Iyaan's heart skipped a beat as he recognised the woman sitting in front of him. He knew that face anywhere-etched in his mind like a scar that would never fade. Her smile, sinister yet alluring, was a cruel facade masking the darkness within. Those eyes, sharp and merciless, bore into him with a hunger that sent chills down his spine. And that aura-an unmistakable blend of chaos and malevolence-was a dead giveaway. It was Nur, alright. The very sight of her ignited a maelstrom of memories, each one worse than the last. But what was she doing here, of all places?

Iyaan's thoughts raced as he bolted out of the café, his movements a blur of urgency. The bell above the door chimed loudly as he pushed through it, but the sound barely registered in his mind. His focus was solely on the white car parked on the opposite side of the street, the one he'd parked with care earlier that evening. He needed to get out of there-now.

Crossing the road in quick, wide strides, he reached the car and fumbled with the keys in his pocket. With a trembling hand, he shoved the key into the ignition and turned it. But nothing happened. Panic gripped him as he tried again, and again, the engine stubbornly refusing to start. His frustration bubbled over, and he slammed his fists against the steering wheel. The horn blared out, its sharp, angry note cutting through the quiet night, drawing the attention of passersby.

But Iyaan didn't care. All that mattered was getting away before Nur reached him. He continued to hammer at the horn, the sound reverberating through the car, a harsh reminder of his helplessness. The noise, far too loud to ignore, caught the attention of a man passing by. Iyaan didn't dare look up, too focused on his futile attempts to start the car.

A knock on the window startled him, freezing his hand mid-air. His heart pounded in his chest, fear coiling around him like a vice. He didn't want to look, didn't want to confirm his worst fear-that Nur had found him. But when a voice spoke, it wasn't the cold, mocking tone he dreaded.

"You're being way too loud, man. Is there something I can help you with?"

The voice was unfamiliar, a stranger's, and not the one he had been dreading. Relief washed over Iyaan, but it was fleeting. He still couldn't bring himself to meet the stranger's eyes, his mind replaying Nur's face over and over again. He didn't want to take any chances.

"My car's not starting," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

"Oh. I can call someone to help-" the man began, but before he could finish his sentence, the engine roared to life, startling them both. The sound was a lifeline, pulling Iyaan from the depths of his fear. Without another word, he gripped the steering wheel and sped off, leaving the man standing in the dark, bewildered.

"Kids, I tell you," the man muttered to himself as he watched the car disappear into the night.

***

The drive back to his apartment was a blur, Iyaan's mind a whirlwind of thoughts and fears. He had left everything behind when he moved to Kota Kinabalu, determined to start fresh, far away from the shadows of his past. But seeing Nur again-here, of all places-sent his world spiraling out of control.

As he pulled into the parking lot of his modest one-bedroom apartment, the events of the night played on a loop in his mind. How was Nur here? How had she found him? He was careful, so careful, to leave no trace. His hands were shaking as he unlocked the door to his unit, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The moment he stepped inside, he double-checked the locks, ensuring they were secure. The fear of what-or who-might follow him gnawed at him relentlessly.

Finally, he slumped onto the couch, the weight of his exhaustion crashing over him like a wave. His eyes were wide and unblinking, fixed on the ceiling above as if it held the answers to the questions racing through his mind. He had come to Kota Kinabalu to escape, to leave behind the nightmares that had haunted him since college. Nur was one of those nightmares. He had vowed to never cross paths with her again, yet here she was, in the very city he thought would be his refuge.

When he joined the police force, Iyaan had hoped it would give him the distance he needed and also the clues to finally give the justice her victims deserve. His transfer to Johan's division had been a stroke of luck, taking him far away from the place where his past lingered like ghosts. But luck, it seemed, had a cruel sense of irony. Nur had found him, and the walls he had built to keep his past at bay were crumbling.

Iyaan had been driven by a singular goal since the day he left college-to hunt Nur down and make her pay for what she had done. But now, confronted with the reality of her presence, he felt the strength drain from his body. He wasn't ready. Not yet. His mind echoed with doubts as he sat there, lost in his thoughts.

"How will I ever complete the mission I set for myself if this is all the strength I have?" he wondered, despair washing over him.

His eyelids grew heavy as the adrenaline that had fueled his escape began to wear off. The relentless thoughts in his mind began to blur, turning into hazy, indistinct shapes. He sank deeper into the cushions of the couch, his body surrendering to the fatigue he had been holding at bay for so long. Sleep crept in, a welcome escape from the fear and confusion that had taken hold of him. As the darkness enveloped him, Iyaan's last conscious thought was of Nur, her face haunting him even in his dreams.

*1013 words*