Chapter 4
DEATH
18 March 20XX — Night
A shadow appeared in Raghav's room.
Raghav…
He was one of Siddharth's closest friends.
They shared food.
They spent countless hours together.
They trusted each other like brothers.
Their bond was unbreakable.
Or at least… it used to be.
---
Raghav suddenly noticed the figure standing in the darkness.
His heart skipped a beat.
"AAHHHHH—! WHO ARE YOU?!!"
His voice trembled.
But as his eyes adjusted to the dim light…
He froze.
The figure…
Looked exactly like Siddharth.
Even the same birthmark near the ear.
Raghav let out a nervous laugh.
"You bastard… what are you doing here at this time of night?"
No response.
Silence.
Raghav frowned.
"You almost gave me a heart attack. And you know I'm not good with horror stuff."
Still no reply.
A strange uneasiness crept into the room.
Raghav's voice lowered.
"Say something… Siddharth. What happened?"
The figure started walking toward him.
Slowly.
Each step… heavy.
Unnatural.
Raghav's smile faded.
Siddharth stopped right in front of him.
"I think you've gone crazy," Raghav said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Looks like I'll have to fix you."
Suddenly—
Siddharth grabbed his neck.
And slammed him against the wall.
"—!!"
Raghav reacted instantly.
He punched Siddharth in the face.
Then kicked his leg.
Siddharth dropped to one knee.
For a moment—
It seemed like it worked.
But then—
Siddharth stood up again.
As if nothing had happened.
Raghav's expression changed.
"This isn't some kind of novel… and you're not some sort of antagonist."
He tried one last time.
"My brother… just go home. I'll pretend this never happened."
But the next moment—
THUD!
Siddharth's punch landed hard.
Blood spilled from Raghav's mouth.
Raghav wiped it and clenched his fists.
"Don't blame me… if something happens to you."
He charged forward—
But Siddharth used that moment.
Grabbed him again.
And drove his fist deep into his stomach.
Raghav gasped.
Desperate, he grabbed a lamp nearby—
And threw it at Siddharth.
CRASH!
Glass shattered.
For a second—
Everything went still.
Then—
Something changed.
Siddharth's eyes…
Turned red.
His nails…
Slowly started to grow.
Not normal.
Not human.
Raghav's fear peaked.
"This… isn't you…"
But it was too late.
Siddharth grabbed him.
And this time—
There was no hesitation.
No emotion.
No control.
Only violence.
Raghav screamed—
"HELPPPPPP!!!!!"
But no one came.
And in the silence that followed…
Raghav died.
---
19 March 20XX — Morning
Siddharth woke up.
His head felt even heavier than yesterday.
A sharp pain throbbed inside.
He walked to the mirror.
And froze.
There were scratches on his face.
"…What?"
Confusion filled his mind.
He immediately called out—
"System."
A window appeared.
[Good morning, Sir. How are you?]
Siddharth frowned.
"I don't feel good… my head is heavy."
Then he asked,
"Why don't you ever approach me first?"
[I only respond when you call me. Otherwise, I cannot hear you.]
"Oh…"
Something felt off.
But he ignored it.
---
He got ready and went to school.
As soon as he sat with his friends—
Akash spoke.
"Did you hear…? Raghav is dead."
Siddharth's world stopped.
"…What?"
The group was shocked.
"He was the strongest among us… who could even kill him?" one of them said.
Akash continued,
"I don't know… but his room looked like there was a huge fight."
Siddharth's heartbeat increased.
"And… the lamp was broken," he said quietly.
Akash looked at him.
"How do you know that?"
Silence.
Siddharth had no answer.
He just nodded, pretending to think.
But inside—
Something was breaking.
---
He turned to Kriti and whispered,
"Meet me at the subway."
Kriti frowned.
"What happened?"
"Nothing… I just need your help."
---
After school, they met at the same subway.
The same place.
But the feeling…
Was completely different now.
Siddharth stood there, silent.
Kriti looked at him, worried.
"What's wrong?"
Siddharth finally spoke.
His voice was low.
Shaking.
"…I killed Raghav."