Twisted Shadows

Chapter 3: The First Move

The morning sun of Damascus rose pale behind clouds heavy with tension, but I woke up with my full cautious calm and emotional stability. In the morning, I pretended to be completely calm in front of Houssam; I prepared his usual coffee, and bid him farewell with a feigned warm smile as he left the house heading to his engineering office. As soon as his car vanished from sight, I moved to execute the first stage of my psychological game behind the crowds.

I headed to the pharmacy early before the usual opening hours, carrying in my bag an old phone for which I had purchased a secret SIM card without registering it in my name. I sat behind the glass counter, took out my twin sister Raghad's secret notebook, and copied the first mysterious chemical code written in her handwriting, which was the code for the restricted medical shipment that Houssam was waiting for.

I held the secret phone, typed the code in a short text message, and followed it with a sharp phrase: (The next shipment will not pass in peace under our eyes, Houssam.. Raghad's ink is chasing you). I placed my finger on the send button, my heart racing in my chest, and then I pressed hard!

Not five minutes had passed before my personal phone rang; the caller was Houssam. I took a deep breath and pressed the answer button with a voice overflowing with innocent concern:

- "Hello, my love.. is there anything new?"

- "Kinda!.. Did.. did anyone call you today? Or did any stranger visit the pharmacy?" he said, his trembling and terrified voice coming out choked through the speaker in a way that exposed his panic.

- "No, not at all, Houssam. I am alone in the pharmacy, and the atmosphere is very quiet. What's wrong with you? I don't like your voice at all!" I answered with complete coolness, smiling secretly behind the screens.

- "No.. nothing.. just a slight illness and pressure at work. I'll drop by early tonight. Please close the doors and don't receive anyone you don't know!" he said hurriedly, then hung up quickly.

I lowered the phone and looked at the shelves with cold triumph. Houssam is now living the psychological hell he deserves; he has entered the circle of suspicion, turning around in every corner, thinking that Raghad has returned to destroy his dark empire!