Beside her stood the terrifying shadow of a woman. Half her face was burned.
Rina sat down again. Calmly. Like they were having a normal conversation.
"Five years ago, Aziz," Rina said. "There was a fire in this house. A mother and her five children died. The mother couldn't accept it. Neither could her children."
"And then?" Aziz listened closely.
"Then the mother started looking for a 'replacement.' Someone willing to look after her children. Someone who wouldn't run." Rina stared at Aziz. "For the past two years, you've been the perfect fit. You live alone. You love cats. You love little kids."
Aziz finally understood. He'd been here for two years. Nothing strange had ever happened. Not until Kanti arrived. "Kanti was bait," Rina said. "Mrs. Titi doesn't know. We used Mrs. Titi's body to bring Kanti here."
Aziz felt sick. "Then who are you?" Rina smiled. Her teeth were black. "Me? I'm a messenger. I'm the one who finds them new homes. My job is over if you're willing to stay."
"And if I'm not?" Aziz didn't understand. "If you're not..." Rina pointed at the three boxes beside her. They hadn't been there before. Now they were. "Everything inside will come out. And they're hungry."
The scratching started again inside the boxes. This time, it was accompanied by crying.
Rina pulled an envelope from her bag. It contained photographs. Photo one: Aziz as a little boy, six years old, holding a cat. Photo two: Aziz's mother, smiling in a kitchen. Photo three: This house, five years ago. Six people stood in front of it. One mother and five children.
"This is their mother," Rina said. "And this..." She pointed at the photo of young Aziz. "This is you."
Aziz was stunned. "That's me in elementary school. Why do you have it?" "Because their mother knew you," Rina said. "You came here once when you were little. During Eid. Don't you remember? It was your mom's friend's house."
Aziz's mind reeled. He remembered. He'd been six years old. His mother had brought him to her friend's house. There had been children there. They'd played hide-and-seek. One of them... was a girl in a white dress. Her name was... Tina.
"Those children remember you, Aziz," Rina said. "That's why they chose you. Because you were an 'old friend.'"
Aziz's chest tightened. So this wasn't a coincidence.
"So the choice is still the same," Rina said. "Stay. Or leave. But if you leave, take everything with you. Including your four cats."
"Why do I have to take the cats?" "Because they can already smell them," Rina whispered. "The children love cats. If you leave without the cats... they'll follow the cats."
Ruby meowed from inside. Long and drawn-out. Like a warning.
6:13 a.m.
Aziz's phone, which had been at one percent, turned on by itself. An incoming video call. From Rina's number.
Aziz answered. He accidentally hit speakerphone.
The screen was black. There was only sound. The sound of children laughing. A mother's voice: "Aziz... sweetheart... come home..." Then Rina's voice came from the phone: "What's your decision, Aziz?"
The Rina standing in front of Aziz smiled. "Answer on the phone, Aziz. It'll be faster."
Aziz broke out in a cold sweat. He looked at the clock. 6:13. The sun was already bright. But around Aziz's house, it was still dark. As if covered by fog.
"You have until this fog disappears," Rina said. "If it disappears and you still haven't answered... we'll come in ourselves."
Aziz stood up and went inside the house. Rina followed him from behind but stopped in the doorway. She couldn't enter.
Inside, the three boxes were already in the middle of the living room. Kiko sat on top of the biggest box.
Aziz crouched in front of his four cats. "So, guys. Should we run?"
Ace licked Aziz's hand. Snow rubbed against his leg. Charcoal and Ruby stayed silent. They stared toward the back room.
The door to the back room was slightly open. Yellow light spilled out again. Warm. And a mother's voice: "Aziz... come here, sweetheart... Mommy made you some tea..."
Aziz walked toward the back room. The four cats followed him.
Inside, the pink living room appeared again. The five children were already sitting there, waiting.