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The road was empty.
Too empty.
Rafiq could hear nothing but the sound of his own footsteps crunching against the dry leaves. The village lights were far behind now, swallowed by darkness.
"Are you sure this is the place?" he whispered.
No answer.
Then—
A voice.
Soft. Familiar.
"Rafiq…"
He froze.
That sounded like his mother.
But she was miles away.
"Rafiq… come here…"
His heart started pounding. The air felt colder. The shadows stretched longer than they should.
Then he remembered the old man's warning—
"If you hear your name at night… don't look back."
Rafiq squeezed his eyes shut.
The voice came closer.
"Rafiq… why aren't you turning around?"
A hand touched his shoulder.
Slowly…
he began to turn—