Title – The Final Choice
A heavy silence choked the air inside Father Matthias's sanctuary. The flickering candles cast long shadows on the walls, and every heartbeat echoed like thunder in the tension-filled room. Zahira clutched Aryan's hand tightly, her knuckles pale.
"Only a jinnad can stop that spirit," Father Matthias said gravely, eyes dropping to the floor. The words fell like stones.
Aryan's face went pale. Zahira felt her stomach twist.
"What? No..." she gasped, turning to Father Matthias. "Isn't there any other way? Please. We can't go through that again."
Matthias raised his head slowly, his eyes lined with years of wisdom and sorrow. "What happened now? Weren't you the ones who said you'd stop him at any cost?"
Aryan hesitated, his voice trembling. "Yes... I said that. But not this way. Not with a jinn."
Matthias stepped forward, his voice firm. "Are you both so afraid?"
Aryan lowered his eyes, the past surging up like a dark tide. "Because... because we know what it leads to."
His voice cracked as he looked at Zahira. "You don't understand, Father. A jinniyah once fell in love with me. She wasn't just powerful, she was obsessed. Her name was Zahra. She destroyed lives. We fought her... we barely survived. And then... she returned."
Zahira took a shaky breath. "And it wasn't just her. There was an angel named Malik. He helped us. But the pain... the fear... the sacrifices..."
Sajiya's voice broke the silence. She stepped forward, her eyes distant. "My mother, Yasmin... she looked just like Zahra. Because of that, she was tormented her entire childhood. Bullied. Feared. Rejected."
She swallowed. "And then... Aryan and Zahira were reborn. Again. Their lives haunted. Their childhoods filled with darkness."
Matthias listened silently, nodding slowly. "You've suffered a lot," he said gently. "Not just in this life. But in the ones before. But we don't have the luxury to pause. If that creature doesn't get what it wants... it will begin killing. Innocent lives will be lost."
A silence followed, heavy with consequence.
Elyas spoke next, thoughtful. "If we summon that jinn... why would he even help us? Don't they demand something we love most?"
Sajiya's eyes widened. "Yes. That's what the legends say."
Matthias nodded grimly. "Correct. And in this case, he might demand something... unbearable."
He turned to Zahira.
"Your unborn child."
Zahira gasped, staggering back. Her hands instantly protected her stomach. "No! We're trying to save this baby! I don't care what happens to me, but not him!"
Aryan rushed to her side, wrapping her in his arms. Elyas and Sajiya stood stunned.
"We have to protect this child," Elyas said, his voice strong.
"Even if we lose our lives," Sajiya added.
Aryan nodded, his face set. "He is our future."
Matthias cleared his throat. "Aryan, you once said there is a weapon... if Zahira holds it, she becomes Zahra again. Is that true?"
Aryan nodded. "Yes. But this time, it's different. If she holds it... she might not return. The darkness inside will consume her."
Matthias sighed. "Then we let the darkness come. Let her kill the spirit. And after that... we trap her. Keep her contained... until the baby is born. Then... we kill her."
The words hung in the air like poison.
Aryan fell to his knees. "No... not again. We've waited lifetimes. Three generations. We finally found each other. I can't lose you again."
Zahira knelt beside him, placing her forehead on his. "I know... but our child... he's the symbol of our love. He has to live."
She turned to Matthias. "I'm ready, Father. Let's do this."
Sajiya wiped a tear. "But how do we get the weapon?"
Elyas answered, "It's hidden in the church's secret room... in the cave that first brought us here."
Zahira nodded. "We have to go there."
Matthias raised a hand. "Not tonight. If you step out now, he'll sense you. Your blood. Your fear. He will come. Rest here. Gain strength. In the morning, we go."
He looked at them, concern deep in his tired eyes. "Food is ready. Come and eat."
But no one moved.
Sajiya sat still, eyes full of sorrow. "I have to lose my best friend."
Aryan held Zahira tighter. "And I might lose my love again."
Elyas clenched his fists. "She's like a big sister to me. The only one I ever had."
And above all... a child, yet to be born, was about to lose their mother.
There was no hunger. No sleep. Only pain.
So, they talked. Through the night. Laughter mixing with tears. Memories shared. Regrets whispered. And in those last hours, they were not warriors. They were family.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the old windows, Father Matthias entered the room.
"You all are still here," he said softly. "I thought after such a heavy day, you would rest."
Elyas looked up. "How can we sleep knowing what's coming?"
Matthias nodded. "I understand. But time is against us. The spirit grows stronger. You must go now."
Zahira stood, hugging each of them.
"Goodbye. I love you all," she whispered.
Aryan grabbed her hand. "You're not going alone. I'm coming with you."
She shook her head. "No. If I lose control... I might kill you. Please. Stay."
Matthias stepped in. "She's right. Only I and my student will go. We know how to trap the jinniyah."
Zahira turned one last time. Tears glistening in her eyes.
And then, she left.
Out of the sanctuary. Through the ancient woods. Into the caves.
The spirits sensed her. The island stirred. The winds howled.
The old church awaited.
Back at the sanctuary, Aryan, Elyas, and Sajiya knelt in prayer. Desperate. Silent.
Hoping.
But now, what happens next?
Will Zahira lose control?
Will she master the power?
Who will win?
The Spirit?
Or the Jinniyah?
To be continued...