The next morning, Noor and Sanlang packed their bags in haste, leaving the hotel room with a sense of urgency. Every moment felt like a countdown, each tick of the clock a reminder that time was running out. They moved through the city streets with purpose, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings for any signs of danger.
Sanlang had insisted they leave as soon as possible, before the sun was fully up, hoping to avoid the prying eyes of those who might be watching. But even as they made their way to the train station, a sense of dread lingered in the air, an ominous feeling that they were being followed.
They boarded the train, settling into their seats with a mixture of relief and anxiety. The city receded into the distance, its towering buildings and bustling streets giving way to open fields and endless sky. For a brief moment, Noor allowed herself to breathe, to believe that they had escaped.
But as the train sped through the countryside, she couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't alone. She glanced over at Sanlang, who was staring out the window, lost in thought. His hand rested on her knee, a small gesture of comfort, but it did little to calm the storm inside her.
As the hours passed, Noor's unease grew. She tried to distract herself, to focus on the scenery outside the window, but her mind kept drifting back to the danger they were fleeing. The people she had crossed were ruthless, and she knew they wouldn't stop until they found her. She had hoped that leaving the city would buy them some time, but now she wasn't so sure.
The train pulled into a small, quiet station in the late afternoon, and Noor and Sanlang disembarked, their nerves frayed. They had planned to stay in a remote town for a few days, to regroup and figure out their next move. But as they stepped onto the platform, a cold chill ran down Noor's spine.
Something was wrong.
She scanned the small crowd of people milling about the station, her eyes narrowing as she caught sight of a man in a dark coat standing near the exit. He was watching them, his gaze cold and calculating. Noor's heart skipped a beat as she realized who he was—a member of the group she had betrayed, a man whose face she had hoped never to see again.
"Sanlang," she whispered urgently, grabbing his arm. "We need to go. Now."
Sanlang followed her gaze, his expression hardening as he saw the man. "Let's move," he said, his voice low but firm.
They turned and walked quickly toward the other end of the platform, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the man as possible. But the moment they started moving, the man began to follow, his pace quickening as he pushed through the crowd.
Noor's heart pounded in her chest as they broke into a run, weaving through the station in a desperate attempt to lose their pursuer. The small town was a maze of narrow streets and alleys, and they darted through them, trying to stay ahead of the man who was now chasing them.
But no matter how fast they ran, Noor could feel him closing in, the sound of his footsteps echoing in her ears. The fear that had been simmering inside her for months now boiled over, and she realized with a sickening certainty that they couldn't outrun him forever.
Sanlang pulled her into a narrow alley, pressing her against the wall as they caught their breath. "We need to find a way out of here," he said, his voice strained. "If we keep running, he'll catch up to us."
Noor nodded, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a plan. They were trapped in a small town, with no way of knowing who else might be after them. The man pursuing them was just one of many, and she knew that more would follow.
"We need to get to the train station and leave town," she said, her voice trembling. "But we have to be careful. If he sees us, it's over."
Sanlang nodded, his grip tightening on her hand. "Let's go."
They moved through the narrow alleys, keeping to the shadows as they made their way back to the station. Every noise, every movement made them jump, their nerves on edge. The fear was suffocating, a constant weight on their shoulders, but they pushed forward, driven by the need to survive.
As they neared the station, Noor's heart pounded violently against her ribs. The train was still there—doors open, waiting. Just a little further.
But then—a shadow stepped into their path.
The man in the dark coat.
His cold, predatory eyes locked onto hers, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Going somewhere?" His voice was smooth, mocking, like he had all the time in the world.
Sanlang immediately stepped in front of Noor, his body tense, shielding her. "Leave her alone," he growled, his voice steady, though Noor could feel the heat of his fury vibrating off him.
The man chuckled, his fingers flexing at his sides. "You really think you can protect her? You don't even know what she's done, do you?" His gaze flicked to Noor, gleaming with something twisted—amusement? Vengeance? "How many bodies did it take, Noor?"
Sanlang stiffened, but Noor didn't falter. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. "Enough to know I won't hesitate to add one more."
The smirk vanished.
Noor seized the moment. She grabbed Sanlang's wrist and yanked him forward, her body twisting as she shoved past the man, using sheer strength . He staggered but recovered too fast—his hand shot out, snagging her sleeve.
"Not so fast—"
Sanlang moved before he could finish. His fist slammed into the man's jaw, snapping his head back.
Noor didn't wait to see if he got back up. "RUN!"
They sprinted for the train, their lungs burning, footsteps pounding against the platform. The conductor was already closing the doors—seconds left—
Noor lunged, dragging Sanlang with her. They barely made it inside before the doors sealed shut behind them.
Breathless, Noor collapsed into a seat, her hands trembling, adrenaline still surging through her veins. Sanlang's gaze stayed fixed on her, his chest heaving. He didn't speak, but his eyes said enough. He wanted answers.
She wasn't sure she could give them.
Not yet.
But one thing was clear—this wasn't over.
The rhythmic clatter of the train echoed through the dimly lit carriage. The weight of what had just happened hung between them like a noose tightening with every breath.
Sanlang's hands were still curled into fists, his knuckles bruised from the punch. But it wasn't the fight that had unsettled him. It was Noor.
She sat across from him, staring out the window, her face an unreadable mask. But he could see it—the way her fingers twitched slightly, the way her lips pressed together as if sealing something away.
Finally, he broke the silence. "Who was he?"
Noor didn't look at him. "Someone who should be dead."
Sanlang exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. "And yet, he's not. Because of you?"
A pause. Then, softly—"Because I was merciful once."
The words sent a chill through him. Noor, merciful? The woman who had fought through alleys and shadows, whose gaze could cut deeper than any blade?
He leaned forward, his voice lower. "What did he mean, Noor? About the bodies?"
This time, she turned to him. And in the dim light, her eyes looked darker than he'd ever seen them. "Do you really want to know?"
Sanlang swallowed. "Yes."
A slow, mirthless smile curled Noor's lips. "Then tell me—if I told you I once stood in a room, knee-deep in blood, with nothing but silence left… would you still look at me the same way?"
Sanlang's breath caught. The words hung between them, thick and heavy, like something tangible. His mind willed him to react, to say something, but his body felt frozen.
Noor watched him, unblinking. Then, she tilted her head. "You hesitate."
"I don't care what you've done," he forced out, but even as he said it, something inside him wavered.
Noor leaned forward slightly, just enough that he caught the faintest scent of her—something cold, like rain on steel. "Good," she murmured. "Because you shouldn't."
The lights overhead flickered as the train plunged into a tunnel, momentarily swallowing them in darkness.
And in that breath of blackness, her voice was barely more than a whisper.
"I stopped caring a long time ago."
The lights returned. Noor was already looking away, gazing out the window as if she hadn't just peeled back something raw and jagged inside her.
Sanlang didn't know if it was a confession or a warning.
Maybe both.
Noor leaned back, tilting her head slightly, studying him. "Understanding is a dangerous thing. Once you have it, you can never go back to ignorance."
Silence stretched between them.
Then, softer—softer than he'd ever heard her speak—she whispered, "I miss ignorance."
Sanlang felt something crack inside him. He wasn't sure if it was fear or something far more dangerous.
He wasn't sure if Noor even recognized the weight of her own words.
maybe… she did.