Chapter 2: Cracks in the Foundation
The message from Samir hung over them like a storm cloud. As they left the café, the group was quieter than ever. Conversations felt forced, and glances were wary. The familiar comfort of their friendship was slipping, replaced by a sense of suspicion.
That night, Aria sat in her room, staring at her phone. She had tried calling Samir a dozen times, but it went straight to voicemail. Her mind buzzed with questions. What could he have meant by "Trust no one"? Did he think one of them had betrayed him?
A knock on her door broke through her thoughts. Her mother peeked in, her expression soft but concerned.
"Beta, you've been in here for hours. Is everything okay?"
Aria managed a weak smile. "Yeah, just a lot on my mind."
Her mother hesitated before nodding. "Dinner is ready whenever you're hungry."
As the door closed, Aria's phone vibrated. It was a message from Zayn.
Zayn: "Group call. Now."
She joined the call, seeing Nadia's anxious face and Imran's neutral expression. Zayn's voice came through, impatient and sharp.
"Okay, so what's our plan? We can't just ignore this," Zayn started. "Samir's message wasn't random."
"What if he's in real trouble?" Nadia asked softly. "Should we call the police?"
"And tell them what?" Imran countered. "That our friend sent a cryptic message? They won't take it seriously."
Aria hesitated. "Maybe we should check his apartment. If he's there, we can see for ourselves."
There was a brief pause before Zayn nodded. "Fine. Tomorrow morning. We all go."
---
The next morning, the four of them gathered outside Samir's apartment. The building was an old, gray structure with narrow stairways and peeling paint. Zayn pressed the buzzer repeatedly, but there was no response.
"Maybe he's not home," Imran muttered.
"Or he doesn't want to see us," Nadia added quietly.
"Move." Zayn's tone was firm as he tried the doorknob. It was locked.
"Wait," Aria said, glancing down the hallway. A middle-aged woman was coming out of the neighboring apartment, carrying a bag of groceries.
"Excuse me, ma'am," Aria called out. "Do you know if Samir is home?"
The woman frowned. "I haven't seen him in days. Usually, I hear his music playing, but it's been quiet."
A chill ran through Aria. The silence of the apartment felt heavier now.
"Should we call the landlord?" Nadia suggested.
"No need," Zayn muttered, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a set of keys.
"Zayn, what—" Imran began.
"He gave me a spare a long time ago," Zayn said, his gaze defiant. "I'm using it."
Before anyone could protest, Zayn unlocked the door and pushed it open. The apartment was dark, the curtains drawn. There was a stale, musty smell, like no one had been there for days.
"Samir?" Zayn called out, his voice echoing. No answer.
They stepped inside cautiously. The living room was a mess—papers scattered, drawers half-opened, clothes tossed over the couch. A sense of violation hung in the air.
"This doesn't look right," Nadia whispered.
Aria's eyes drifted to a framed photograph on the wall. It was of the five of them at a beach, laughing and carefree. It felt like a lifetime ago.
Zayn moved toward a desk cluttered with documents. His eyes narrowed as he sifted through the papers.
"Guys," he said, his voice tense. "Look at this."
They gathered around. On the desk were printed emails, some marked with red ink. Words like debt, threats, and repayment jumped out.
"Was Samir in some kind of trouble?" Imran muttered.
Aria's pulse quickened. "Why wouldn't he tell us?"
"Maybe he didn't trust us," Zayn replied bitterly.
Before anyone could respond, a sudden knock echoed through the apartment. They froze, glancing at each other.
"Are you supposed to be here?" a gruff voice called from outside. A man in a security uniform stood in the doorway, his gaze sharp.
"What's going on here?"
Imran stepped forward, his usual calm composure faltering. "We—we're friends of Samir. We were just checking on him."
The guard frowned. "Well, he hasn't been seen in days. If you see him, let the management know. We've had complaints."
As the guard left, a heavy silence settled over them. They knew that leaving Samir's apartment wouldn't mean leaving behind the questions—the doubts that now clouded their friendship.
---
Back outside, as they walked away from the building, Zayn broke the silence.
"He's hiding something. And it's big."
"Or he's in danger," Nadia countered. "We need to find him."
"Before someone else does," Imran added, his voice low.
Aria's mind swirled with everything they'd just seen. The group they used to be felt fractured—trust slipping through their fingers like sand. Samir's warning echoed in her mind: Trust no one.