SHAHEEN: THE SHADOW WALKER
Episode 7 – The Forgotten Memory
"Finally."
The word echoed through the darkness.
Ali remained completely still.
The voice had come from the end of the corridor.
But now there was nothing there.
Zayan turned on his flashlight.
"Where did he go?"
Nobody answered.
Ali was still holding the photograph.
He looked at it again.
The younger version of himself was standing beside the previous Shadow Walker.
But there was something strange.
Ali's younger self wasn't looking at the camera.
He was looking at the Shadow Walker.
And the Shadow Walker had his hand placed on Ali's shoulder.
Noor moved closer.
"Ali..."
Ali immediately hid the photograph.
"Don't."
Noor stopped.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want anyone touching it."
Zayan looked at him.
"Why are you hiding it?"
Ali looked toward the dark corridor.
"Because I don't know what it means."
Ayesha spoke softly.
"Maybe you should remember."
Ali turned toward her.
"What?"
Ayesha pointed at his hand.
The photograph had begun glowing.
A faint black light spread across its edges.
Ali dropped it.
The photograph landed on the floor.
And suddenly—
Ali's head started hurting.
He stepped backward.
"Ali!"
Hamza caught him.
Ali closed his eyes.
Another memory appeared.
A mansion.
Rain.
Five years ago.
He was younger.
Standing in the same underground corridor.
And someone was speaking to him.
The previous Shadow Walker.
"You can't stay here."
Young Ali looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because they're coming."
"Who?"
The man looked toward the darkness.
"The ones who created the shadow."
Young Ali frowned.
"What shadow?"
The man stepped closer.
"The one inside you."
Ali suddenly opened his eyes.
He was back in the corridor.
Ayesha was standing beside him.
"Ali!"
He pushed himself upright.
"I'm fine."
Zayan shook his head.
"You're not."
Ali looked around.
Everyone was staring at him.
Noor looked terrified.
"What did you see?"
Ali remained silent.
Noor stepped closer.
"Ali, what did you see?"
Ali finally answered.
"Me."
Noor's face changed.
"Five years ago."
Silence.
Hamza asked,
"You were here five years ago?"
Ali shook his head.
"I don't know."
Noor whispered,
"You do know."
Ali looked at her.
"What are you hiding?"
Noor didn't answer.
Ali's voice became firmer.
"Noor."
She looked down.
"Five years ago, the Shadow Defence Unit found a boy."
Zayan frowned.
"A boy?"
Noor nodded.
"He was unconscious near the mansion."
Ayesha asked,
"Who was he?"
Noor looked directly at Ali.
"You."
Everyone froze.
Hamza stared at Ali.
"Wait..."
Ali said nothing.
Noor continued.
"You were found outside this mansion."
"You were injured and you couldn't remember anything."
"Team One brought you back."
Ali's face became pale.
"Why don't I remember?"
Noor whispered,
"Because they erased it."
Zayan immediately asked,
"Who?"
Noor shook her head.
"We never found out."
Ali clenched his fists.
"Then why did you recognize me?"
Noor looked at him.
"Because I was there."
Ali stared at her.
"You were part of Team One?"
Noor nodded.
Ayesha looked shocked.
"Then why did you never tell us?"
Noor's eyes filled with fear.
"Because Team One had orders."
"Orders from whom?"
Noor didn't answer.
Ali stepped closer.
"Who gave the orders?"
Noor whispered,
"The Shadow Council."
Zayan's expression changed.
"The Shadow Council?"
Noor nodded.
"They've been watching the Shadow Walkers for years."
Ali looked toward the dark corridor.
"And the previous Shadow Walker?"
Noor's voice became quiet.
"He wasn't working for them."
Ali frowned.
"Then why was he here?"
Noor looked at the photograph.
"Because he was trying to stop them."
Suddenly—
A loud metallic sound echoed through the corridor.
CLANG!
Everyone turned.
The black box on the chair had appeared again.
But this time it was open.
Inside was a small silver key.
Ali walked toward it.
Noor immediately grabbed his arm.
"Don't."
Ali looked at her.
"Why?"
Noor whispered,
"Because that key opens the room where Team One disappeared."
Ali looked at the key.
Then at the corridor.
"Then that's where we're going."
Zayan nodded.
"I'm coming."
Ayesha stepped forward.
"Me too."
Hamza sighed.
"Obviously."
Bilal raised his eyebrows.
"Do we really have to?"
Everyone looked at him.
Bilal sighed.
"Fine. I'm coming."
They reached the end of the corridor.
A massive black door stood there.
There was no handle.
Only one keyhole.
Ali inserted the silver key.
CLICK.
The door opened.
A room appeared beyond it.
Ayesha covered her mouth.
The walls were covered with photographs.
Hundreds of them.
Pictures of the mansion.
Pictures of the team.
Pictures of Ali.
Pictures of Noor.
Pictures of everyone.
Hamza stared.
"They've been watching us."
Zayan walked toward the wall.
"Not just us."
He pointed at another photograph.
It showed the previous Shadow Walker.
Standing beside someone whose face had been scratched out.
Ali moved closer.
"Who is that?"
Noor stared at the photograph.
Her expression changed completely.
Ali noticed.
"Noor?"
Noor whispered,
"I know him."
"Who?"
Noor looked at Ali.
"The man who erased your memory."
Suddenly, every photograph on the wall fell to the floor.
THUD!
Then the lights turned red.
A voice came from the room's hidden speaker.
"Welcome back, Shadow Walker."
Ali froze.
The voice continued:
"We've been waiting five years."
Ayesha looked around.
"Who are you?"
The voice laughed softly.
Then came the final sentence:
"You should have stayed asleep, Ali."
The door slammed shut.
And somewhere behind the wall—
A heartbeat began.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
Ali looked toward the sound.
His eyes widened.
Because the heartbeat...
was coming from inside the wall.
To Be Continued...
