The Endless Doom by Asmaa Nada

chief was gone the stranger turned to the girl and said Run if you can because no one will believe you. Run for those you protect and heal will watch you die and none of them will help you. This village is not what it seems. They are demons not kindhearted people.
Samar asked Why do you say that? You havent even stayed here long enough to know them.
The strange man from the foreign land smiled and said Today is the celebration of eternal youth isnt it?
Samar replied with a smile that didnt leave her face Yes thats right. Today the lake will split open and reveal the land of immortality in the middle of which is the fountain of eternal youth. They say this happens every eighteen years but sir these are just legends not facts.
The man smiled and said Havent you noticed something in the years youve spent in this village?
Samar asked What exactly are you talking about?
The man said About your father for example.
Samar paused for a moment to think then said My father is a kind and benevolent man. He is the ruler of the village. Theres nothing strange about him.
The man said Does he age? I dont see any signs of aging on him.
Samar laughed and said Indeed there are no signs of aging for any man or woman in this village. But thats due to the herbs I use to make medicines.
The strange man shook his head and said Where is your mother?
Samar replied My father told me she died when I was five.
The strange man asked How old was she when she died?
Samar said I dont know. My father didnt tell me.
The strange man said Your father is one hundred and eighty years old but anyone who sees him would think hes thirty or forty at most. Your mother died when she was eighteen years and two months old.
Samar asked How do you know that? And what makes me believe what youre saying?
The strange man said Be patient Ill prove it to you. But answer me this why dont the girls grow older than eighteen and why dont the boys grow older than fifteen? Havent you noticed them disappearing?
Samar replied They dont disappear they just leave the village. I dont really know why they leave but my father told me that the girls get married and go with their husbands to build other villages and the boys leave too but they get married and leave their children in the village before they go. I think they leave because theyre forced to marry at fourteen and dont have a choice.
The strange man asked How old are you?
This portion of the dialogue reveals a significant plot twist. The stranger who has been observing the village suggests that the villagers are not aging naturally and that there may be a dark secret behind the villages apparent immortality. He challenges Samars beliefs about the village and her family planting seeds of doubt in her mind.
Samar said Ill