Chapter 1 House Of Horrors Opens Its Doors

Nasser entered the kitchen where his wife, Noor, was preparing dinner. Meanwhile, Malik and Sophia were in their rooms.

With slow, heavy steps, Nasser approached one of the kitchen drawers. He opened it and pulled out a sharp knife. The kitchen was fully visible from the living room seating area.

Suddenly, without warning, he lunged at Noor, stabbing her repeatedly in different parts of her body.

A piercing scream shattered the silence of the apartment-Noor's cry came with the very first stab!

Malik and Sophia heard the scream from their rooms. Terrified, they bolted, rushing frantically toward the kitchen.

Sophia reached first, followed immediately by Malik. She froze for a moment in shock, then let out a scream that made hearts tremble:

Sophia (horrified, in a chilling scream): "Mom!"

She dropped to her knees, clutching her mother's lifeless, blood-soaked body lying on the kitchen floor.

Malik lunged at his father, but Nasser shoved him forcefully backward. The knife was still in Nasser's hand. As he pushed Malik in the chest, the blade sliced Malik's upper shoulder, leaving a bleeding wound.

Blood spilled everywhere. The kitchen transformed into a scene of pure horror-a nightmare that had only just begun.

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–Inside Nabil's Apartment – Bedroom

Nabil, living in the apartment adjacent to Nasser's, was lying in bed, preparing to sleep, when a sudden, piercing scream broke the silence:

Sophia (from behind the walls): "Mommy!"

Nabil sat upright, his heart pounding. The building was usually quiet-he had never heard anything like this before. Suspicion and anxiety crept into his mind.

Slowly, he sat at the edge of the bed, reached for his phone on the bedside table, and called the building's security immediately.

Nabil (anxiously): "Hello? This is Nabil, Apartment 30, 15th floor. I just heard a girl screaming 'Mom!' from the neighboring apartment-number 29. Please, someone needs to check immediately!"

Mina: "Understood, sir."

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–Inside the Security Office on the Ground Floor

Mina sat behind his desk, answering the call calmly. Ashraf and Shadi sat before him, alert and focused, awaiting instructions.

Mina (firmly): "Ashraf, you and Shadi go to the 15th floor, Apartment 29. A resident reported hearing a girl scream 'Mom!' Go there immediately, check the situation, and report back."

Ashraf and Shadi sprang from their seats and rushed out. They entered the elevator and headed to the fifteenth floor.

When the elevator doors opened, they stepped out immediately.

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–Hallway Outside Nasser's Apartment

Nasser flung open his apartment door and bolted toward the elevator, a bloodied knife in hand. Malik stood at the doorway behind him.

Malik (shouting): "He killed Mom! Stop him!"

Nasser collided with Ashraf as he ran toward the elevator. Shadi quickly snatched the knife from Nasser's hand. Ashraf restrained him from behind, and together they forced him into the elevator.

Ashraf pressed the ground floor button. Upon reaching it, Shadi opened the elevator door and dragged Nasser into the security office.

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Mina sat behind his desk, watching as Ashraf and Shadi brought in Nasser, his clothes soaked in blood. He froze in shock.

Mina (astonished): "Mr. Nasser?!"

He stared in disbelief, unable to comprehend what he saw.

Mina (to Shadi): "What happened, Shadi?"

Shadi (seriously): "Mr. Nasser killed Madam Noor-his wife."

Nasser lowered his gaze silently, uttering no words. Mina grabbed the phone from his desk and called the police immediately.

Mina (after a moment): "Hello? This is Mina, security head at Tower 16, Cairo. We have a murder in the building. A resident killed his wife and is currently detained in the security office."

Police (on the phone): "We will be at the location in a few minutes."---

–Outside the Building – Police Arrival

Police officers arrived at the building entrance, led by the Officer. Beside him, a journalist carried a camera in one hand and two bags on her arms. Other officers followed closely.

At the entrance, Mina stood to greet them, flanked by Shadi and Ashraf, each holding one of Nasser's arms-one on his right, the other on his left. The police controlled Nasser, escorting him forcefully into the waiting squad car.

Mina: "This was the knife he had while running, sir."

Officer (gesturing to an aide): "Take it from him."

Officer: "Where is the crime scene?"

Mina: "15th floor, Apartment 29. Shadi and Ashraf will accompany you, sir, if you allow."

Shadi: "This way, sir."

Shadi and Ashraf guided the officer to the elevator.

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–Outside Nasser's Apartment – Minutes Later

The officer stood before the apartment, surrounded by his team.

Shadi: "This is the apartment, sir."

The apartment door was wide open.

The officer entered, guided by Shadi, passing through the living room to the kitchen.

Inside, Noor lay dead on the floor. Sophia cradled her mother's head in her lap, tears streaming down her face.

Malik stood broken, shattered, looking at the officer with red, tear-filled eyes-tears that refused to fall, frozen in the pride of a killer.

Blood flowed from a wound on his upper left shoulder, dripping down to his elbow, and a drop fell onto Noor's lifeless face, pooling in Sophia's hands.

Officer (seriously, firmly): "Cover the body."

Police aide (standing beside him): "Understood, sir."

Officer (looking at Malik and Sophia): "Both of you, come with me."

The officer led them out of the kitchen, heading toward the apartment exit, closely followed by the journalist.

Journalist: "Excuse me, sir, may I ask you a few questions?"

Officer (firmly): "No interviews are allowed. You may attend the interrogations at the prosecutor's office."

Journalist (disappointed): "Thank you... but could I at least take a photograph of the victim? Or one of you?"

Officer: "I won't allow that."

Officer (gesturing): "The victim is over there. You may photograph her."

The officer and some of his aides exited the apartment, leaving the renowned journalist, Susan, in the kitchen-the crime scene.

She raised her camera and captured images of Noor, her lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

Meanwhile, a police aide approached and gently draped a white cover over Noor's body