Blood dripped onto the ground…
slow… heavy… unstoppable.
Little Ashura staggered forward,
his jaw torn, his breath uneven.
"Mom… are you okay…?"
His voice trembled—weak, broken.
"M… Mom… please…"
Maya slowly stood.
Her body shook.
Her eyes… empty.
"Ashura…"
Her voice cracked.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as her face twisted in horror.
"You're a… monster…"
She collapsed to her knees.
Her fingers dug into her own arms, biting, scratching—
as if trying to tear away reality itself.
"Ashura rushed forward."
"MOM!!"
"Why… why did you choose this path?!"
Her voice shattered into screams.
Blood mixed with tears as she covered her face,
her mind breaking piece by piece.
"You've become… like your brother…"
She clutched her head, shaking violently.
"I didn't want this for you… I didn't want you to become this…"
"Ashura…"
Her voice drowned in pain.
Ashura grabbed her hands desperately.
"Mom… please… stop…"
She shoved him away.
Then—
with eyes full of hatred…
She whispered coldly:
"I hate you… Ashura."
Present.
A drop of blood slid down Ashura's cheek…
just as he tilted his head—
the dagger slicing past his skin.
Ashura exhaled softly.
"That's… some agility."
The mysterious man chuckled, low and twisted.
"Your reflexes… are insane."
Ashura slipped a hand into his pocket.
"Wanna test that?"
A gun appeared.
Bang.
The shot echoed.
The man vanished—dodging in a blur.
Ashura's eyes narrowed…
a faint smile forming.
"You're not human… after all."
The man landed lightly on a branch, rain dripping from his hair.
Ashura stood below… silent… aiming.
"You feel… dangerous."
The man pulled out a cigarette, placing it between his lips.
A spark.
Smoke curled into the cold air.
Rain fell slower now…
wind cutting through the silence.
Even… snow began to fall.
Ashura spoke quietly—
"It's getting cold."
His voice wasn't fear.
It was… truth.
The man exhaled smoke.
"I don't even know what to say anymore…"
A pause.
"We're both here to kill each other."
—He vanished.
And appeared right in front of Ashura.
Both guns rose.
Pressed… against each other's foreheads.
Silence.
Just the rain.
Just their breathing.
Ashura's eyes didn't shake.
"Let's see… who dies first."
The man smirked.
"Don't worry."
A dangerous glint crossed Ashura's eyes—
"Never."
Then—
something broke.
Ashura's grip loosened.
The gun lowered.
His gaze dropped.
"…I'm tired."
Silence cracked.
"Kill me."
The man's expression shifted.
"…What?"
Ashura's voice stayed calm…
but empty.
"Just end it."
"…I'm tired of living like this."
No anger.
No madness.
Just… a man who had suffered too long.
The mysterious man watched him quietly…
"…Is this a trick, little child?"
Ashura shook his head.
His voice… cracked.
"It's not a trick…"
"I just… don't have the strength anymore."
He looked down at his palm.
His fingers… stained red.
"I'm tired of killing people…"
"I'm tired of hearing their hatred…"
"I'm tired of the voices… the screams…"
"I'm tired of breaking promises…"
A pause.
His grip tightened around the gun.
"I just want to sleep…"
"…forever."
He slowly lifted the gun—
and placed it against his own forehead.
"Just one shot…"
"…and peace."
His eyes…
were empty.
"I'm tired of hearing it…"
Flashback
"ASHURA, STOP—!!"
Rain slammed against the ground as Maya stumbled back, her voice breaking apart.
She stared at him… not like a mother.
Like she was afraid.
"What… what have you done…?"
Her hands trembled as she backed away, shaking her head again and again.
"No… no… this isn't my son…"
Tears blurred her vision.
"You're… a monster…"
She collapsed, her nails digging into her own arms, trying to wake herself from this nightmare.
A school corridor.
Whispers followed him like shadows.
"…That's him."
"Don't go near him."
A girl dropped the rose he gave her like it burned.
"…Sorry… I don't talk to people like you."
She stepped back quickly.
Laughter.
Sharp. Cruel.
"We all hate you, Ashura!"
A group of boys surrounded him.
One stepped forward and shoved him hard.
"Why are you even here?"
Another kicked his chest.
"Monsters don't belong in school."
Ashura didn't react.
He just… stood there.
A door slightly open.
Voices inside.
"…I can't take this anymore…" his mother's voice trembled.
"…He's changing… I don't recognize him…"
A long silence.
Then—
his father.
Cold.
"If he crosses the line again…"
"…I'll end it myself."
