The Ominous

Chapter 2 … "Ring"

—

'A Ring?'

"It's the same ring we found near the abandoned hospital!" After his initial astonishment, he suddenly realized it wasn't something he was seeing for the first time.

The abandoned hospital was located in the middle of a small forest on the outskirts of the city where he lived. It had been deserted for decades after the departure of the French colonizers and had since become a haven for drunks and the dregs of society. Louay occasionally went there to breathe in the fresh air.

'But I left it with Yaman. That's right, he mentioned it disappeared suddenly…' Yaman was the name of his friend who had told him about the ring's disappearance a short while ago.

"Damn, it seems to be a cursed ring after all!"

"And since I was the first to handle it, the curse must have passed on to me!"

Having watched many horror films in his childhood and influenced by the "stories" circulating in his surroundings, Louay couldn't help but think the ring was somehow cursed—or that a sorcerer was using it for some sinister purpose.

"Who would've thought horror movies would one day become a reality..."

He was familiar with cases of sorcerers performing rituals to drive a wedge between couples or lovers, and he suspected the ring might belong to one of those couples. But after a bit of thought, he dismissed the idea because the ring didn't seem like a "wedding ring."

The ring was adorned with strange decorations, a type of traditional engraving he had never seen before. It looked as though it came from ancient times, like an antique ring that could fetch him a fortune if sold.

He didn't know much about rings (and didn't like wearing them either), so he couldn't figure out the purpose of this type of ring. Only one thought came to his mind—"showing off."

'Could it belong to a wealthy person? Would I get a reward if I returned it? What if I took it to the police station?' After a string of ambitious thoughts about the potential benefits he might gain from it, he realized he had overlooked the main issue—how the ring had suddenly appeared out of nowhere in his bathroom.

'It might also be a ring sealing a genie, heh...' Louay thought sarcastically before closing the bathroom door and stepping out. He never felt comfortable inside and didn't want to stay there for long.

He felt as though he was being watched the entire time. If it weren't for his calm demeanor and strong control over his emotions, the first thing he would have done was flee his house and never return. His exhaustion and extreme fatigue, however, kept him from reacting energetically.

Louay believed in the existence of jinn and also adhered to the principle, "If you don't harm them, they won't harm you." So, he wasn't too afraid and decided to withdraw wisely, avoiding dealing with the situation on his own.

In fact, this wasn't the first time Louay had dealt with something similar. Once, he visited a family member who had a daughter—a daughter "possessed" by a jinni. And, of course, thanks to his "good luck," that very day, the cursed jinni decided to put on a show.

The girl suddenly stood up with a blank expression, played some strange music on her phone, and started dancing, tossing her hair left and right hysterically.

Seeing the family's fearful expressions, Louay tried to feign bravery and stepped forward to "solve the problem," despite their warnings. He didn't dare get too close, so he kept a safe distance and decided to start with something simple.

He sought refuge in God aloud, reciting a prayer against the devil. Immediately, the girl froze, stopped moving entirely, and slowly turned her head toward him with a terrifying look that made him instinctively step back. It was the most horrifying experience of his life! The scene remained etched in his memory to this day.

After a moment of silence, the girl resumed her bizarre dance. Her mother then told Louay that it would continue until she stopped on her own. 'Why didn't you tell me that before!' he thought at the time. They went on to share other strange stories about the girl, which led him to one conclusion:

'I'm never coming back here again as long as I live. Damn all of you!'

And true to his word, he never returned. However, he later heard that the girl had been treated and recovered... or so they said.

Louay lay down on his makeshift floor bed, trying to think of a solution. Suddenly, he decided to consult Uncle Google and typed into the search bar: "What to do if you find a cursed object."

After some browsing, he concluded that "burying" the object was the best solution. However, he didn't have the courage to touch the ring again, let alone bury it.

'Heh, I'm not stupid enough to touch it again. I know how these cursed tricks work. Since the ring is now tied to me, no matter what I do, it'll come back to me,' Louay thought, abandoning the idea of burial. Then another thought struck him... one inspired by the "rumors" circulating in his community.

'Urinating on it...' He couldn't help but laugh at the thought of tossing an ancient, elegant ring into the toilet and sprinkling it with the "sacred liquid" to purify it of its corruption.

If the jinni that owned the ring could see Louay's current thoughts, it would curse his ancestors and wish it had stayed buried forever in some abandoned place, forgotten by the world.

But setting aside the humor, Louay realized this idea was risky. If the ring was merely cursed, the act might work. But if it housed a jinni, such an insult might harm or, at the very least, wound the jinni's pride. As a result... it would surely seek revenge.

And this is the worst possible outcome—declaring war on a jinni is no laughing matter. As for why they might get hurt, it's simple: it's said that jinn are harmed by hot water and liquids, which is why it's advised not to pour hot water in deserted places, bathrooms, and the like, as those are their preferred habitats.

Although the term "hot" here refers to extremely high temperatures, even "the sun water" is considered somewhat hot. So, it might cause harm to the other party if aimed directly at them. In other words, the matter involves a risk, even if it's minimal.

