The broken streetlight crackled above them.
Sparks fell like dying stars.
And in that dim, flickering light…
The shadow moved closer.
Slow.
Unnatural.
Its shape kept changing—tall one second, twisted the next. Like it didn't have a real form.
Kabir's body refused to move.
His mind screamed—
"Run!"
But his feet stayed frozen.
Aarya stood in front of him.
Her arms slightly spread.
Protecting him.
"I said run, Kabir…" her voice trembled.
But Kabir didn't listen.
Instead, he stepped forward.
Right beside her.
Aarya's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?!"
Kabir swallowed his fear.
"I'm not leaving you alone."
For a second…
Aarya couldn't speak.
Because no one had ever said that to her before.
No one had ever chosen to stay.
The shadow stopped.
Just a few steps away from them.
The air turned cold.
So cold that their breaths became visible.
Kabir could feel it now—
That presence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Like it was pressing against his chest.
And then—
The shadow tilted.
Like it was… observing him.
"You… don't… learn…" the distorted voice echoed.
Kabir clenched his fists.
His heart pounding violently.
"What do you want from me?" he shouted.
Silence.
Then—
A low, chilling sound.
Like laughter.
"Not… you…"
Kabir frowned.
"Then what?"
The shadow slowly shifted…
Its attention moving to Aarya.
"…her…"
Aarya's breath hitched.
Her eyes dropped for a second.
Like she already knew.
Kabir looked at her.
"What does it mean?"
But Aarya didn't answer.
Because she didn't need to.
The shadow moved again.
Closer.
Faster this time.
The ground beneath them felt colder.
Heavier.
Aarya suddenly grabbed Kabir's hand.
Her grip tight.
Cold.
"Don't let go."
Before Kabir could react—
The shadow lunged.
Darkness rushed toward them like a wave.
Kabir shut his eyes instinctively.
"This is it—!"
But then—
Aarya stepped forward.
And something unbelievable happened.
A faint glow appeared around her.
Soft.
Dim.
But real.
The shadow stopped instantly.
Like it hit an invisible wall.
Aarya's voice echoed.
Different this time.
Stronger.
"You don't get to touch him."
Kabir's eyes snapped open.
"What…?"
He looked at her in shock.
The same girl…
Who avoided everyone…
Was now standing against something terrifying.
Alone.
The shadow trembled slightly.
Then—
It let out a low growl.
"He… is… marked…"
Kabir's heart skipped a beat.
"Marked…?"
Aarya's grip on his hand tightened.
"Ignore it." she whispered.
But her voice wasn't steady.
The shadow slowly backed away.
Not defeated.
Not gone.
Just… waiting.
"This… is not over…"
And then—
It disappeared.
Like it was never there.
The cold air slowly faded.
The street grew quiet again.
Normal.
Too normal.
Kabir's legs gave up.
He almost fell, but Aarya held him.
Both of them breathing heavily.
Alive.
But shaken.