A quiet room.
His sister stood in front of him, eyes filled with tears.
"Ashura… please…"
Her voice shook.
"…just stop…"
"…If you hurt someone again…"
She looked away.
"…I won't be able to stay by your side anymore…"
A whisper.
"…I might even hate you…"
A graveyard.
Cold wind.
A small boy stood alone.
"…Mom…"
His tiny hand rested on the stone.
"I didn't mean to…"
His voice cracked.
"I just wanted to protect you…"
He slowly lowered his head against the grave.
"I love you…"
The man stepped forward slowly…
His face… finally revealed.
Golden hair.
Blue eyes.
Filled with something unexpected—
regret.
"Ashura…" his voice softened,
"…you've suffered too much."
Ashura's head remained lowered.
"…Kill me."
"I didn't come to kill you."
"…but you're forcing me to."
A pause.
"I need your help."
"I want to change everything… with you."
Ashura's grip tightened.
"There's no change left for me…"
"…I just want this to end."
He raised the gun again.
"LISTEN TO ME!"
Ishaan's voice cracked as he clenched his jaw.
"…There are people waiting for you."
"…your sisters."
"You really want them to receive your body… instead of you?"
Ashura replied quietly—
"At least it's better… than seeing their brother go insane."
"…Just finish it."
Silence.
"…If that's truly what you want…"
Ishaan slowly raised his gun.
"…then tell me your name."
"…Ishaan."
A heartbeat.
Trigger pulled.
💥 BOOM
Gunshot echoed.
Blood splashed.
Ashura's eyes widened—
"…Huh?"
A body fell in front of him.
"…Ruhi…?"
Time froze.
Then—
"RUHIIIIIIII!!!"
His scream tore through the sky.
Thunder roared.
Ruhi's body collapsed… blood spreading from her chest.
Ishaan staggered back—
his hands trembling.
"…What… did I just do…?"
Avni screamed.
Rivaan rushed forward.
"…SORRY, RUHI…!"
Ishaan's voice shattered.
"…you didn't deserve this…"
Tears filled his eyes—
and in the next second—
he vanished.
Ashura dropped to his knees, holding Ruhi tightly.
"Please… don't leave me…"
His voice broke completely.
"I'm begging you…"
"I'm begging God…"
"PLEASE—!"
Tears fell endlessly.
His world—
collapsed again.
Rooftop Scene (Parallel Pain)
Far away—
on a rooftop—
Ishaan stood alone.
"…Why…"
His voice trembled.
"The bullet was meant for him…"
"…not her…"
He fell to his knees.
"I'm… a monster…"
His fist slammed the ground.
Flashback
A bright afternoon.
Golden sunlight.
Laughter.
"BIG BROOOO!!"
A small girl ran toward him, her tiny feet almost slipping on the grass.
Ishaan turned—
and instantly softened.
"…Ruhi."
She jumped and wrapped her arms around him.
"I finally found you!"
He chuckled quietly, placing a hand on her head.
"You say that every time."
She puffed her cheeks.
"Because you always disappear!"
She poked his chest lightly.
"You're a bad big brother."
Ishaan smirked faintly.
"Am I?"
She crossed her arms dramatically.
"Hmph! Yes!"
Then after a second…
she peeked at him.
"…But you're my favorite one."
She suddenly raised both arms.
"Carry me!"
Ishaan sighed.
"You're not a kid anymore."
"I AM!!"
She stomped her foot.
"Don't argue! Just carry me!"
He shook his head with a small smile…
then turned around.
"Fine. Get on."
She jumped onto his back instantly.
"Yayyy!! Let's go, big bro!"
He held her carefully.
"…Where to?"
She pointed forward like a commander.
"Anywhere! As long as you don't leave me again."
A small silence.
Her voice softened.
"…You won't disappear again, right?"
Ishaan's steps slowed.
For a moment…
he didn't answer.
Then quietly—
"…I'll try."
She leaned her head on his shoulder.
"That's not enough…"
A pause.
"…Promise me."
His eyes shifted slightly.
"…Ruhi…"
"Promise."
Her voice was stubborn… but fragile.
"…or I'll hate you forever."
Ishaan let out a soft breath.
"…Alright."
A faint smile.
"I promise."
She smiled brightly.
"Good!"
Then giggled softly.
"Because if you break it…"
"…I'll come find you myself."
🌧️ Present
"AHHHHHHHHH—!!"
Ishaan collapsed to his knees.
Rain pouring down harder.
His hands clenched.
"…I broke it…"
His voice shattered.
"…again…"
Chapter 6 Ended