The penthouse fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.
Aisha's fingers tightened around Aarav's. His grip was firm, protective—almost fierce. The slam they heard wasn't a random noise. It was deliberate. Sharp. A warning.
"Stay close," Aarav whispered.
Aisha nodded, though her heart hammered against her ribs so loudly she wondered if whoever was inside could hear it.
Aarav led her down the hallway. The luxurious marble floor felt colder than usual, as if the entire house sensed danger. Each shadow seemed darker, each corner deeper.
The sound had come from the west wing—the part Aarav had warned her never to enter.
The part even he didn't understand.
Aarav paused in front of the corridor, jaw clenched. "If someone is there… they want something."
"Or someone," Aisha murmured.
Aarav looked at her, his expression softening for a brief moment. "I won't let anything happen to you."
The hallway light flickered once—twice—and then went out completely.
Darkness swallowed them.
Aisha gasped and clutched his arm.
"Aarav—"
"Shh." His breath brushed her ear. "Stay behind me."
He pulled out his phone, turning on the flashlight. A thin beam of light cut through the darkness.
Dust-free floors.
No displaced objects.
No footprints.
But the air carried a faint scent—sharp, metallic.
Blood.
Aisha covered her mouth as nausea rolled through her. "Aarav… what is that smell?"
He didn't answer.
His free hand slid behind him, guiding her backward slowly, as if shielding her from an unseen monster.
Then—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps.
Not rushed.
Not panicked.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Coming from the west wing.
Aisha's throat closed.
"Aarav…" she whispered, trembling.
But before either could move, the footsteps stopped.
Then a voice—low, male, and disturbingly calm—drifted through the darkness.
"She shouldn't be here."
Aisha felt all the air leave her lungs.
The flashlight beam trembled in Aarav's hand. "Who are you?" he demanded. "Show yourself!"
Silence.
Then the voice again—closer now.
"You're not supposed to remember her."
Aisha felt her heart crack open with terror. "Remember… me?"
Aarav pulled her behind him and stepped forward, muscles tense. "Come out!"
A soft chuckle echoed through the corridor—cold, amused, familiar.
Aisha felt her skin crawl.
Then—
The flashlight suddenly flickered and died.
Darkness swallowed them again.
Aisha clung to Aarav's shirt. "Aarav—what's happening?"
His breath was ragged. "Someone cut the power. Stay low."
Before she could crouch, something brushed her shoulder. A light touch. Cold. Intentional.
Aisha screamed.
Aarav spun, grabbing her tighter. "Where?!"
"I—I don't—he touched me…"
Then a whisper brushed her other ear.
"Found you."
Aarav lunged blindly toward the voice, swinging his arm—but his punch hit the wall. The intruder was too fast.
Lights flashed again—emergency backup.
The corridor illuminated.
Aisha's breath froze.
There was no one there.
Not a single person.
Only the empty hallway.
Yet the voice had been right beside her. Whispering into her skin.
Aarav scanned the corridor, fury burning in his eyes. "Where are you?! Come out!"
A faint echo of laughter drifted from behind them.
Aisha whipped around.
Empty.
"Aarav… we need to get out of here," she whispered, her voice shaky. "This person… he's playing with us."
Aarav took her hand again. "No one plays with us in our own home."
Just then, they heard a crash—coming from their bedroom.
Aisha's heart nearly stopped.
"Our room," she whispered.
Aarav's eyes hardened. "Stay behind me. Don't let go."
He led her down the hall, their steps fast but quiet. When they reached their bedroom, the door was slightly open—just enough to be wrong.
Aarav pushed it slowly.
Inside, the room was dim, lit only by the city lights leaking through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
At first glance, nothing seemed disturbed.
But then Aisha noticed something chilling.
Their bed was untouched.
But on her side of the bed—
Someone had placed a single item.
A photograph.
The same photograph they found in the locked room.
Aisha and Aarav together.
Only this time…
The back had a message written in red ink:
"She belonged to him first."
Aisha's breath choked.
Aarav lifted the photo with shaking fingers. His jaw clenched so tightly his teeth might crack.
"Aarav…" Aisha whispered, "what does this mean? Who is 'him'?"
Before he could answer—
Bang!
The balcony door slammed open with a violent gust of wind.
A shadowy figure stood at the railing.
A tall man.
Black coat.
Face hidden by darkness.
Aisha's scream tore through the room.
Aarav stepped in front of her, rage flaring. "Who are you?!"
The man didn't speak.
He didn't move.
He simply watched them.
The wind whipped his coat like wings.
Aisha's voice trembled. "What… what do you want?"
The man tilted his head slightly—studying her, like one examines a puzzle piece that doesn't fit.
Then he raised a hand.
Aarav tensed, ready to fight.
But the man didn't attack.
Instead, he pointed directly at Aisha.
And whispered two words that made her knees give out—
"You remember."
Aarav lunged forward—but the man stepped back.
One second he was there.
The next—
He disappeared into the storm.
Gone.
Aarav rushed to the railing. No sign of him. No footprints. No escape route.
Aisha collapsed onto the bed, trembling violently.
Her hands shook. Her breath stuttered.
"Aarav…" she whispered weakly. "He knew my name."
Aarav turned, his face pale and stricken.
"He didn't say your name," he whispered.
Aisha blinked. "Yes he did—he said—"
Aarav knelt in front of her, cupping her face. His voice was quiet, pained.
"Aisha… he didn't say your name."
She shook her head. "No, he—"
Aarav's voice dropped to a whisper.
"He called you… by another name."
Aisha felt her heartbeat stutter.
"What name…?"
Aarav's eyes were full of fear.
"'Aria.'"
Aisha froze.
Complete, utter stillness.
The name echoed in her skull.
Aria.
Aria.
Aria.
A name she didn't know.
A name that somehow felt like it lived inside her bones.
A name that felt like—
Hers.
Aisha grabbed her head as a sudden, sharp pain tore through her skull.
Images flickered.
Faces blurred.
Memories tried to break free—
A ring.
A promise.
A hand holding hers.
A voice whispering "Aria…"
Aisha gasped and clutched Aarav's shirt.
"Aarav… I—I think I…"
He held her tightly.
"What do you remember?"
Aisha's lips trembled.
"I think I had… a different name."
Lightning split the sky.
Aarav's arms locked around her as if afraid she'd vanish.
"Aisha," he whispered, voice shaking.
"What else do you remember?"
She swallowed.
"I think I remember… you."