That night, he had set the Shadow free.
“Areeba asked softly:”What exactly was the Shadow?
“Meher replied:”A spirit that was bound to this mansion.” Then she looked toward Areeba.
“But now, it is no longer just a spirit.
“Areeba asked in surprise: “Then what?”Meher said softly: “It has made a human body its home.
“Areeba’s face turned pale.
“Who?
“Instead of answering, Meher looked outside the room.
And said softly: “The person you trust the most…” Areeba looked toward Meher.
“The one I trust the most?
“Meher nodded slowly.
“But who is it?
“Meher did not answer immediately.
Her gaze was on the diary held in Areeba’s hand.
“Open the last page of the diary.
“Areeba opened the diary.
On the last page, only one name was written: “Dadi Zohra.” Areeba’s breath caught.
“No…
“Meher said softly: Meher grabbed her hand.
“No!”Areeba stopped.
From outside, Dadi Zohra’s voice came again: “Areeba, listen to me.
“Then there was a few moments of silence.
And a heavy, strange voice echoed: “Now, both of you will go nowhere.
“Meher pushed Areeba behind her.
The mirror suddenly began to tremble.
A crack appeared on its glass.
Chraak!Meher said softly: “Now the time has come.
“Areeba asked: “For what?
“Meher looked toward the mirror.
“To find the last secret of this mansion.
“The mirror was trembling violently.
Areeba grabbed Meher’s hand.
“What will happen now?”Meher said softly: “Whatever was left incomplete twenty years ago will be completed today.
“The crack in the mirror slowly began to spread.
Suddenly, a blurry image appeared inside the glass.
Little Areeba.
Meher was standing near her.
And Rashid was standing in front of them both.
Areeba said in surprise: “This is the image of that night.
“Meher nodded.
In the image, Rashid was looking toward Areeba.
In his hand was that same red doll.
Then Rashid placed the doll on the ground and said softly: “Nothing should happen to this child.
“Tears came to Areeba’s eyes.
“Rashid wanted to save me?
“Meher said: The mirror suddenly flashed.
Now a second image appeared.
Dadi Zohra and Areeba’s maternal grandmother were standing in front of the mirror.
There was fear on their faces.
Rashid was standing in front of them.
He said: “If you close this door, the Shadow will never be freed.
“Areeba asked softly: “Then what did they do?
“Meher said: “They closed the door.
“”To Rashid?
“Areeba’s heart sank.
“So Rashid was not killed by the Shadow?
“Tears came to Meher’s eyes.
“Rashid had imprisoned himself.
So that the Shadow could not reach you.
“Suddenly, silence filled the room.
Areeba looked toward the mirror.
Now there was no shadow in it.
Only Rashid’s face was there.
And there was a strange smile on his face.
Areeba said softly: “Then who is the Shadow still inside?
“Meher looked toward her.
“This is the biggest secret.
“Areeba looked toward Meher.
“The biggest secret?
“Meher said softly: “The Shadow was not inside any single human.
“Areeba was surprised.
“Then?” “The Shadow was bound to this mansion.
Whoever used the secret of this mansion for their own benefit, the Shadow would make a place inside them.
“Areeba suddenly remembered Dadi Zohra.
“So Dadi…
“Meher said: “Dadi had allowed the Shadow to enter inside her, but to save you.
“Tears came to Areeba’s eyes.
“How can she be saved?
“Meher looked toward the mirror.
“Rashid had written a way for this in the diary.
“Areeba immediately opened the diary.