That was the first thing Ava felt.
Then pain.
A dull ache in her head.
She slowly opened her eyes.
The room was unfamiliar.
Cold.
Empty.
Her hands were tied.
Her heart started racing.
"Where am I…?" she whispered.
A slow clap echoed in the room.
Ava froze.
Footsteps approached.
Then—
A man stepped into the light.
Elegant. Calm. Dangerous.
Ava's breath caught.
"Arman…"
He smiled.
"Nice to finally meet you properly, Ava."
Fear gripped her.
"You're insane," she said.
Arman chuckled.
"No. I'm just… patient."
He walked around her slowly.
"Do you know why you're here?"
Ava stayed silent.
Arman leaned closer.
"Because you are Mihir's weakness."
Ava's voice trembled.
"He'll find me."
Arman smiled wider.
"I hope he does."
Her heart skipped.
"What?"
Arman's eyes darkened.
"Because I want him to watch… when everything he cares about is destroyed."
Meanwhile—
Mihir stood in his office.
The entire room felt like a war zone.
Screens, calls, maps, tracking systems.
His team worked non-stop.
"Find her," Mihir said coldly.
"Use everything."
A guard stepped forward.
"Sir… we traced a signal."
Mihir's eyes snapped toward him.
"Where?"
"An abandoned warehouse… outside the city."
Silence.
Then—
Mihir picked up his gun.
His voice was deadly calm.
"Prepare the team."
Outside—
The snowstorm grew stronger.
The night became darker.
Inside the warehouse—
Ava sat tied to the chair.
Fear filled her chest—
But something else too.
Determination.
Because deep down…
She knew one thing.
Mihir would come.
And when he did—
Everything would change.
End of Chapter 16 – Cliffhanger:
Mihir is coming…
But Arman is ready.
And this rescue mission might turn into a deadly trap.