Chapter 14: The Truth About Him
The air felt heavy.
Too heavy to breathe.
Meera stood frozen behind Arjun.
Her heart pounding loudly in her chest.
The shadow figure stood calmly in front of them.
Unbothered.
Unshaken.
But Arjun—
He wasn't calm anymore.
His fists were clenched tightly.
His eyes filled with something Meera had never seen before.
Fear.
"…You shouldn't be here," Arjun said coldly.
The figure smiled faintly.
"And miss this moment?"
Its gaze shifted to Meera.
"I've been waiting a long time to see her."
Meera's breath caught in her throat.
"Stay away from her," Arjun stepped forward.
The figure chuckled.
"You're still trying to protect her…"
A pause.
"…just like before."
Meera frowned slightly.
"Before…?"
Arjun's expression tightened.
"Don't listen to him," he said quickly.
But it was too late.
The figure had already begun.
"He hasn't told you, has he?"
Meera looked at Arjun.
Confused.
"Told me what?"
Arjun didn't respond.
Silence.
The figure's smile grew wider.
"Of course he didn't," it said.
"Because if you knew the truth…"
Its voice dropped lower.
"You would never trust him."
Meera's heart sank.
"…What truth?" she whispered.
Arjun stepped forward angrily.
"That's enough."
But the figure ignored him.
"He's not your protector," it continued.
"He's the reason this all started."
Meera's eyes widened.
"What…?"
Her gaze slowly turned toward Arjun.
"…Is that true?"
Arjun's jaw tightened.
"Don't believe him."
"That's not an answer," Meera said, her voice shaking.
Silence.
Heavy.
Painful.
The figure spoke again.
"He was one of us."
Those words hit like a storm.
Meera stepped back slightly.
"…No…"
Her eyes searched Arjun's face.
"Tell me he's lying…"
Arjun looked down for a moment.
That silence—
It said everything.
Tears filled Meera's eyes instantly.
"You… were one of them?"
Arjun finally spoke.
"…Yes."
The world around her felt like it shattered.
"No…"
Her voice broke.
"You're lying… you saved me… you—"
"I did," Arjun said firmly.
"But that doesn't change what I was."
Meera shook her head.
"Then WHY?!"
"Why are you helping me?!"
Arjun looked at her.
And for the first time—
His voice softened completely.
"Because I owe you."
Meera froze.
"…Owe me?"
The figure laughed quietly.
"Tell her everything," it said.
"Or I will."
Arjun's eyes darkened.
"…Stay out of this."
But Meera stepped forward.
"No," she said.
"I want to know."
Her voice was shaking—
But determined.
"Everything."
Silence filled the room again.
Arjun closed his eyes for a moment.
As if remembering something painful.
"…A long time ago," he began,
"There was someone like you."
Meera listened carefully.
"She had the same mark."
Her breath stopped.
"And I was sent to capture her."
Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.
"What happened…?"
Arjun's voice lowered.
"I failed."
A pause.
"…No," he corrected himself.
"I chose to fail."
Meera's heart tightened.
"I couldn't do it," he continued.
"So I protected her instead."
The room fell silent.
"But in the end…"
His voice almost broke.
"I couldn't save her."
Meera's chest ached.
"…She died."
The words felt heavy.
Painful.
Real.
"And now…" Arjun looked at Meera,
"I won't make the same mistake again."
Meera's tears didn't stop.
"So… I'm just… another chance?"
Arjun shook his head immediately.
"No."
"You're not her."
His voice was firm.
"You're someone I choose to protect."
Silence.
The figure clapped slowly.
"Beautiful story," it said mockingly.
"But it won't change the ending."
Its eyes glowed brighter.
"She belongs to me."
Arjun stepped in front of Meera again.
"…Over my dead body."
The tension snapped.
The air turned violent.
And this time—
There was no holding back.