Chapter Text
Dehya had been writing more letters and calling more often. Al Haitham had sent her Kaveh’s schedule so she could remain discreet. Al Haitham had tried to push her away, but she kept returning to check on him. She was stubborn.
“He hit you again last night?” she asked over the phone.
“It wasn’t as bad as usual, though. I think he was tired,” Al Haitham responded, coiling the spiraling wire around his fingers, a nervous habit he picked up since speaking to Dehya more frequently.
“You still haven’t taken up my offer on sneaking out.” She paused. “Look, I know you feel bad for him, but it’s not going to go well if you stay. Just look at you. You get beaten every single day and for what? Because Kaveh loves you? Because you’re his therapy?! Bullshit!”
Al Haitham knew Dehya was right. He really couldn’t handle this anymore. But leaving was too real, too terrifying. Even though it was hell, he didn’t want things to change. He just wanted things to go back to the way they were.
“...I’m still thinking about it,” he said with an air of finality, placing down the phone and hanging up.
That night Al Haitham lay in bed, tossing and turning. He knew he should take Dehya’s offer and escape. But what would happen? What if Kaveh found him again? What would he do afterwards? Live with Dehya until he got the novel published? Speaking of the novel, progress has been incredibly slow. Al Haitham was too preoccupied with anxiety to write anything meaningful. Was Dehya right? Should he just escape and leave all of this behind?
***
“I’ve told you, everything he says is bullshit,” Dehya insisted. “He says he loves you? Do you treat the people you love like that?”
Al Haitham’s breathing grew heavy. He fiddled with the telephone cord again. He’d have to make his choice, and fast. “It- it is bullshit. Who…who does he think he is? Treating me like I’m a punching bag just because he can’t hold his liquor?” His fingers tightened around the wire. “You’re right. I can’t- I can’t stay here any longer.”
Dehya blinked, a bit taken aback. “Glad you came around,” she said. “But we have to do this smoothly. I can’t just steal you away any day.”
Over the course of the next few days, the letters between the two increased. Al Haitham kept them stashed in his desk drawer, which was rarely opened by Kaveh anyway. The plan was simple enough. Dehya would visit often enough to have a palpable friendship with both Kaveh and Al Haitham. Dehya would later sneak to their house to whisk Al Haitham away while Kaveh’s at work. Kaveh wouldn’t be able to stop them. Al Haitham would stay with Dehya and never return; they’d move farther away where Kaveh can’t get to them. It was a little messy, but it might just work.
***
“Dehya’s coming again tonight,” Kaveh said gruffly. Unbeknownst to him, Al Haitham already knew. “Make a nice dinner.”
Unable to contain himself, Al Haitham grumbled, “If you like her so much you can make it yourself.”
The glass was hurled at him before he could even finish his sentence.
“You’ve got some real mouth on you these days,” Kaveh scorned, yanking Al Haitham’s collar. “As if you mean anything. You’re such a pathetic bitch. You’re lucky Dehya is coming, otherwise I would’ve killed you right here and shoved your tits in the meat grinder.” He tossed Al Haitham down before storming off. Al Haitham remained on the floor, not even distressed anymore. Just tired.
That night, Dehya arrived. The night went smoothly. Kaveh was almost normal. But Dehya knew that Kaveh was different now. She tread carefully, taking care to avoid even the slightest mention of escape. They were just waiting for Al Haitham to be ready. To leave this life behind.
***
A few days later, Al Haitham woke up early in the morning and rummaged underneath his bed. He had a small suitcase with some clothes and essentials, not enough for Kaveh to suspect he was packing. When he was confident he had everything, he went to his study to get his typewriter and the letters between him and Dehya. The typewriter was there but the letters were nowhere to be found. Did I put them in the suitcase already? he thought. No, I didn’t-
“Looking for these?” a familiar voice called out from behind. Al Haitham turned around slowly to find Kaveh holding some letters in his hand. “Y’know, I was wondering why the phone bill went up when I hadn’t made any calls at all. Getting all buddy-buddy with Dehya, huh?” He stepped closer. Al Haitham looked away, unable to face Kaveh’s bitter grin. “Y’know, I could’ve sworn I told you not to leave the house. Look at you, planning your little escape like you’re a princess in a castle. But you’re pathetic, you know that. You’re weak as shit. All you do is do what I ask and you take the hits I give.”
Al Haitham felt like he wanted to vomit. He had one chance to grab his suitcase and run out the door. No, he wouldn’t even have time to grab his things. He’d have to make a beeline for the front door and never look back. And so he did, panting heavily. But just as he entered the living room Kaveh grabbed him by the back of his shirt.
