Chapter 13: The One Who Watches From Darkness
The night returned.
But this time—
It didn't feel empty.
It felt… watched.
Meera lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her body was exhausted.
But her mind—
Wide awake.
The events of the day replayed again and again.
The power.
The pain.
The control.
Her fingers slowly moved to her wrist.
The mark was quiet now.
Too quiet.
"…What are you…?" she whispered.
No answer.
Just silence.
But deep inside—
She felt it.
Something was changing.
Suddenly—
A cold wind brushed past her window.
Her body froze instantly.
That feeling again.
Not danger.
Something worse.
Presence.
Meera slowly sat up.
Her heartbeat rising.
"…Arjun?" she called softly.
No response.
The room grew colder.
Her breath became visible in the air.
"That's not normal…" she whispered.
Then—
The lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then darkness.
Completely black.
Meera's breathing became uneven again.
"Stay calm…" she told herself.
But her hands were shaking.
A sound echoed.
Soft.
Like footsteps.
Not outside.
Inside her room.
Meera's eyes widened.
"…Who's there?"
Silence.
Then—
A voice.
Deep.
Calm.
Terrifying.
"You've grown stronger…"
Meera's heart stopped.
"W-who are you?!"
A shadow slowly formed in front of her.
But this one…
Was different.
It wasn't unstable.
It wasn't weak.
It felt… complete.
Powerful.
Meera couldn't move.
Her body refused to listen.
"…Interesting," the figure said.
Its eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
"Much stronger than I expected."
Meera's voice trembled.
"Stay away from me…"
The figure tilted its head slightly.
"Or what?"
A chill ran through her entire body.
The mark on her wrist began glowing again.
But this time—
It didn't react wildly.
It reacted… carefully.
As if it recognized the presence.
The figure noticed.
"…So it responds to me too," it said softly.
Meera's breath became heavy.
"Don't come closer…"
But the figure stepped forward anyway.
Each step—
Felt heavier than the last.
The air itself seemed to bend around it.
"Do you know what you are?" it asked.
Meera shook her head slowly.
"I don't care…"
The figure stopped in front of her.
"You should," it said.
Its voice dropped lower.
"Because you belong to me."
Meera's eyes filled with fear.
"No…"
The mark suddenly flared brightly.
A protective energy formed around her.
The figure paused.
Then smiled faintly.
"Still resisting…"
Before Meera could react—
The figure raised its hand.
The energy around her cracked instantly.
Like glass.
Meera gasped.
"That's impossible…"
The figure leaned closer.
"You're not ready yet," it whispered.
Fear completely took over her.
"Arjun…" she whispered weakly.
Suddenly—
The door burst open.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!"
Arjun rushed inside.
The moment he saw the figure—
His expression froze.
"…You."
The figure turned slightly.
"So we meet again," it said calmly.
Meera looked between them.
"You… know each other?"
Arjun stepped forward protectively.
"…Stay behind me," he said.
The figure chuckled softly.
"You still think you can protect her?"
Arjun's eyes hardened.
"I won't let you take her."
The figure smiled again.
"You don't have a choice."
The air suddenly became heavy.
Power clashed silently between them.
Meera could feel it.
This wasn't like before.
This wasn't just danger.
This was something far worse.
A real enemy.
And for the first time—
She understood.
This war…
Was real.