The classroom buzzed—a chaotic mix of laughter, chatter, and the clatter of books.
The faint smell of polished floors mingled with the sharp scent of new stationery. Students compared watches, bags, and phones, showing them off as if they already belonged here—as if they had always belonged.
Sunlight spilled through the tall windows, glinting off metal desk frames and glossy screens, making the room feel bright… and strangely distant.
I stayed in the corner.
Silent.
Watching.
It felt like I existed outside of everything. Like I was only a spectator to a world moving forward without me.
The bell rang—sharp and metallic—cutting through the noise.
The lecturer entered calmly, placing his books neatly on the desk. His presence alone quieted the room.
"Since this is your first class," he said, scanning each of us, "I want everyone to introduce yourselves."
One by one, students stood.
They spoke confidently—about hobbies, ambitions, favorite subjects, future plans. Their voices were steady. Certain.
Then—
"Next."
My body stiffened.
I stood slowly, my throat dry, my fingers curling slightly into my palms.
"Hi everyone. My name is Eklavya."
That was all.
A few students glanced at me briefly—then quickly looked away.
Some of them froze for a moment, their expressions tightening in quiet surprise before pretending nothing had happened.
I could've said more. Where I studied. What I liked. Who I was.
But the words never came.
Silence stretched for a second too long.
Then I sat down.
The lecture continued.
Pages turned. Pens scratched. Voices answered questions.
No one spoke to me.
No one noticed me.
Hours passed like that.
Finally, the bell rang.
Chairs scraped loudly as students stood, immediately forming groups.
"Let's go to the food court!"
"Wait for me!"
"Bro, I'm starving!"
Laughter filled the air as they left together.
And I stayed behind.
Alone.
Then—
A hand rested gently on my shoulder.
I froze.
I hadn't heard anyone approach.
"We should move now," a calm voice said. "In five minutes, this place will be a battlefield."
I turned.
He stood beside me, relaxed, his eyes steady.
"If we don't move now," he added casually, "we'll be eating on the floor."
I hesitated.
"Who… are you?"
"Amit," he replied simply. "I sit beside you."
My mind stalled.
"You… were sitting beside me?" I asked quietly. "I didn't notice anyone."
He tilted his head slightly.
"I was," he said. "You just seemed… elsewhere."
A faint unease crept into my chest. I hadn't felt anyone there. No movement. No presence.
Yet something about him felt familiar.
"But… why sit with me?" I asked.
He gave a small, almost unreadable smile.
"Because," he said softly, "I want to know you."
The words felt strange.
Unfamiliar.
But not unwelcome.
Before I could respond, he turned and walked toward the food court.
After a moment, I followed.
The food court was loud, overflowing with voices and movement. We found a quiet bench in the corner. For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then Amit leaned back slightly.
"You know," he said, "most people this morning just watched… but you moved."
My chest tightened.
"And that," he continued, "made me want to know you."
The memory returned instantly.
The road outside the college gate had been crowded.
Students walked past without looking up. Vendors shouted over one another. Engines roared. Tires screeched.
Then—
A small blue ball rolled into the street.
A child ran after it.
A truck sped toward them.
Fast.
Too fast.
Someone screamed.
People froze.
My body moved before my mind could think.
I ran forward, grabbing the child and throwing us both onto the pavement. The truck thundered past, close enough that I felt the wind tear at my clothes.
Too close.
The child began crying. The mother rushed forward, trembling, pulling the child into her arms.
"Thank you… thank you…" she whispered.
"It's okay," I replied quietly.
Before anyone could say more, I walked away.
And for a brief moment…
I saw someone standing in the crowd.
Still.
Calm.
Watching.
He hadn't moved.
He hadn't panicked.
His eyes met mine.
Cold. Observant.
Unfamiliar.
Now, sitting beside Amit…
It clicked.
It was him.
A faint chill ran through me.
I looked down at my hands, hesitating.
"Still…" I said quietly, "aren't you scared of my eyes?"
He frowned slightly.
"What's there to be scared of?"
My voice barely rose above a whisper.
"Don't you see… my one pupil is white, and the other is red."
Most people avoided looking at them.
He didn't.
He met my gaze directly.
Then he shrugged.
"I think they look cool."
The words struck deeper than I expected.
Something inside my chest loosened.
Amit leaned back again.
"After this," he asked casually, "should we go buy the materials for the semester?"
I blinked, caught off guard.
"…Okay," I said.
And just like that—
We left together.
The rest of the day passed differently.
We attended classes side by side. Amit rarely spoke, but when he did, it was precise. Helpful. Certain.
For the first time, the lecture hall didn't feel suffocating.
When classes ended, we walked toward the shops.
The sky had dimmed into soft shades of orange and gray. Warm air carried the smell of dust and exhaust. Long shadows stretched across the road, trailing behind us like silent followers.
Ahead, a narrow alley offered a shortcut.
I stepped inside.
Amit followed.
Halfway through—
I slowed.
Someone stood there.
In the middle of the alley.
Not moving.
My chest tightened.
Something was wrong.
I glanced back at Amit.
He didn't react.
He didn't flinch.
He simply watched.
Calm.
Unreadable.
As if he already knew.
The figure's head tilted slowly.
The air grew heavy, thick with a faint metallic smell.
Their lips curled into a smile—
But it never reached their eyes.
Predatory.
Empty.
A shiver crawled down my spine.
Their voice echoed softly.
"How convenient…"
A pause.
"…my prey came to me on its own."
The alley seemed darker now. Smaller. The shadows stretched unnaturally along the walls—
And for a split second…
I thought I saw one of the shadows move differently than the body casting it.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
And what I saw next…
made my blood run cold.