Eden(rewriten)

The next few days passed like a blur for Ali. It was as if time itself had slowed down, each moment stretching out into eternity. The unease in his chest grew heavier, a weight that seemed to be pulling him deeper into the pit of uncertainty. He couldn't stop thinking about Khalid's words—*You're losing yourself*. The more he thought about it, the more he realized just how true they were. The compound, the people, the lies… it was all closing in on him, suffocating him from the inside.

Malick, however, seemed to be completely unaffected. He was still consumed by the mission, still relentless in his pursuit of power, of whatever it was that lay beyond the veil of secrecy surrounding the compound. Ali couldn't understand it. How could Malick be so blind to what was happening? Or was he simply willing to pay any price for the dream they had once shared?

Ali's thoughts swirled as he made his way to the compound's garden. The sun was just beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the intricate maze of flowers and trees that lined the path. The garden was one of the few places in the compound that brought him a semblance of peace. But today, even here, he felt a dissonance, a quiet tension that gnawed at him.

It was in this garden that Ali found Sonia. She was standing near a small fountain, her back to him as she worked with the plants, arranging them with delicate care. He watched her for a moment, her movements graceful, as if the weight of the world didn't touch her. Sonia had become a constant in his life—someone he could talk to, someone who seemed to understand without asking too many questions. But he couldn't help but wonder what lay beneath her calm exterior. Was she too caught in this world? Or was there a part of her that wanted to break free?

She turned as she heard his footsteps, her eyes lighting up in surprise. "Ali," she greeted him softly. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Ali gave her a small smile. "I needed to clear my head. It's been a strange few days."

Sonia nodded in understanding. "I know the feeling. The atmosphere here... it changes. It gets heavier, doesn't it?" Her gaze shifted around the garden, her fingers pausing in their task as she continued, "But it's beautiful here, in a way. Like it's hiding something beneath it all."

Ali didn't know why, but her words struck him deeply. There was something in her tone, something in her voice, that made him wonder if she too had started to notice the dark undercurrents running through the compound. He took a few steps closer to her.

"Do you ever wonder if we're meant to be here?" he asked quietly. "Like maybe we've been led into something we can't escape."

Sonia met his gaze, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then, with a sigh, she set down the flowers in her hand and turned toward him fully.

"Sometimes," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "But what else is there? We all have our dreams, don't we? Maybe this is just... the cost of chasing them."

Ali's heart skipped a beat. The cost. The words echoed in his mind as if they were meant to haunt him. Was this really the price they had to pay for a better life? For a chance at something beyond this place? Or had they been lured into a trap, a web they would never be able to escape?

"Do you ever think we've made a mistake?" Ali asked, his voice almost pleading. "That maybe we're not the ones in control of this anymore?"

Sonia's eyes softened, and for a moment, Ali saw a glimpse of vulnerability in her expression. "I don't know, Ali. I'm just trying to make sense of it all. I want to believe that we're here for something good. That we're part of something greater. But I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. Something I can't put my finger on."

Ali felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He had been so caught up in his own doubts and fears that he hadn't stopped to consider how Sonia might be feeling. They were all in this together, weren't they? But in this place, with its secrets and shadows, it was hard to trust anyone. Even her.

"I'm scared," Ali admitted, his voice barely audible. "I don't know what's happening here. I don't know who to trust anymore."

Sonia took a step closer, her hand brushing his arm in a gesture of comfort. "I know. I'm scared too. But we'll figure it out. Together."

Ali nodded, though a part of him wasn't sure if he believed her. The fear inside him only seemed to grow, wrapping itself around his chest like a vice. It was suffocating him. And as he looked into Sonia's eyes, he couldn't help but wonder if she was beginning to see the same things he had. The lies, the manipulation, the darkness that lingered just beneath the surface of their lives.

As if sensing his growing unease, Sonia pulled back slightly, her expression becoming more guarded. "We should go inside," she said, her tone shifting. "It's getting late."

Ali hesitated, but then nodded. He didn't know why, but something about the way Sonia had said that made him feel like he was being dismissed, like there was something she wasn't telling him. The air between them felt heavy, like a secret was hanging between them, just out of reach.

---

The following days passed in a haze. Ali felt himself sinking deeper into the world that surrounded him, unsure of where he was headed or what he was truly seeking. He kept his distance from Sonia, sensing that their brief connection had been fragile, and any further conversation would only lead to uncomfortable questions. Instead, he focused on his work, burying himself in tasks that distracted him from his growing fears.

Malick, as usual, was oblivious to the tension in the air. He was consumed by his desire for power, for the life he had always dreamed of. Ali couldn't help but admire his friend's determination, but at the same time, he felt a growing unease about the direction Malick was heading. Was he so caught up in this pursuit that he couldn't see the danger ahead?

Ali's mind raced with questions. What if they were too far gone? What if there was no way to turn back now? What if their dream, the one that had once seemed so attainable, was nothing more than a mirage?

The darkness was closing in. The walls of the compound felt like they were pressing down on him, trapping him in a web of lies and secrets. And the more he tried to escape, the more he realized that there might be no escape at all.