“Not so fast, little bitch!” He pushed Al Haitham to the floor and stepped right on his abdomen, punching the air out his lungs. Al Haitham gasped, writhing on the floor in pain as Kaveh stepped towards the table in the corridor.
Click.
“K-...Kav…” Al Haitham wheezed.
“You’re staying here whether you like it or not. And when I shoot you, you can say goodbye to your little plan.” A crazed grin spread across Kaveh’s face.
“P-Please don’t kill me,” Al Haitham begged, still breathing heavily.
“Kill?” Kaveh leaned in closer, pressing the gun against Al Haitham’s side. “Oh, I won’t kill you. Where’s the fun in that? I need you alive after all. I already told you you’re my therapy. If I didn’t have you I’d go crazy.” He laughed when he saw the tears in Al Haitham’s eyes. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Al Haitham crawled away as fast as he could. He used the table to hoist himself back up to standing. “Little shit,” Kaveh spat, shooting at Al Haitham. The latter dodged, the bullet going straight through the wall.
“Please stop, please!” Al Haitham cried, his movements shaky and uncoordinated.
“Get your ass over here! I’m not done with you!” Kaveh chased Al Haitham into the kitchen, pinning him against the countertop. Al Haitham reached up, trying to keep Kaveh’s fingers off the trigger. “Fuck what I said! I’m going to kill you, you pathetic cunt! I’ll tear out your insides! Is this what you wanted?! Are you happy now?!” He shot the gun, the bullet grazing Al Haitham’s side.
“AAGH!!” Al Haitham wailed, screaming in pain. He tried to cover the wound, to prevent the blood from spilling. Kaveh grabbed Al Haitham’s hair, yanking it back and slamming his head onto the counter. Al Haitham’s eyes watered and his vision blurred. Before Kaveh could shoot again, Al Haitham reached back and grabbed one of the kitchen knives before driving it straight into Kaveh’s chest.
“..Wha-...” Kaveh stammered, stumbling backwards and dropping the gun. The blood leaked out from the wound. Frantically, Al Haitham pulled out the knife, but that only made the bleeding worse. He screamed Kaveh’s name, reaching out as Kaveh fell backwards onto the floor. His face was pale. “...Fuck…” he mumbled.
“...Kaveh?” Al Haitham whispered, kneeling down. No response. Kaveh’s body was cold and still. “Kaveh, no, wait-!” Al Haitham shook the body, trying to force life into it. It was no use. Al Haitham sobbed, clutching Kaveh’s bloody shirt and hunching forward. “Kaveh, I’m so-...I’m so sorry, please forgive me, please…” He choked on his own sobs, tears falling into the pool of blood. The stench of the body attacked Al Haitham’s nostrils and he winced. What the fuck has he done?
I’m a monster. I’m a killer. No, no no no…this wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I was supposed to escape with Dehya and Kaveh should’ve been unharmed! I never meant for any of this to happen! Not in the slightest! What am I supposed to do?
His eyes turned to the clock. 7:39 AM. Dehya would arrive at 2:30. He would just have to wait until then.
***
Dehya approached the house, her heart dropping as she noticed Kaveh’s car still in the driveway. What?! she thought. He should be at work right now! What the hell-...
“Al Haitham?!” she called out, wiggling the doorknob. It was locked. With all her strength, she rammed the door with her shoulder until it swung open. Instantly, she was met with a foul smell. “Al Haitham, what the fuck is going on?!” She ran to the kitchen before nearly vomiting. Al Haitham was on the floor, staring at Kaveh’s dead body on the floor. Some maggots had begun to crawl onto the body, eating away at the flesh. Some had crawled onto Al Haitham’s face. “What the hell?” Her eyes trailed to the knife on the floor, and the gun. “What did you do?!”
Al Haitham’s eyes snapped up, and he frantically rubbed the bugs off his face, his sobs wracking his body once again. “I DIDN’T MEAN TO!!” he wailed, curling in on himself. “He- he was going to shoot me and I-” He turned away. “I didn’t mean it, I didn’t mean it, I didn’t mean it…”
“Hey, hey, hey…” Dehya said, kneeling beside Al Haitham. “It’s okay. You did it in self defense. I just…oh my God, Al Haitham…”
“I’m a monster!” he cried.
“You’re not a monster! Not any more than he was!” Dehya reassured. She brought a hand to her head. How were they supposed to work through this? “We…we need to get the hell out of here. Are your things ready?”
“But-”
“We can’t stay here,” Dehya reiterated. “Please, this is grossing me out. Get your things, okay? Get everything you can carry.”
Al Haitham nodded, bringing everything he could fit into Dehya’s trunk. He got into the passenger seat and they drove away, never looking back on that cursed house.