Aarya's breath stopped.
Kabir's hand was inches away from her neck.
Slow.
Shaking.
Fighting.
His fingers trembled in the air…
Like two forces were pulling them in opposite directions.
"Run…" he whispered again.
Weak.
Broken.
That was Kabir.
Still there.
Still fighting.
But his other side—
That darkness—
Was stronger.
His hand suddenly jerked forward.
Aarya's eyes widened.
But she didn't move.
Didn't step back.
Didn't run.
Instead—
She held his wrist.
Gently.
Not to stop him.
But to reach him.
"I'm not leaving you…" she whispered.
Kabir's body froze.
For a second—
Everything stopped.
His breathing.
His movement.
Even the darkness seemed to hesitate.
Then—
The mark on his wrist burned again.
Violently.
Kabir screamed.
"Aahhh—!"
His hand tightened around her neck.
Not fully.
But enough.
Aarya gasped slightly.
Her fingers tightened around his arm.
Still not pushing him away.
Still not running.
"If you want to kill me…" she said softly,
"…then do it while looking at me."
Kabir's eyes shook.
That line…
It hit something deep inside him.
His grip loosened.
Just a little.
"I'm right here…" she whispered.
Tears falling freely now.
"And I'm not scared of you."
The darkness inside him growled.
His expression twisted.
"You should be…" the dark voice spoke.
Aarya shook her head slowly.
"No."
Her voice was weak.
But clear.
"Because I trust him."
Kabir's eyes widened.
His breathing became uneven again.
The two sides inside him clashed harder.
Pain exploded through his body.
He dropped his hand suddenly.
Falling to his knees again.
Clutching his head.
"Stop… STOP!"
Aarya immediately knelt in front of him.
Holding his face.
Forcing him to look at her.
"Stay with me!"
Kabir's vision blurred.
But he saw her.
Only her.
Her tears.
Her fear.
Her strength.
"I'm trying…" he whispered.
And for the first time—
The darkness pulled back.
Just a little.
Enough for him to breathe.
Enough for him to think.
Enough for him to fight.
Chapter 19 Suspense:
Kabir slowly lifted his head…
His eyes returning to normal.
His breathing calming.
"Aarya…" he whispered.
Her heart skipped.
Because it was him.
Finally him.
But then—
The mark on his wrist cracked.
Like something breaking inside it.
Aarya's eyes widened in horror.
Because she realized—
This wasn't the end of the fight…
It was only the beginning of something worse.