Arjun's hands were shaking as he held Aanya in his arms.
"Aanya… please… wake up," he whispered desperately.
Her body felt colder with every passing second. The cloth around her wrist was slowly turning red.
"No… this can't be happening," he muttered.
Outside, thunder rumbled in the distance, and rain began to fall heavily against the windows.
But Arjun didn't notice the storm.
He didn't notice the darkness slowly growing heavier inside the room.
And he definitely didn't notice the red shadow above him.
The shadow clung to the ceiling like a living stain of darkness.
It moved slowly… almost curiously.
Watching him.
Watching her.
Across the room, Aanya stood silently.
Her soul stared at the scene before her.
Arjun crying.
Her body lying lifeless in his arms.
Yet her expression wasn't sad.
Instead, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"So… you finally came back," she whispered softly.
Her voice was calm, almost gentle.
Arjun couldn't hear her.
He couldn't see her.
But the red shadow could.
The moment she spoke, the shadow suddenly twisted and stretched across the ceiling.
Its color deepened… glowing like dark crimson.
For the first time, it noticed her.
The real her.
Aanya slowly looked up at it.
Their eyes met in the darkness.
For a moment, the room felt colder.
"Still watching me?" she said quietly.
The shadow moved slightly, as if responding.
Aanya tilted her head, her smile growing faintly.
"You waited a long time… didn't you?"
Suddenly, Arjun stood up, lifting Aanya's body into his arms.
"I'm taking you to the hospital," he said, his voice shaking.
He rushed toward the door.
But just as he reached it—
The lights in the room flickered violently.
For a split second, Arjun felt something strange.
Like someone… or something… was standing right behind him.
He turned around quickly.
But the room was empty.
Only the rain and thunder filled the silence.
Above him, the red shadow slowly disappeared into the darkness.
And near the window, Aanya's soul watched Arjun leave.
Her mysterious smile still untouched.
Because deep inside…
She already knew the truth.
This night was only the beginning.
And the red shadow had finally awakened.
"But when he looked down at her again… the wound on her wrist was suddenly gone."