The House of Horror

Chapter 6 - Between What We Want And What Fate Wants - The Terror Within

- Inside a fancy café in the evening

**Dima** and **Ghada** are sitting at a table by the window overlooking the street. The place is relatively quiet, with dim lighting that reflects on Ghada's tense face.

[Ghada's phone rings]

Ghada (looks at the screen and sighs) picks up the phone and holds it to her ear.

Ghada: Hello? Who is it?

Wael (voice on the phone)

Wael: It's me, Wael... I love you, Ghada, and I don't know why you don't like hearing my voice! I'm ready to do anything to make you love me...

Ghada (sharply)

I told you before... I don't love you and I never will.

Go find another girl who loves the nonsense of love.

Wael (his voice becoming aggressive)

Fine, listen... I won't leave you! It's either me or no one.

Goodbye, my beauty.

[Ghada ends the call and puts the phone down]

Dima (notices her tension)

Who was that? What's wrong, Ghada? This call has really got to me.

Ghada (angrily, exhaling)

That animal! He keeps calling and texting... He wants me to love him by force!

-Trying to stay calm

Malik is sitting on his bed, leaning back against the headboard. He looks suffocated and anxious.

He picks up his phone and makes a call.

Malik (in a choked voice): Hello?

Amal (on the phone): Hello, my love.

Malik: Where are you, Auntie? I feel suffocated. I need to go outside and get some fresh air.

Amal: I'm sorry, my love. I went out—your Uncle Hussein is back from his trip, and I'm with him now.

The car keys are on the table next to my bed. Take them and go for a drive.

Malik: Okay. Thank you, Auntie.

Amal: Take care, my love.

Malik: Goodbye.

Malik hangs up, gets out of bed, and goes to Amal's room.

In the hallway, he meets Sophia.

Malik (worried): What happened? Are you okay?

Sophia (trying to calm herself): Like I told you... I slipped and hurt my leg, that's why I screamed.

I'm fine.

Malik: I'm going out to clear my head. Do you want to come with me?

Sophia (tired): No, you go... I just want to sleep. Take care.

Malik: Okay.

Malik enters Amal's room. He finds the key on the table next to the bed, puts it in his pocket, and leaves the room.

Between what we want and what fate wants for us

Hussein and Amal are in the car. Hussein: Who is Malik? Amal: This is Malik, my nephew Nasser's son. After Nasser died, I brought him and his sister Sophia to live with me. They have no one else in this world but me, and I play both roles, father and mother. Their situation is truly difficult, Hussein, after the deaths of Nasser and Nour. Hussein: Yes, yes, Malik and Sophia are your brother Nasser's children. I'm sorry, you know how long I've been traveling. Hussein: All this happened and I didn't know anything. Why didn't you tell me? In circumstances like these, I should have been by your side. Amal: I didn't want to bother you or burden you. I know you're always busy and your time is never your own. Hussein: But in circumstances like these, you should have told me. You forgot that Nasser is also my friend. Tell me, how did Nasser die and who died first? Nasser was always healthy and took care of himself, and Nour also didn't suffer from any illness. Amal: No, this is a very sad story. Not now, I'll tell you later. Hussein: I'm sorry if I reopened a wound that's causing you pain. I didn't mean to upset you.

Amal: It's alright, that was a long time ago. Malik and Sophia are the ones who feel extremely tired and suffer from disturbing anxieties and nightmares. They haven't been able to live normal lives since their parents died; it's as if they've gone into a hysterical state.

Hussein: You've truly saddened me about the boys.

-Dima and Ghada: Forced Love?!

Dima: Enough, Ghada. You'll stay like this because of a man who doesn't deserve your tears. Ghada: That scoundrel has infuriated me. He doesn't understand that a lover is obedient to the one they love. Let's go. Ghada got up, grabbed her bag, and took her phone. Dima got up too, and they headed to the car.

Dima sat behind the wheel with Ghada beside her.

Ghada: Dima, take me home. I want to be alone. Dima: What will you do at home alone?

Ghada: I'm sorry, I'm suffocating and I need this.

Dima: Okay, whatever you choose.

-Malik drives Amal's car- breathing in the fresh air. Malik drives down the street. He plays the cassette player and listens to music, breathing in the air. His mood begins to improve, and the first hint of a suppressed smile appears on his face.

-Hussein and Amal at the beautiful house. Hussein and Amal are inside the car. The car stops in front of the gate of his large villa. Hussein honks the horn and waits for the doorman. The doorman opens the gate. The doorman says: Thank God for your safety, Mr. Hussein. He opens the gate. Hussein: Thank you, Uncle Sayed. Hussein drives into the villa.

Sayed closes the gate.

-Ghada and Wael: Love can kill!!! Dima stops the car in front of Ghada's villa.

Ghada: Thank you, Dima. Sorry I locked you out today.

Dima: Don't worry, you always lock me out. Dima laughs, and Ghada laughs back with a forced laugh.

Ghada opens the car door and Dima gets out. Dima: Goodbye.

Ghada: Goodbye. Ghada is a few meters from the villa's door. The street is dark and deserted. She's surprised to find Wael standing in front of her. Ghada: You're watching me too, following me around? Wael: I love you, Ghada. You have to understand that, and I won't let you go. You don't know what you mean to me. I dream about you when I sleep. I can't live without you.

Ghada: You're crazy, for sure. I've told you more than once, I could never know anyone like you. You don't see yourself.

Wael: You can never belong to anyone else, understand? Ghada: Neither you nor anyone else, get out of my way! Ghada took a step forward. Wael hugged Ghada, touched her, and pulled at her clothes, exposing her body. Fadwa screamed, her scream echoing throughout the city, exposing Wael. He pulled out a sharp metal blade and stabbed Ghada. She fell to the ground, blood gushing from her wound. Wael fled, running, thinking he had escaped.