The mall was alive with shoppers, bright lights reflecting off polished floors, and soft music playing from the speakers overhead. Kiara and Anya strolled past clothing racks, laughter mingling with the hum of conversation.
Anya held up a striking emerald dress. "This one, Kiara! Perfect for tonight. Yuvaan won't know what hit him."
Kiara smiled, a light blush on her cheeks. "Alright, alright… you've officially outdone yourself."
Before Anya could respond, a sudden loud BANG! made both girls jump.
Kiara's heart skipped. "What was that?"
Another shot rang out, echoing through the mall. Screams erupted around them, the cheerful hum replaced by chaos.
"Anya… hide! Now!" Kiara hissed, pulling her friend behind a display of mannequins. They crouched low, breaths quickening.
Through the gaps, Kiara could see masked figures in black, moving with frightening precision. Some waved guns at terrified shoppers, forcing them to kneel; others shouted commands that sounded sharp and menacing.
Kiara's mind raced. She had no training, no superpowers, nothing but her wits. Yet fear sharpened her senses. "We need to get out… the service exit, over there," she whispered, pointing to a barely noticeable door near a clothing store.
Anya's eyes were wide. "What if they see us?"
Kiara pressed a hand to her chest. "We stay low. We move slowly. Don't make a sound."
A masked man glanced in their direction, gun raised. Kiara froze, heart hammering. She had never felt fear like this. Every instinct screamed to run, yet she knew a sudden move could be deadly.
The man stepped closer, scanning the corridor. Kiara's eyes darted around, spotting a cleaning cart nearby. She whispered to Anya, "We can use that for cover. On my mark… run!"
Bullets ricocheted off the tiles, loud CRACKS! forcing them even lower. Kiara held her breath, counting the seconds that felt like hours.
Finally, the masked man turned away, barking orders to his accomplices. "Move!" his voice rang out, sharp and cold.
Kiara seized the moment. Grabbing Anya's hand, she bolted toward the service door, ducking behind racks and displays as shots whizzed past. Her legs burned, adrenaline coursing through every vein.
The maintenance door loomed ahead. With a quick push, she flung it open and ushered Anya inside. The corridor beyond was dim but safe. Kiara's chest heaved as she pressed herself against the wall, heart still pounding.
Anya whispered, trembling, "I… I can't believe this is happening."
Kiara nodded, eyes scanning the shadows. "We're not out yet, but we will be. Stay close."
Even as relief washed over her, a flicker of worry surged—Yuvaan. If he sensed this, he wouldn't stay idle. But for now, all Kiara could do was focus on getting them to safety.
Kiara leaned against the dim corridor wall, catching her breath, her hair sticking to her forehead from the adrenaline. She glanced at Anya, who was trembling silently.
With a small, shaky laugh, Kiara muttered, "You know… in all this chaos—warlocks, Reevavanshis, daayans, and every kind of supernatural trouble—I totally forgot terrorists were a thing."
Anya blinked at her in surprise. "You're… joking?"
Kiara forced a grin, brushing dust from her clothes. "I am. Mostly. If we can survive demon attacks, shadow witches, and magically sent flying rocks, I think a few humans with guns are… manageable. Right?"
Anya gave a nervous laugh, shaking her head. "You're insane."
Kiara smirked despite her fear. "Insane? Maybe. But at least I survive. Now come on, we still have to get out of here before they notice us."
Even as she joked, her eyes scanned the corridor, sharp and alert—Kiara had learned quickly that in her new life, humor could be as much a weapon as courage.
The sounds of gunfire echoed through the mall, sharp and terrifying. Kiara pressed herself against a display rack, heart hammering, eyes darting for any way out. Anya crouched beside her, clutching her bag tightly, her face pale.
Through the cracked glass, masked men forced shoppers to the ground, their rifles glinting under the overhead lights. The shouts of the terrorists were loud, precise, and full of menace.
A harsh voice boomed outside. "Police! Listen carefully. Any attempt to intervene, and hostages die! We want cash, cars, and a helicopter at the south parking lot in fifteen minutes—or the first life inside ends!"
Kiara's throat tightened as she took in the scene. She realized that this was nothing like anything she had faced before—not warlocks, not shadow witches, not even the supernatural threats that had chased her recently. This was real, human danger.
"We need to stay quiet… and figure out a way to move," she whispered to Anya, keeping her voice low. Her pulse raced as she scanned the aisle for a possible escape. "If we make the wrong move, we could get caught."
Anya nodded silently, biting her lip. Kiara's mind worked frantically, recalling every emergency exit and service door she had noticed on past trips to the mall. "We wait for the right moment," Kiara said, steadying her breath. "Then we move—fast and together. Stay close."
The mall's tension thickened with every shout from the terrorists outside, their threats slicing through the air. Kiara's hands shook slightly, but her eyes were sharp, calculating, searching for a chance to keep them both alive.