## Chapter 27: *"The Sixth Gate"*
> _"To open a gate is to invite the unknown. To close it… is to admit you never understood what walked through."_
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The sixth gate didn't look like a gate.
It looked like a mirror.
Not just any mirror.
The same one that had screamed.
The same one that had bled.
Now, it stood silent in the center of the ruined chamber — cracked, but whole.
Majid stared into it.
His reflection was wrong.
His eyes were black.
But his mouth smiled.
A smile he didn't feel.
Behind him, Rana watched closely.
— You said you already opened it, — she whispered.
— What did you see?
Majid blinked.
Then answered without turning.
— Me.
Silence.
Then:
— But not me.
Samir stepped forward cautiously.
— Then who?
Majid finally turned.
His voice came out layered — as if two people spoke at once.
— I saw the one inside me.
— The Sleeper.
— He showed me the other side.
— And now he wants more than my body.
Fatima swallowed hard.
— What does he want?
Majid looked at her.
Slowly.
Coldly.
— Your names.
Before anyone could react, the mirror shimmered.
And from its surface…
She stepped out.
Tall.
Dressed in tattered velvet.
Her skin pale like moonlight.
Hair black as ink.
Eyes that reflected everything and nothing.
She smiled.
Wide.
Calm.
Terrifying.
— Hello, children of the spiral.
Layla took a step back.
— Who are you?
The woman tilted her head.
— Oh, sweet scholar.
— I am many things.
— A whisper in the dark.
— A choice made too late.
— A truth no one wanted to speak.
Rana narrowed her eyes.
— You're not one of the Echoes.
The woman laughed.
Softly.
Like wind through dead leaves.
— No, little guardian.
— I am older than them.
— Older than the Watcher.
— Older than even the Sleeper.
She took a slow step forward.
— I am the Black Harlot.
— Keeper of the First Lie.
Samir's breath caught.
— There is no such thing.
The woman smiled wider.
— Isn't there?
She reached into her coat and pulled out something small.
A silver locket.
Inside it, a faded picture.
Of a man.
Young.
Familiar.
With eyes exactly like Majid's.
She held it up.
Let it dangle between them.
— This is your grandfather.
— Or what's left of him.
Majid stepped forward.
His hand twitched.
— My grandfather died before I was born.
— That's not him.
The woman's smile didn't fade.
— Is it?
— Or did he open a door too early?
— Did he invite the Sleeper before he was ready?
She let the locket swing again.
Then dropped it.
It hit the ground with a sound far louder than it should have.
And when it did…
The mirror cracked.
A low hum filled the room.
Then a voice came from within.
Not screaming.
Not whispering.
Just… watching.
A voice that belonged to no one.
And everyone.
> _"The sixth gate is open."_
> _"Now the spiral begins to eat itself."_
The air grew heavy.
The spirals carved into the walls began to glow.
One by one.
Until the entire chamber pulsed with light.
And then…
Majid collapsed.
Not unconscious.
No.
Worse.
He was silent.
Completely.
As if someone had taken his voice — and locked it away.
Rana rushed to him.
Shook him.
— Majid!
— Say something!
He looked up.
His eyes were still black.
But now…
They were afraid.
And for the first time since this all began…
So was he.
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