhausted. The creature snorted, blinked twice, and trotted away, its tiny tail swaying. Rafi exhaled long—face half traumatized, half empty.
"I… want to go home… Wallah…"
Silence.
For the first time, the light of the three suns felt weightless…then, from a distance, something crept out from behind the glass trees—bent low, sniffing the ground, following the fresh wet trail just left behind.
Rafi's and Sahim's eyes met.
Both blinked slowly.
"…Bro?!"
—To be Continued—