Ayaan had never felt so helpless, so ignorant as he did in that moment. His heart was aching, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the situation. How could he have been so naive, so blind to the truth? He had promised her safety, had reassured her about leaving the past behind, yet he had failed her in the most fundamental way.

He turned towards Ally, his expression a mix of confusion and sorrow, silently pleading for it all to be a lie but her eyes showed the truth.

Ayaan's eyes widened in disbelief, his brows furrowing as he struggled to comprehend the depth of his ignorance. "I promised her safety, reassured her about leaving the past behind," he muttered, a heavy weight settling in his chest. Turning towards Ally, Ayaan's expression was a mix of confusion and sorrow, silently pleading for understanding.

Ally placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her eyes reflecting empathy. "I know this is tough for you," she began softly, "but we have to find the strength to support Sarah." She paused, her voice steady yet filled with urgency. "Sarah is fragile right now, struggling with her fears. We must empower her, help her gather the courage she needs to face this."

Ayaan took a deep breath, his mind still reeling from the shocking revelation. He couldn't believe that Sarah had been through so much pain and trauma, and he had been completely unaware of it all. He felt guilty for not being there for her when she needed him the most.

Ally's words snapped him out of his thoughts and he turned to face her, grateful for her support. "You're right," he agreed, determination shining in his eyes. "We have to be there for Sarah, she needs us now more than ever."

Ally nodded, a small smile appearing on her lips. "I'm glad you see it that way," she said, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "And I know just the person who can help us with this."

Ayaan raised an eyebrow in question and Ally pulled out her phone, dialing a number quickly. After a few rings, someone picked up at the other end and Ally spoke in hushed tones for a few minutes.

After ending the call, Ally turned to Ayaan with a determined look on her face. "I've arranged for us to meet with a therapist who specializes in trauma and abuse," she explained. "She'll be able to help Sarah process everything and guide us on how we can support her through this."

He struggled to grasp the intricate web of information Ally shared about Sarah. Each revelation peeled back layers of mystery surrounding his wife, revealing that his understanding of her was built on a fragile foundation of myths and half-truths. Despite his earnest attempts to shield her from harm, his efforts felt futile as he realized he was safeguarding her from unknown threats, left in the dark about the true dangers lurking in their midst.

Ayaan's thoughts wandered back to the day when he first met Sarah. She had been putting up a strong front, hiding her pain and fears behind a smile. Ayaan couldn't help but wonder what other secrets she was keeping from him.

Despite his love for Sarah, Ayaan realized that there was still so much he didn't know about her.

"I'm completely lost here, none of this makes sense to me. How will we ever uncover the truth if she refuses to share it?" His confusion etched on his face.

"Perhaps not directly from her, but from someone closer to her. Maybe her long-lost sister she reunited with during her recent hospital stay. Or possibly her mother, who could hold all the answers," Ally suggested.

Ayaan's encounter with Sarah's mother was a singular and unsettling experience. The circumstances were grim; she stood accused of homicide, the weight of the accusation evident in her haunted eyes. In the initial days of her incarceration, signs of her unraveling mind became starkly apparent. Her behavior took a chilling turn as she descended into a state akin to that of a psychopath, rejecting sustenance and lashing out violently at anyone who dared approach. With no other recourse, authorities transferred her to the confines of the Criminal Lunatic Asylum, where she was sequestered in solitary confinement to prevent further harm. Ayaan reluctantly acceded to Sarah's plea to visit her deranged mother, bracing himself for an encounter fraught with uncertainty and trepidation.

"What's on your mind, Ayaan?" Lost in his thoughts, Ayaan was jolted back to reality by Ally's gentle voice. She reached out a comforting hand towards him, her eyes filled with understanding.

"Could you do me a favor and look after her? Even though she may not want to see me, please give her these," Ayaan requested, passing over a bouquet of vibrant yellow tulips.

"I'll make sure she receives them. And rest assured, I'm doing everything within my power to help her recover. She's in good hands," Ally reassured him with a comforting smile.

***

"Watch your step, Mr. Ayaan," the guard cautioned as he escorted him down the asylum corridor. The flickering dull yellow lights cast eerie shadows, adding to the unsettling atmosphere of the place. From the closed cells lining both sides, muffled sounds seeped out through narrow observation slits, hinting at the hidden turmoil within.

The oppressive air weighing heavily upon him, Ayaan took a deep breath and steeled himself for the visit. As they neared the end of the corridor, the guard stopped in front of a heavily reinforced door with a small observation window. "Here she is," he said, unlocking the door and gesturing for Ayaan to enter.

Sarah's mother was confined in a cell lined with thick iron bars reminiscent of those found in high-security prisons. The guard warned him sternly, "Don't go near the bars. Stay on the straight path; her cell is at the far end of the corridor. And for your own safety, don't pass her any sharp objects. It could end badly. Remember all the rules."

"I will," he replied confidently.

The guard recounted a previous incident when Sarah's sisters had visited, resulting in chaos. Sarah's mother had spiraled into hysteria, relentlessly banging her head against the unforgiving metal bars, causing severe injuries to anyone who intervened. Despite receiving ten stitches on her forehead, it remained unhealed due to her refusal to let it mend. "Watch your words carefully; you never know what might set off her madness," he cautioned gravely.

