Chapter 11 Shadow Simmer and the Silver Warning
Aarav lay sprawled on the floor a deep gash on his leg leaking warm blood. The pain burned like a hot needle but the alarm ringing inside him was sharper. He was not alone. He held his breath and listened. Only his own heartbeat. And the low hum of the fan. The walls no longer felt empty. Now they felt like hiding spots. Like something could lunge at him again from anywhere.
Slowly fighting the pain he crawled toward his bag lying near the wall. His fingers found the canvas fabric. He opened it and felt around. First aid kit. Clothes. There. A small flashlight. He pulled it out and pressed the button.
A bright white beam cut through the room. Dust particles danced in the air. Aarav swept the light around slowly. Bare walls. Broken chair. Table. Shards of glass. No one. His breath eased just a little.
Phone. I need to call for help. He thought. He held the flashlight in his mouth and checked his pockets. Back pocket. Nothing. Side pocket. Nothing. Maybe it fell into the bag when I fell.
He started digging through the bag again the flashlight beam jumping wildly around the room. That is when his shadow on the wall moved.
Aarav froze. His own shadow was still. This was another shadow. Right above him from the ceiling a deep liquid black shape was descending. And in the middle of that black form two pairs of green venomous glowing eyes opened up like two poisonous scorpions waking in the dark.
Aarav twisted away fast. Too late. The creature a Shadow Simmer dropped from the ceiling and lunged straight at him. The flashlight flew from his hand its beam spinning at a crazy angle throwing the room into chaotic light. In the same jerk his phone also slipped and skidded across the floor its screen flashing once before going dark.
The Shadow Simmer green eyes were now just two handspans away. Hot foul breath hit Aarav's face. He shoved his hand forward to push it away. His fingers met purplish crusted skin. It was wet cold and unnaturally tough. Like dead leather.
The creature let out a harsh sound and raised one clawed hand the nails black and sharp tipped with that same faint green glow. It was coming straight for Aarav's face.
That is when something inside Aarav snapped.
Not fear. Rage.
A blast of golden heat erupted from his lower back climbing up his spine rushing into his shoulders his arms his head. A sharp silver glow bloomed in his eyes like the reflection of a full moon on a still lake. A faint shimmering silver aura spread around his body pushing the darkness back.
Who are you Aarav's voice did not sound like his own anymore. It carried an echo. An ancient authority. Show yourself.
But the Shadow Simmer did not answer to words. Only violence. The glowing green claws came slashing down fast.
This time Aarav did not pull back. He shot his right hand forward now glowing with that silver aura. He grabbed the purplish crusted flesh around the creature's throat. A loud hissing sound erupted on contact like hot iron plunged into cold water. Smoke rose from the creature's skin.
The Shadow Simmer screamed. A sharp pain filled cry. Aarav summoned all his strength which now felt far beyond normal. He lifted the creature and slammed it down onto the floor with full force.
Boom.
The heavy body crashed down. A crunching scraping sound filled the room. Maybe bones breaking. Maybe its ability to melt into walls cracking apart. The creature convulsed its green eyes now flickering with a pained dying glow. Then it crawled toward the wall near the floor. And just like that like water sinking into sand it slipped into a crack in the wall and vanished. All that remained was a dark sticky bluish green puddle on the floor faintly smoking.
Silence filled the room.
The silver aura around Aarav slowly faded like a dying flame. The glow in his eyes dimmed back to normal. Now he was just Aarav again. Exhausted. Wounded. Stunned.
He stumbled to the flashlight picked it up and aimed its beam at the switchboard. He reached it and flicked the switch.
Click.
The lights came on flooding the room with harsh white light. Aarav looked around. Empty. Except for the broken glass overturned chair and that dark puddle on the floor there was no sign that the violent attack had even happened.
Then he looked at his hands.
His palms and fingers were smeared with that same bluish green sticky substance from where he had grabbed the creature's throat. It was cold. Touching it gave him a strange crawling sensation. Like negative energy seeping into his skin.
What what is all this he whispered to himself his face a mix of fear and wonder. How what is this liquid.
He shut his eyes tight trying to call back that power to pull that silver aura inside himself again. When he opened his eyes his hands were still dirty but his eyes were normal.
He walked to the bathroom. Under the cold water tap he scrubbed his hands hard. The substance did not come off easily. It was like oil. He used soap. Scrubbed again. Slowly it started washing away turning the water a sickly greenish blue.
He washed his face. The cold water brought him back to his senses. Then he stood in front of the mirror. Deep marks of exhaustion lined his face. Dark circles under his eyes. He took a breath.
Then in the mirror right behind his own reflection another shadow appeared. A pair of glowing golden eyes. Just for a second. Aarav's breath caught. He spun around fast.
The bathroom was empty. Just wet tiles and steam.
He looked back at the mirror. Now only he was there. He wiped his face. Maybe maybe it was just my mind playing tricks. The stress of tonight. After that attack.
But his heart told him something else. He recognized that golden glow.
He walked back into the room and collapsed onto the bed. His leg was going numb now the pain dulled by the medicine. He stared at the ceiling. All of this is not this Aagya Sangathan (the Aagya organization) game. But yes it could be. Because someone did escape from Aagya Sangathan. Is that creature the one.
His eyes grew heavy. Exhaustion was swallowing him. Tomorrow morning I have to leave early.
And right then in the thick dark forest just behind the hotel a figure stood in the shadow of a tree. Moonlight fell on its deep purple crusted skin marked with strange uneven patterns. Its four green slit like eyes burned with pain and rage. One of its arms hung awkwardly dripping that same bluish green fluid. It was the Shadow Simmer.
It muttered in a deep rasping voice a twisted mix of animal growl and human words. This time I failed. But not again. I will kill that Devanshik (a divinely blessed one who wields divine power).
Then from behind the bushes another voice came. Deeper. Calmer. We created you for this. To serve us. To serve Aagya Sangathan.
The Shadow Simmer turned its green glowing eyes toward the bushes. No one was visible. Only thick darkness.
The voice spoke again reminding. Your origin Project Phantom Flesh. A mix of the Girgit Raj (Chameleon King) DNA and selected human organs. A perfect hunter. A perfect spy. The ability to merge into walls. The power to attack while invisible. You are our secret weapon. And now your target is clear.
The Shadow Simmer looked at its injured arm then toward the hotel window where faint light still glowed. A twisted resolve formed on what could be called its lips.
I am coming back. Devanshik. And end.
It spoke. And then slowly it began merging with the tree bark its purple skin shifting color and texture to match the wood until it vanished completely into the darkness. Only its deadly promise lingered in the air.
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