The door creaked fully open.
A cold wind rushed out.
Kabir stood frozen at the entrance of the abandoned building.
His eyes locked on that figure inside.
Same height.
Same face.
Same… him.
But something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The figure's smile was twisted.
Unnatural.
Its eyes… darker.
Empty.
Like there was no soul inside.
Kabir's breath got stuck.
"Who… are you…?"
The figure tilted its head slowly.
Still smiling.
"I told you…"
Its voice echoed.
But it didn't come from outside.
It came from inside Kabir's head.
"…I'm you."
Kabir stepped back.
"No… that's not possible…"
But his body didn't fully move away.
The mark on his wrist pulsed again.
Hard.
Pain shot through his arm.
He clenched his teeth.
"Aah—!"
The figure inside took one step forward.
Slow.
Calm.
Like it had all the time in the world.
"You opened the door…"
Another step.
"…now you belong here."
Kabir shook his head.
"I didn't come here by choice!"
The figure smiled wider.
"That's the best part…"
It pointed toward his wrist.
"…you don't need a choice anymore."
Kabir's heart started racing again.
His body felt heavy.
Like something was pulling him inside.
His feet moved slightly forward.
Without his permission.
"No… stop…"
He tried to resist.
But the pull was getting stronger.
Stronger every second.
Meanwhile—
Aarya reached the street.
Her breathing fast.
Eyes searching.
And then—
She saw it.
That abandoned building.
Her face turned pale instantly.
"No… he's already here…"
She ran toward it.
Without thinking.
Without stopping.
Back at the entrance—
Kabir's body moved another step forward.
He was almost inside now.
The darkness wrapped around the doorway.
Like it was alive.
Waiting to consume him.
The figure raised its hand slowly.
"Just one more step…"
Kabir's vision blurred.
His mind fading.
His control slipping.
"Someone… help…"
And then—
A hand grabbed his arm.
Hard.
Pulling him back.
Kabir gasped and stumbled backward.
Falling out of the doorway.
The connection snapped instantly.
The pressure disappeared.
He looked up—
Aarya.
Standing in front of him.
Breathing heavily.
Her grip tight on his arm.
"What were you thinking?!" she shouted.
Kabir couldn't respond.
He was still shaken.
Still confused.
He pointed toward the door.
"There's… someone inside…"
Aarya turned her head slowly.
Looking at the darkness inside.
Her expression hardened.
"I know."
Kabir looked at her, shocked.
"You… know?"
Aarya didn't take her eyes off the entrance.
"That's not someone else…"
Her voice dropped.
Cold.
Serious.
"…that's what the curse turns you into."
Kabir's heart skipped a beat.
"What…?"
Aarya finally looked at him.
Her eyes filled with fear.
"If you lose control…"
She paused.
Her grip tightening.
"…you become that."
Chapter 13 Suspense:
Kabir slowly looked back at the door…
And for a second—
That dark version of him stepped closer to the entrance.
Almost crossing it.
Almost coming out.
And its smile widened as it whispered—
"Soon… I won't need the door."
Kabir froze.
Because now—
That thing wasn't just inside anymore…