The room was silent.
Arjun lay on the cold hospital floor, his breath uneven, his mind still trying to process what had just happened.
It chose who to keep… and who to take.
Aanya's words echoed in his head.
He slowly pushed himself up, his eyes fixed on her.
"Aanya… what do you mean?" he asked, his voice shaking.
Aanya stood near the window, her back facing him.
..................
The faint crimson glow from outside painted her silhouette in red.
For a moment, she didn't respond.
Then—
"It didn't come for me," she said quietly.
Arjun's heart skipped a beat.
"What…?"
Aanya turned around slowly.
Her face looked calm.
But her eyes…
They were no longer just hers.
"It came for you."
Arjun froze.
....................
"No… that's not possible," he said, stepping back.
"Why would it come for me?"
Aanya walked toward him, her steps slow and steady.
"Because you broke the rule."
"What rule?" Arjun demanded.
Aanya stopped in front of him.
For a moment, her expression softened.
Like the old Aanya was trying to come back.
"You came back," she whispered.
Arjun frowned.
"What?"
"I told you goodbye," she said. "You were supposed to leave."
A chill ran down his spine.
"You're saying… if I hadn't come back…"
Aanya nodded slowly.
"It would have taken me."
Silence filled the room.
Arjun's chest tightened.
"So this is my fault?" he said.
Aanya didn't answer.
Her silence said everything.
Suddenly—
..............
The lights flickered again.
But this time, only once.
A soft shadow appeared on the wall.
Not the wild crimson one.
The other one.
The still one.
The second shadow.
Arjun turned toward it.
"That thing…" he whispered.
Aanya followed his gaze.
"He saved me," she said.
Arjun looked at her in shock.
"Saved you?"
"Yes," she replied. "From the first one."
"The crimson shadow."
As if hearing its name—
The air grew colder.
A faint red glow spread across the ceiling.
The first shadow was still there.
Watching.
Waiting.
"There are two of them," Aanya continued.
"One takes… and one protects."
Arjun shook his head.
"This doesn't make sense."
Aanya stepped closer.
"It will."
She slowly raised her hand.
And pointed at him.
"But now… they're both connected to you."
Arjun's heart started racing.
"Why me?"
Aanya's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Because you chose to stay."
Suddenly—
A sharp pain shot through Arjun's chest.
He gasped.
Falling to his knees.
"What… is happening…?" he struggled to say.
Aanya's expression didn't change.
"It's starting."
Behind him—
On the wall—
A shadow began to form.
But this time…
It wasn't Aanya's.
It was his.
Arjun turned his head slowly.
And what he saw made his blood run cold.
His shadow…
Was moving.
On its own.
"No…" he whispered.
The shadow stretched unnaturally.
Twisting.
Growing.
Just like the crimson one.
Aanya watched him silently.
"This is how it begins," she said.
Arjun's breathing became heavier.
"What begins?"
Aanya stepped closer.
Her eyes locking onto his.
"The moment a shadow chooses you… you don't just see the darkness—you become a part of it."