"I'll be careful," Ayaan's voice echoed in the dim corridor, the words laced with determination.

The guard nodded curtly, his footsteps fading as he departed, leaving Ayaan standing alone by the cell. The metallic clang of the baton against the bars reverberated through the silence, a stark reminder of his confinement.

Peering into the darkness within the cell, shadows danced ominously, concealing any discernible shapes. Ayaan squinted, straining to make out any details but was met with an impenetrable black veil. Steeling himself for what lay ahead, he inhaled deeply, bracing for the unknown that awaited him.

"Mrs. Williams," his voice quivered slightly as he called out into the void, a tremor betraying his facade of composure. His gaze darted around the enclosure, searching desperately for any sign of her presence.

She looked up at him with wild eyes, her hair unkempt and face gaunt.

"I'm...not...her...anymore." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she rocked back and forth.

"Do you remember me? I'm Ayaan, Sarah's husband," he said gently.

Her eyes widened at the mention of Sarah's name and she let out a blood-curdling scream. "I understand your reluctance to speak, but Sarah's fate hangs in the balance. Only you hold the key to helping her."

Ayaan felt his heart wrench at the sight of her deteriorated mental state. He slowly approached her, crouching down in front of her.

"Why won't you speak? Tell me what I need to know!" His impatience grew as the silence lingered, stirring a sense of unease within him. Desperation clawed at his chest; he couldn't depart without the information he sought.

"Your daughter is waiting for you, she's depending on you," he exclaimed urgently, his voice tinged with worry.

A faint, husky voice emerged from the shadows in a far corner of the cell, "I'm powerless to aid her... or anyone."

He took a deep breath, trying to push away the memories and focus on the present. "Mrs. Williams, I know you must be in immense pain and suffering. But please, I beg you, tell me what happened to Sarah," he pleaded.

She remained silent, her eyes fixed on a distant point in the darkness. Her body was still rocking back and forth, a sure sign of her mental instability.

He zeroed in on the source of the voice, catching just a glimpse of her contorted silhouette. The memory flashed back to when she appeared like a vulnerable infant, always pleading for Sarah's forgiveness. On that occasion, she knelt in despair, tears streaming down her face as she cried out and begged. He had to separate Sarah from her then, knowing the detrimental effect it had on Sarah. However, those cries continued to reverberate in his thoughts, relentlessly probing him with their haunting echoes.

"She will end up like you if you don't help me," he yelled once more.

A silhouette slowly approached him in the dimly lit room, the faint glow revealing her presence just a few paces away from the iron bars. She appeared transformed, clad in ragged attire with numerous wounds adorning her body, including a fresh gash on her forehead. Her unkempt hair hinted at neglect spanning years. As she fixed an intense gaze upon him, a shiver ran down his spine.

Ayaan's breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight of the woman standing before him. He had a vague recollection of her, but this disheveled, broken version of her was almost unrecognizable.

"Mrs. Williams?" he asked tentatively, unsure if she would even respond.

She nodded slowly, her gaze never leaving his face.

"I need your help," Ayaan continued, hoping to get some sort of response from her.

"Help?" she repeated, her voice hoarse and raspy. "What help could I possibly offer? I am a prisoner in my own mind."

Ayaan's heart sank at her words. He knew she was struggling with guilt and grief over what happened to Sarah, but he hadn't anticipated the extent of it. He had hoped that perhaps seeing her daughter again would bring some sort of clarity or closure to her.

"Do you remember what happened to Sarah?" he pressed on, not wanting to give up hope just yet.

"I remember everything," she replied bitterly. "I remember every moment leading up to that dreadful night."

Ayaan held his breath, sensing that she was finally going to reveal something important.

"He will never release her," she murmured softly. "My daughter is innocent. Protect her, liberate her from his grasp." Her eyes shimmered with a mix of dread and apprehension.

He furrowed his brow, perplexed by her cryptic message.

Ayaan's heart raced with anticipation as he waited for Mrs. Williams to continue her cryptic message. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something important, something crucial, that she was trying to tell him.

"Who's the one who won't abandon her?" Ayaan pressed on, hoping to gain some clarity.

Mrs. Williams let out a deep sigh before finally responding. "He's been haunting me for years," she said, her voice filled with fear and sadness. "Ever since that night."

He could sense the deep pain and fear that consumed her, and it was clear that she had been carrying this burden for far too long.

"Who is he?" Ayaan asked again, his voice stern but empathetic.

Mrs. Williams took a deep breath before responding. "He is the one who took my daughter away from me," she said, her voice filled with anger and grief.

Ayaan's mind raced with possibilities. Was it a family member? A friend? A stranger?

"He... he won't abandon her," she continued, her words becoming more frantic. "He won't let her go."

"Listen, I have to grasp this," Ayaan said firmly. "Tell me what is making her this miserable."

"I... I shouldn't share this with you, or anyone else," she faltered.

"Mrs. Williams, please," anguish clouded his gaze.

"Swear to me that you'll keep this secret," she fixed him with a stern, unwavering stare.

"I promise," he vowed solemnly and Ayaan leaned in closer, feeling his heart race with anticipation. "Just tell me," he pleaded, "what did he do to Sarah?"