***
{Inside The Projection}
Malik barely made it three steps before he stopped.
Because there he was.
A boy that lived in his every nightmare.
A boy who had never left his thoughts even for a second.
Sinbad.
His little brother.
He sat on a toppled crate, hands on his knees, head tilted ever so slightly, watching him with that quiet, knowing look.
The weight of every mistake, every decision, every choice was reflected back at him in those pink eyes.
They held no judgment—just expectation.
Jasmine stood beside him.
Unlike Sinbad, she didn't just look at him.
She saw him. Her soft face twisted in disappointment.
It was obvious what she wanted.
Malik sighed, rolling his shoulders like he could shake off their stares.
"Fine."
***
{Outside The Projection}
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Yeah.
Yeah, they felt like idiots.
All that talking.
All that condemnation.
It all didn't mean shit now.
