Vision in Red by Sajjad Rasool - HTML preview

Children of Olive

"Amal, I'm scared."

"Do it, Yasmin! Now!"

On the other end of the line, Amal heard a hesitation. Then, a sharp, screeching sound. Metal on glass. SCREEEEEEECH.

It was awful. Like nails on a chalkboard, but amplified.

Then, a sudden, explosive noise. CRACK.

"Yasmin!"

Silence.

"Yasmin! Talk to me!"

Static crackled on the line. Not digital distortion. White noise. The sound of deep ocean pressure.

"Yasmin?"

"I broke it," a voice whispered.

It was Yasmin. But she sounded different. Shaken. Awake.

"You broke the mirror?"

"Yes. I scratched it, and it just... shattered. Into a million pieces."

"The eyes?"

"Gone," Yasmin sobbed. "The lights went out, Amal. As soon as the glass broke, they vanished."

"Iron," Amal breathed. "Iron breaks the reflection."

"Amal," Yasmin wept. "Amal, I almost opened the window. I had my hand on the latch."

"You're safe now," Amal said, lying back against the pillows, her own heart hammering against her ribs. "You're safe. Stay away from the window. Sleep in the hallway tonight."

"I'm not sleeping," Yasmin said. "I'm never sleeping again."

"Just rest. We have to go to Jerusalem tomorrow."

"Amal?"

"Yes?"

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