Chapter 4 - Choice 2 - Run Away: The Third Sun in the Wrong Sky - Breath Chased by a Shadow

📜 READER RULES

"A Realm Where Cowards Get Lost Twice"

1. This story uses a system structure.

Not a tax system, not a coding system— a choice-based survival system.

And every choice has consequences. (Yes, even the stupid ones.)

2. You must be as honorable as a grandmaster in desert chess.

Once your finger touches a pawn—no takebacks.

No crying. No "I didn't mean it."

Live with your decision.

3. Do NOT read all paths.

You're not an omniscient deity. Choose one route and stay loyal.

If you peek at the others, the jinn will judge your commitment issues.

4. The protagonist's fate is now in your hands.

If they die, that's between you and your conscience.

Do not DM the author at 2 a.m. to blame the plot twist.

5. Confused? Terrified? Regretting your choices?

Perfect.

That means the system works.

Proceed.

6. You may laugh, scream, or re-evaluate your life choices.

You may NOT go back and redo the chapter.

This is not a dating sim.

This is destiny—with lag.

***

Rafi grabbed Sahim's limp body with trembling hands, hauling him onto his back—knees buckling, shoulders nearly snapping under the burden of a fully grown Sahim. His foot slipped in the sand as he tried to stand. He staggered, almost falling again. His breath shattered:

"Hhh—hhh—ya Allah… you're so heavy…"

He wrapped Sahim's bisht around his chest so it wouldn't drag, locked both of Sahim's arms over his shoulders, and—with one reckless heave—Rafi stood.

Blood hammered in his ears.

His heart slammed against his ribs like it wanted out.

A wind behind him carried the sound of heavy footsteps. The sand vibrated faintly. Rafi's back prickled with heat. He turned his head just enough to see a large shadow weaving between the glass-tree trunks. Rafi choked on his breath.

"Astaghfirullah… astaghfirullah… astagh—RUN! RAFI, RUN!"

He bent low, clutching Sahim's arms tighter, and launched himself forward. The sand thickened under his sandals, every step like kicking through heavy water. His breath dragged, chopped, forced beyond human limits. Sahim, unconscious on his back, swung like an overstuffed shopping bag.

The creature behind them drew closer. Rafi bit down so hard his mouth tasted like metal.

His vision shook.

His legs threatened to snap.

But he didn't stop.

Rafi's shoulders screamed. His spine felt scraped raw by hot stones.

"Ya Rabb… if I fall… that's it… that's it…"

He just ran.

RAN.

RAN.

RAN.

The sand of Diyār al-Khafā' stretched behind them like the tail of a meteor. The glass-leaf trees chimed every time he brushed past them. Each step sliced his lungs from the inside.

"Ummi… by Allah… if I survive… I'll never ditch a tour again… I swear… ya Rabb…"

The beast's growl was gone now. Or maybe his ears could no longer distinguish anything from the thunder of his heartbeat.

Finally—

he spotted a massive tree trunk ahead—dark, wide, towering like a doorway to safety. Rafi slipped inside and collapsed, placing Sahim on his lap.

He gasped.

Throat burning.

Breath shaking.

"Please… ya Allah… let me rest… just ten seconds…"

Sahim—still unconscious—smiled faintly, as if dreaming something lovely. Rafi clicked his tongue.

"Of course… you're happy… YOU'RE ASLEEP…"

He looked forward—

and his breath vanished instantly.

Twelve pairs of glowing yellow eyes glimmered in the dark brush.

Not dogs.

Not wolves.

"Shu—shu… ya Rabb… what ARE you creatures…?"\

They lowered themselves.

Slim bodies.

Long limbs like gazelles.

Pointed ears like desert wolves.

But their fur shifted colors with the three suns—repainted every second.

Silence.

No growls.

No snarls.

Just…

watching.

Deep.

Calm.

Patient.

Like hunters calculating distance.

Rafi swallowed. His throat felt like gravel. He wanted to cry.

"Ummi… forgive your son… I'm about to be eaten by alien hyenas…"

The creatures began circling the tree.

Slow.

Coordinated.

Rafi panicked.

"Okay, okay! Come on… distraction!

Distraction!

Distrac—ASTAGHFIRULLAH—"

He begged silently: Ummi, guide me from the other world…

His brain suddenly retrieved one thing:

Meat.

Shredded spiced meat—bumbu merah—the special request he'd begged from Ummi before the tour. Plenty of stock.

Original plan: share with the tour group.

New plan: survive.

Rafi grabbed the small bag with a shaking hand. He rummaged blindly—and his fingers touched the warm plastic he knew too well, and the single sentence Ummi had written:

"Eat when hungry. Don't forget shalawat."

"MasyaAllah… thank you, Ummi…"

His voice broke between panic and gratitude. In front of him, the parallel-wolf creatures crept closer. The silence thickened. Rafi held the meat packet… lifted it like his final offering…and then—

THREW IT WITH EVERYTHING HE HAD.

"TAKE THIS! EAT THIS! NOT ME! JUST EAT THIS INSTEAD!"

The packet arced through the air, ripped open slightly, releasing a faint trail of spicy red aroma. A dozen heads snapped toward it at once. Perfect synchronization. Like a battalion obeying one command.

They moved.

Toward the meat.

Fast.

And they pounced.

Rafi did not wait even one second.

He grabbed Sahim's body again.

"Bro… the meat-sharing plan has COMPLETELY changed…"

His tone was sharp, but affection hid at the edge of it. He hauled Sahim onto his back once more. His spine protested violently.

BUT HE RAN.

The ground slid under his sandals. The three suns streaked into golden lines at the edges of his vision. The glass-trees towered like crystal watchtowers, chiming softly as he brushed past them.

Rafi's blood thundered like war drums. Sahim bounced hard on his back, but Rafi locked his legs around him so he wouldn't fall.

His foot slipped on a rock.

Rafi flew forward—

knee smashing into the ground,

sand bursting like shards of broken glass.

"A-akh… ya Rabb… hurts…"

He bit down on his sleeve to keep from screaming.

He stood.

Blood dripping from his knee.

Breath hissing.

And he RAN AGAIN.

"I hate you, Sahim… Wallah I hate you for a moment…"

Then, voice breaking—

"…but if you die I'm still not ready…"

Sahim, half-conscious, muttered weakly:

"…Amina… did you… like this flower…?"

Rafi wanted to throw him into a bush.

"SAHIM! PLEASE! SHUT UP!! We are about to DIE!!"

He kept stumbling forward. His back felt hammered with every step.

Short breaths.

Burning lungs.

Shaking vision.

"UMMI… THIS IS HEAVY—BUT I LOVE MY LIFE—AND I WANT TO SEE YOU—"

Then—

at last—

the glass forest opened.

Blue dust rose.

And two paths emerged ahead.

Rafi staggered, one arm keeping Sahim upright. He had to choose. Fast. Because behind them—soft footsteps returned. Rafi swallowed hard.

"Ya Rabb… which path is this…?"

1 — Al-Mashraqat (The Radiant Expanse).

A field of crystal-like flora rising like small towers. Their leaves reflected golden-white light—not from the suns, but from the glowing veins pulsing inside their rigid stems. The path's end shone bright, like dawn despite not being morning.

2 —Dhul-Wujūd, The Forest That Swallows Light

Not just darkness. A forest where even Vena, Safra, and Zurq refused to shine. The light of three suns stopped midair, never touching the ground. Black-green trunks stood like pillars of shadow, overgrown with deep-blue moss that shimmered faintly like tiny watching eyes.