Rudra stood there, frozen, his heart pounding loudly in his chest.
The room was empty.
But he was sure—he had seen her.
A girl… standing right there.
The cold air still lingered, wrapping around him like an invisible presence. It felt as if someone was still watching him.
Rudra took a deep breath and tried to calm himself.
"This can't be real…" he whispered.
Yet, something inside him refused to believe that.
Slowly, he stepped closer to the window where the girl had been standing just moments ago. The moonlight fell softly on the floor, and for a second, he thought he saw a faint shadow move.
He blinked.
It was gone.
Suddenly, a soft voice echoed behind him—
"Why did you come here?"
Rudra turned around instantly.
She was there.
Standing in the corner of the room, half-hidden in the shadows.
Her eyes were fixed on him.
This time, she looked more real… yet even more unreal.
Rudra swallowed hard. "I… I didn't mean to come here. I just… found this place."
The girl slowly stepped forward.
"You shouldn't be here," she said softly.
Her voice was calm, but there was a warning hidden inside it.
"Why?" Rudra asked, unable to take his eyes off her.
For a moment, she didn't answer.
Then she looked away, her expression turning distant.
"Because… people who come here don't leave the same."
A chill ran down his spine.
"But you're here," Rudra said quietly.
She paused.
A faint, almost sad smile appeared on her lips.
"I never left."
Silence filled the room again.
Rudra felt something strange inside his chest—fear… and something else.
Something he couldn't explain.
"Who are you?" he asked again, this time more gently.
The girl looked at him, her eyes reflecting the pale moonlight.
"My name…" she whispered,
"…is Aira."
The moment she said her name, the wind outside grew stronger, and the mansion trembled slightly.
Rudra felt it.
This wasn't just a meeting.
It was the beginning of something deeper.
Something dangerous.
And somehow…
he didn't want to walk away.Rudra took another step forward, his eyes never leaving hers.
There was something about Aira that pulled him closer, something he couldn't explain.
"Why are you still here?" he asked softly.
Aira looked at him, her expression unreadable.
"For the same reason you came," she replied.
Rudra frowned. "I didn't come for anything."
Aira gave a faint smile.
"Everyone who comes here is searching for something… even if they don't know it yet."
Her words sent a strange feeling through him.
Before he could respond, a loud noise echoed from somewhere deep inside the mansion.
A door slammed shut.
Rudra flinched.
Aira's expression changed instantly.
"You need to leave," she said quickly.
"What? Why?" Rudra asked.
But Aira was already stepping back into the shadows.
"Before it notices you."
The lights flickered.
The air grew colder than before.
Rudra felt his heartbeat race.
"What is 'it'?" he shouted.
But Aira was gone again.
Only silence remained.
And this time…
the silence felt dangerous.