Author: Fizza Younis
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Release Date: 13 May 2025
About the Book:
The paths of five individuals from four different worlds are destined to intertwine, shaking the very foundation of reality. When Sameer embarks on a quest to find a missing friend, little does he know that his journey will entangle him with murders, vindictive witches, misunderstood Grim Reapers, happy fairies, and lonely demons.
As secrets begin to unravel, the fate of their worlds hangs in the balance, and each character must find their place in this complex web of mystery and magic or risk losing themselves forever. The clock is ticking, and the stakes are higher than they could have imagined.
Amidst the wonders and dangers of their diverse worlds, these individuals must confront their deepest fears and desires. Will they rise above the shadows threatening to consume them, or will their worlds be forever lost to the Myths of the Night?
Excerpt: In the Dead of the Night
Sameer had
heard the phrase 'your life can change in an instant,' but he never
fully grasped the truth of it until it happened to him. Within a few minutes,
not only did his life change forever, but his perception of the word altered as
well.
It wasn’t that long ago when on a dark, stormy night, he was
walking home from the police station, which was a few blocks away from his
house. With hasty steps, he was fighting a sense of impending doom that seemed
to follow his troubled soul. Nothing could ease his worry, and as much as he
wanted to chalk it up to nerves, he couldn't help but focus on his suspicion.
Heart hammering within the confines of his ribcage, he feared the night would
never end. Or end in a disaster.
He shuddered, suddenly feeling colder than normal, and
burrowed deeper into his overcoat. Desperate to find the comfort of his warm
bed, he walked faster. His brain returned to his visit to the station, which
hadn't gone as he had envisioned. Life was turning into a nightmare for him.
But then, he hadn't had a peaceful moment since the day Rayan went missing. And
to make matters worse, the police had been as helpful as a blind guide dog. Not
that he could blame them because a grown man not returning his best friend’s
calls wasn’t that big of a deal to them.
An involuntary shiver ran down his spine, and he pulled the
lapels of his coat closer to cover his chin. Not equipped to deal with
stressful situations, he always feared the worst. He would never understand how
others managed their anxieties and often wondered if people pretended to be
okay, the way he was trying but failing. Rayan was his anchor and without his
friend, he felt like an untethered boat drifting away to the open seas.
A desperate sigh left his lips as he continued his brisk walk
through the fog, hoping Rayan was well and alive. He had done his best to help
the authorities with their investigation, but nothing had turned up. And he
hated that they weren’t taking his concerns seriously and were ready to give up
the search, pretending as if Rayan moved away instead of anything foul. After
all, why an adult male would go missing from a small town when he was neither
rich nor influential and didn’t have any enemies? But why would the said male
leave all his possessions behind if he were leaving on his free will? He wished
he could convince them but he was as eloquent as Rayan when talking to others.
Regardless of what the police said or the town’s people
thought, Sameer would never give up on his best friend, who was like a brother
to him. Besides, he knew Rayan better than anyone else in the world. No matter
the circumstances, his friend would never leave without saying goodbye. They
were all the family they had got now.
As he made his way down a dark alleyway, Sameer admitted to
himself that Rayan had been acting strange after his mother passed away. But
that was understandable. Wasn't it? Even if he despised his mother for
being a drunkard and never caring about him, he loved her too for being there.
She was the only blood relative Rayan even knew of.
Sameer remembered when his parents had perished in a car
crash, no amount of kindness from others had hidden his depression. He was
devastated, and only Rayan could get through to him in his distraught state.
Then the tables turned, but he hadn't been able to help his friend. When he
thought about it, he felt like a failure. What good was their friendship if he
couldn't support his friend during the darkest moments? But something in Rayan
had changed. It was like he buried a part of himself with his mother, and
nothing could make him whole. Now, he was gone, and Sameer couldn't think of a
single thing that might help find his location or shed light on what happened.
They spent much of their childhood and teenage together.
Sameer's parents always welcomed Rayan at their house and treated him like
their own. The two boys were inseparable, doing everything together, from
studying to cooking up mischief. Their connection went deeper than the bonds of
friendship. Something Sameer couldn't explain in words, but he could feel it in
his bones—his soul.
And that's why regardless of what others thought, he knew his
friend wouldn't leave without a word. Because he remembered how torturous the
few years, that they spent apart in college, were for both of them. There was
no doubt in either of their minds they would return to their peaceful little
town and start their practical lives, upholding the promise they made to each
other—to be friends forever and never leave the other behind.
Yet another wave of sadness gripped his heart as he thought
of Rayan's playful smile—a smile that rarely appeared on his friend's lips but
could light up a room when it did.
Sameer's thoughts turned darker, and a fresh wave of fear
gnawed at his insides. The sense of foreboding intensified. Nothing felt
normal, and the very air seemed charged with danger. Nervous energy ran through
him, and he looked around, noticing how silent the night was.
Turning a corner to his street, he hoped to reach home in one
piece and collided with someone. The moment stretched to eternity as the clouds
parted and the full autumn moon appeared, brightening the night. And Sameer
stared at the woman, who had appeared out of nowhere, running into him.