Particularly after thinking about the sight of the shattered mirror, he was convinced that it likely involved a jinni. It was impossible for it to break just like that without any external interference. Moreover, the bathroom window was closed, making it virtually impossible for anything to get in, let alone a human body.

The thought crossed his mind that the mirror might have been used as a gateway—a portal to transport the ring or something similar. But he realized he was letting his imagination run wild, and the possibilities were endless, so he stopped thinking about it.

'Tch, damn it, I'll call someone specialized in this matter! But it's already too late, I'll have to wait until tomorrow. Besides, I don't even know anyone in the first place...' He was too exhausted to dwell on such a complex issue, so he decided to seek help. After a bit of thinking, he remembered his relatives, whose daughter had been possessed and received treatment. He wanted to inquire about the person who treated her and get information that might help him.

'Alright, I'll get their number from my mom tomorrow and call them!' Since he wasn't deeply involved in social relationships, he only kept important contacts at hand.

'-sigh- I just hope nothing strange happens tonight... I know how to protect myself in advance, but just the thought of a jinni pulling my blanket terrifies me...' Thanks to the experience with the possessed girl, he had done extensive research and gained some expertise in this field, so he knew how to act cautiously and shield himself.

'Maybe he won't stop at the blanket and will pull down my pants too...' Louay felt a chill run through his body as he imagined the weirdest possible scenarios.

'Damn sorcerers! You deserve the worst kinds of torture! If I catch the one responsible, I'll **** you, you son of a ****!' He couldn't contain his anger any longer and began cursing the unknown culprit in his mind, showering them with all kinds of insults for a full minute.

After venting his frustrations, he decided to let the matter go. There was nothing he could do anyway, and he was utterly exhausted. The fact that he had made it this far and managed to stay calm after everything that had happened was truly commendable.

He no longer cared about what might happen next. He turned off the white light in the room, made sure the door was locked, and then lay back down, intent on finally getting some sleep.

He did a final scroll through his phone, double-checking the messages with his friend. He wanted to tell him about the situation, but after much thought, he decided to postpone it until tomorrow. It was already 1:30 a.m.

Of course, the idea of taking a shower was out of the question. Who in their right mind would shower under such circumstances?

He plugged his phone into the charger, covered himself with a light blanket, and let his mind relax as he stared at the ceiling. That's when he felt something strange... as if his life was once again taking a twisted turn. He always seemed to face events he wished he could avoid. But hey, what can you do? That's life.

He had grown used to the nightly annoyances—the noise of drunks in the street, the rumble of motorcycles almost every night. Naturally, this was because he lived in one of the worst and most dangerous neighborhoods. The cheaper rent came with its sacrifices. Quiet nights were rare, and conflicts and problems were almost guaranteed. But at least he could save some money.

Still, he wasn't overly bothered by it. While he might complain from time to time, he didn't see poverty as a major problem. Sometimes, he even considered it a blessing in disguise. What he did see as a true struggle, however, was having a family to support despite being poor. That was the real suffering—the burden of a responsibility greater than your capacity.

You want to give them the best life, but you simply can't. You want to enjoy yourself, but you lack the means. You try to save money, only for something to force you to spend it. You fight to earn more, only for it to vanish like water vapor. Nothing lasts—except for the guilt, piling up deep within your heart.

A sense of pity for yourself. A sense of Anger at yourself. A sense of surrender towards yourself. A tangled mess of conflicting emotions, swirling endlessly in a shattered heart that wants nothing more than one thing: contentment. Contentment with yourself.

"Haah..." Staring at the ceiling, Louay let out a long sigh, as if releasing the burdens of his heart all at once.

He shifted his gaze to the balcony beside him and the now-clear night sky. The clouds had dispersed, allowing him to feel the gentle evening breeze. The atmosphere was perfect for relaxation, as though he were floating in empty space, surrounded by mesmerizing stars from every angle.

From the depths of his heart, he felt a profound gratitude for this quiet moment and wished it could last forever.

Then, he slowly closed his eyes...

And drifted into a sleep… peacefully.

-

Upon a vast, cloudless expanse of pure white, surrounded by a void of tranquility and stillness, a sudden wind stirred, carrying with it a voice that soothed the soul, echoing through every corner and space.

"An endless loop, an eternal night, and a desolate world..."

"You are the living, and you are the dead..."

"You are the balance."

"Lord of Chaos."

"Ariel."

Spoken in an incomprehensible language, it somehow made sense for reasons beyond understanding. The awareness within this white, ethereal space listened in silence, refraining from uttering a single word.

Then...

"You poor thing," the voice suddenly shifted to an enchanting, feminine tone, familiar for some inexplicable reason, as the wind came to a halt.

"Blame your luck..." the voice began to fade gradually, as the vision blurred. It felt as though someone intoxicated was watching the world spin endlessly around them.

-

Open.

A pair of jet-black irises blinked open, casting their gaze upon a vast, gray world resembling an uninhabitable planet.

