The Monster Snake

Snake's dwelling

The door opened, and a figure appeared from within—Daoud. He silently stepped aside to let them in, his gaze sharp yet calm, observing their every move. Hamad: "How are you, Daoud?"

Hamad replied with a brief smile, his voice warm and reassuring.

Daoud responded, bowing his head slightly.

Daoud: "How are you, Mr. Hamad?"

Hamad gestured to Hanish: "Come in, Hanish." The two entered the apartment, and Hanish scanned the space lightly, his eyes taking in the simple walls and the limited amount of furniture. The living room contained two bunk beds, a plastic table, two plastic chairs, and a small refrigerator in the corner.

Hamad, looking at Hanish, said in a firm but reassuring voice,

"Hanish will be staying with you."

Hamad turned and looked at Hanish.

"You'll stay here until I find you somewhere else to live." He gestured to one of the beds, smiling slightly.

"Take this bed."

Hanish said, his voice filled with quiet gratitude,

"Thank you, Mr. Hamad."

Hamad replied,

"Thanks be to God."

Then he left the apartment, leaving Hanish and Daoud alone. Daoud approached the door and closed it behind Hamad, then turned to Hanish.

Night Shift

Hanish al-Ghul sat in his seat on the bus, wearing his security uniform for the first time. All the seats around him were filled with his new security colleagues, their faces serious, their gazes fixed on the scene before them.

Hanish placed his hands on his knees and gazed out at the glowing city outside through the bus window. Lights twinkled like earthly stars, nightclubs illuminated the horizon, small tourist towns, bridges aglow with lights—everything pulsated with life, while he felt a mixture of alienation and curiosity.

The bus entered the luxurious tourist village and stopped quietly at the entrance. The supervisor, Sharif, opened the bus door next to the driver and stepped out.

Daoud stood up and said with a slight smile,

Daoud:

Come on, Hanish. Hanish rose slowly and followed Daoud out of the bus, where all the security personnel stood in a circle around the former general, a sixty-year-old with a serious expression and a sharp tone. The general walked past the men one by one, scrutinizing their appearance, staring at their beards, pointing, and giving instructions in a firm voice.

General:

Everyone should take care of their appearance and pay attention to their duties. The general approached Hanish, stared at him, and then said,

General: Your beard is long. Shave it. Sharif quickly replied,

Sharif: It's his first day, sir, and he hasn't had time to shave. The general smiled briefly and said,

Okay, he'll shave it tomorrow. Come on, let's take a picture. Everyone stood at attention, and one of the general's assistants raised his phone camera, taking a group photo of the security personnel. Hanish the Ghoul appeared in the foreground, his heart beating with a mixture of pride and fear.

Supervisor Sharif returned to his place on the bus next to the driver. He closed the door, and Hanish sat in his seat, with Daoud next to him. The bus door closed, and the bus began to move within the tourist village. The lights of the buildings and villas danced in their faces, and everything seemed luxurious and majestic at the same time. Sharif suddenly stopped, looking behind him at the shift members, and pointed to a group of people. Sharif: "Get off here." The bus stopped at one of the villas. A group got off, and the bus continued moving through the village. Sharif, the shift supervisor, continued giving signals and instructions; each group got off at their designated location. One group disembarks at brightly lit villas, another at glittering swimming pools and cheerful surroundings. Then suddenly, part of the road becomes dark, buildings under construction, an atmosphere of dread creeping through the shadows. Sharif rose from his seat, turned around, and gestured to Hanish, Daoud, and four of their fellow security personnel. Sharif: "You get off here." They cautiously exited the bus, and it drove away, leaving behind the security personnel, each with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity, looking around. Darkness enveloped some corners, and the dim light from the lamps cast eerie shapes on the unfinished rooftops.

Hanish exhaled a deep breath, gathering his courage, realizing that this was the true beginning of his responsibility as a guardian, and that the night would reveal many secrets, mysteries, and perhaps dangers in this village that was both enchanting and terrifying.

First Night on Duty

Daoud, Hanish al-Ghoul, and four of their colleagues entered the dark place, where no buildings were visible, only shadows and a great deal of silence, broken only by the distant hum of machinery. They all stopped. Daoud looked at his colleagues and ordered,

Daoud:

Stay here. Take Hanish to his post.

Hanish and Daoud walked on;

Someone called out: Daoud!

Daoud looked behind him:

I'm coming.

Hanish and Daoud approached each other in the darkness, each step breaking the silence of the night, until they reached a large building from which the sound of heavy machinery and loud noise filled the air. In front of them was a small security booth, dimly lit by the light from distant lampposts on the village sidewalks. Daoud pointed to the spot and said firmly,

Daoud:

This is your post. You stay in this booth. No one is allowed to enter or leave. The machinery inside is operated automatically by computer. If you notice anything, report it.

If a machine catches fire or something explodes, report it immediately using this device. They will send a maintenance technician right away. Keep it with you at all times.

Daoud hands the walkie-talkie to Hanish.

Hanish nods.

Hanish:

Okay, fine.

Daoud leaves him and returns to his colleagues, walking away, leaving Hanish standing there. Darkness surrounds the large building, and the loud sounds of the machinery press against his ears. He puts his hand to his ear for a moment, trying to lessen the discomfort, then begins to walk towards the cabin. He enters the cabin, sits on the chair, and the sound of the machinery gradually fades. Suddenly, a loud and frightening bark erupts, as if it were coming from inside the cabin itself. Hanish trembled and jumped up from his seat. He stepped out of the cabin and found the dog standing directly in front of him. Hanish inhaled deeply as he looked at the dog and said, "Walk." The dog stared for a moment, then turned and left. Hanish turned and went back into the cabin, but the terror wouldn't leave him. Suddenly, a flash of lightning from a short circuit in the power lines running above the cabin made him feel as if the short circuit had pierced his body, making his heart leap. He jumped up and rushed out of the cabin, muttering in a trembling voice as he looked at the power lines.