Chapter 3 Hysteria

Auntly Care and Comfort – The Beginning of Hysteria Amal moved quietly through the apartment, trying to lift some of the heavy grief that hung over the place. She looked at Malik sitting on the couch, his head in his hands, his face pale and exhausted, as if life had drained from him all at once, weighed down by sorrow. Next to him, Sophia sat, tilting her head back and closing her eyes for brief moments, As if trying to drown in forgetfulness… but the past showed no mercy. Deep inside, the locked door of memory swung open: she saw her father, Nasser, stabbing her mother, Nour, blood splattering the walls, her screams echoing into an endless void. A scream burst from within her, pulling her back to the present. She rose abruptly, moving toward the kitchen with tense steps, as if drawn by some invisible force. In the kitchen, Amal was silently preparing food, her movements heavy with sorrow. When she turned, she found Sophia standing before her, her face pale. Amal approached her gently and hugged her, while Malik rushed in behind them. Amal spoke softly, her voice dripping with concern: "What’s wrong, Sophia? Calm down, my dear. Don’t think about anything right now." Sophia collapsed into her arms, crying. Amal led her gently to her room and asked Malik to rest as well. "Go now… I’ll finish preparing the meal and come to you." In her room, Sophia sat on the bed, tears streaming endlessly. After a while, Amal entered carrying a tray with food, a glass of water, and a sedative pill. She placed it beside her, speaking gently: "Still crying? You need to calm down, my dear. Take this pill—it will help you sleep." Sophia silently took the pill and drank the water. Amal kissed her forehead, turned off the light, and whispered: "Sleep peacefully… don’t think about the past. Good evening." Shortly after, Amal stood at Malik’s door and knocked lightly. His calm voice came from inside: "Come in, Aunt." She entered carrying another tray of food and placed it on the table beside him. With a faint smile, she said: "I made this myself… you need to eat and rest. Don’t think about anything." Malik looked up at her, his quiet voice heavy with gratitude: "Thank you, Aunt." Amal smiled and left him to his silence and shattered memories. I Don’t Need More Fear – I Want Some Reassurance At the first light of morning, Amal sat on the couch in the living room, sipping her coffee in silence. The TV in front of her showed a scene from the horror movie Dead Silence 2, but the screams and blood awakened a memory she had almost forgotten. Her hand trembled as she quickly turned off the device, exclaiming in irritation: "As if we need more horror this morning… isn’t what we’re living through enough?" Slow footsteps were heard, and Sophia emerged from her room, still sleepy. She sat beside her aunt, smiling faintly: "Good morning, Aunt." Amal replied warmly: "Good morning, my dear… how are you today?" Sophia answered quietly, with hesitation: "I’m… okay, I think." Amal smiled softly and pulled her into a warm, maternal embrace, hoping to plant a sense of reassurance. At that moment, Malik emerged from his room, sluggish, his eyes half-closed, his face betraying a night without sleep. "Good morning," he murmured. Amal replied gently, "Good morning, Malik." He entered the bathroom without waiting for a response, leaving behind an unspoken cloud of pain. Friends Share Sorrow Before Happiness Elsewhere in the city, Dima sat with her friend Ghada in her bedroom, the air heavy around them. Dima whispered: "Did you hear what happened to Malik?" Ghada looked at her in shock: "What happened?" Dima lowered her voice further: "His father killed his mother." Ghada gasped, her voice trembling: "Impossible! Uncle Nasser is a good man… he could never do that!" Dima held out her phone, showing a picture of Nasser in the defendant’s cage, with Malik, Sophia, and Amal seated in the audience behind him. Ghada, tears in her eyes, said: "Oh my God… how can they bear that? They lost their parents in a single moment… maybe they need a call from us." Dima sighed, her voice heavy with helplessness: "I don’t think they can answer anyone right now… let’s wait a little until things calm down." A long silence fell over them, a silence like mourning, before the scene faded from their grief-stricken faces. Malik’s Descent into Hysteria Night crept over the city, bringing the nightmare with it. In Malik’s room, darkness pressed around him like a living entity. His breathing grew erratic as he tossed in sleep. In his dream, faces from the past appeared: Amal and Sophia stood before him, pale, massive snakes coiled around their necks, spitting venom, hissing terrifically through the stillness. Then Nasser appeared, his blood-stained clothes, a knife in hand, his eyes lifeless. Beside him, Nour gripped a thick rope, advancing slowly, menacingly. All of them gathered in a hellish tableau, a familial pact from hell, intent solely on ending Malik’s life. He screamed, trying to escape, but his body was paralyzed. He felt the snakes biting his flesh, the knife piercing his heart… A deafening scream tore through the night’s silence. Malik woke, gasping violently, clutching his neck, eyes wide with terror, sweat dripping from his brow. He slowly raised his head to the ceiling, as if just returned from death. Inside Amal’s Room – Night Silence filled the space… until a terrifying scream shattered it. Amal awoke to Malik’s screams from the adjacent room. Startled, she threw off her blanket, forgetting she still wore her pajamas, and rushed out in panic. In the hallway leading to Malik’s room, she saw Sophia emerging from hers, her face filled with shock and worry. Sophia hurried toward her brother’s room. (After the tragic incident, all of them began experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations—as if madness itself was slowly consuming their minds.) Sophia reached Malik’s room first, Amal close behind, her steps quick and anxious. From Malik’s Room – Seconds After the Screaming Malik sat on his bed, in a state no one would envy… It was as if he had been pulled from the grave and returned to life. Amal sat beside him, hugging him, asking softly: Amal (trembling voice): "Malik… what’s wrong?" Tears streamed down Malik’s face. He couldn’t speak— Like a child stripped of language, needing only a warm embrace to pull him from his terror and remind him he was safe. Amal gently stroked his head and kissed his forehead lightly. She tried with all her strength to remain strong. She was the aunt, fulfilling the roles of mother, father, and therapist all at once. She had to maintain her composure, even as fear and weakness gnawed at her. Sophia stood silently at the edge of the bed. Her eyes fixed on the floor, but deep inside, she knew exactly what her brother was going through… She suffered the same torment, haunted by the same visions, sounds, and distorted images invading their senses mercilessly. Hallucinations no longer visited only at night—they pursued them morning and evening… even in their dreams, even when awake. Amal tried to calm Malik, holding his hand firmly, speaking with steady resolve: "I don’t need to know what you saw… but I’m sure you can overcome it. You are the only man in our lives whose protection we live under—you must be strong enough." Dining Room – Midday the Next Day Lighting: natural, sunlight gently pouring through the large side window (Amal, Sophia, and Malik sit around the table for lunch) Malik Sat lost in thought, eyes deep in reflection, sadness etched across his face. His mind clearly elsewhere, consumed by something hidden. Sophia’s hand trembled as she ate, a few pieces of food dropping onto her clothes. She quietly picked up a napkin and wiped it, trying to maintain composure. Amal (attempting to break the silence, in a soft cheerful tone): "I was thinking we could go out—get some fresh air and a change of scenery. There’s a new movie in theaters—I saw the trailer and already booked tickets online. The show’s at three. I hope you enjoy it." (She stands with a faint smile) "I’ll go change my clothes. You two get ready as well, okay? As if she wanted to impose some happy moments on them." (She leaves quietly, leaving a gentle silence over the room)