The sky above was a deep, dark black, adorned with countless shimmering stars, like a swarm of glowing fireflies dancing in an endless void, captivating anyone who dared to look too long.

But the most striking feature of this desolate world was the colossal planet looming directly ahead. Majestic and ominous, it hung in the sky as though it might crash into this strange land at any moment.

After taking in the sight of this enigmatic place, the delicate girl felt a shiver coursing through her slender frame—a double shiver. One caused by the piercingly cold winds, and the other brought on by the sheer presence of this world itself.

It was unlike anything she had ever seen before. Unlike anything she could have ever imagined.

An enchanting world. A strange world. A terrifying world.

She stood upright, her gaze fixed forward, where a veil of cloudy mist enveloped the ground beneath the gigantic planet suspended above. Though it seemed frightfully close, she instinctively knew it was farther away than she could comprehend.

Her black hair flowed wildly in the wind, and her elegant black dress swayed with each gust. She shifted her gaze to her left ring finger, where she noticed a silver ring etched with the symbol of infinity, its surrounding runes constantly changing.

At that moment, her lips parted for the first time, and her soft voice resonated:

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?!"

With a look of bewilderment and disbelief, she repeated the same word, unable to grasp what was happening.

'Is this a dream? I don't think so—the sensations feel far too real, even the cold that's seeping through every inch of my body...'

'For some reason, it also feels like I'm fully conscious, and all five of my senses are working perfectly. There's no way this is a dream.'

'As far as I remember, the last thing I did was fall asleep after dealing with that cursed ring.'

'Damn it! Even if it were a vivid dream, why would I dream of being in a girl's body?!'

The girl drifted off into her thoughts as she moved, trying to analyze what was happening. Oh… i mean the man~

It turned out to be Louay!

"What the f*ck?!"

'What's going on? Did I start taking drugs? Or maybe I was drugged indirectly?'

'It must be some high-quality stuff!'

Of course, the first thought that popped into his head was the classic "otherworldly transmigration" trope he'd seen and read about in countless forms of entertainment. But his rational mind immediately dismissed the idea. He wouldn't believe in such nonsense, even if every girl in the world came knocking on his door asking to marry him.

'Wait, wait, let's think this through. First, I encountered the cursed ring, which I assumed was enchanted—or maybe I was hallucinating. Then, I ignored it and went to sleep, and now I find myself in a strange world, in a body that doesn't belong to me, with a silver ring bearing shifting runes.'

'Connecting the dots, everything points to the ring being the cause of what's happening now. So logically, removing it should restore me to normal...'

After a brief moment of thought, Louay reached a possible solution to free himself. But—

"Oh, fantastic! I can't even take it off. It's stuck, like it's become a part of my finger."

Despite numerous attempts to remove the ring, he couldn't budge it even a millimeter.

'Well... looks like I'm stuck here huh…'

"Hehe, maybe I should pee on it? It might work. And if not, I'll have to cut off the whole finger… But I'll wait. There's no need to rush; this could all be some sort of illusion or bizarre experiment."

His mind continued spinning through endless possibilities without pause—a remarkable ability he'd honed over the years to solve tough problems.

As he walked forward, his train of thought was interrupted by another gust of wind, causing his long black hair to billow and his elegant dress to sway. The icy chill seeped into his lower half.

"Damn it, I got so lost in thought I forgot I'm in a girl's body right now!"

Looking down, Louay caught sight of two small, barely-there mounds protruding from his chest. He instinctively reached down to his lower half with the palm of his hand, only to realize, with horror, that his beloved "treasure" was gone.

A shiver unlike any he had ever felt coursed through him. The hilariously tragic irony was that his old online alias had been "The Great Ancestor of Testicles," and here he was now—an ancestor indeed, but without the testicles.

"Man… I know I prefer playing as female characters in most games, but actually being one?!"

"And on top of that… flat?!"

Louay was the type to always pick or create female characters in games—not because of any questionable preferences, but simply because he enjoyed having aesthetically pleasing visuals while playing.

As his eyes continued scanning the girl's body, he noticed several items hanging at her right hip. The most prominent was a small, oddly shaped glass vial containing a black liquid, resembling an expensive perfume reserved for special occasions. Strangely, the vial had no stopper, only glass enclosing it entirely. Driven by curiosity, he brought it closer to his nose to sniff, only to find it completely odorless.

The second item was a black handkerchief, embroidered with exquisite craftsmanship that could easily make it a museum piece in the real world. In the upper left corner, the letter "O" was neatly stitched.

"Heh, what's with this obsession with black? Is this girl gothic or something?" Louay thought mockingly.

The final item was a sharp dagger sheathed in a yellow, intricately adorned scabbard, resembling traditional Arab daggers of old. Inscribed on it in black were six symbols that he couldn't decipher.

"Black again…"

"What a tangled mess. I don't understand any of this!"

The events continued spiraling further into chaos, and Louay's rational mind was exhausted from trying to make sense of it all. What could the future possibly have in store for him now?