The air felt different.
Heavier.
More dangerous.
Kabir was still on his knees.
Breathing slowly.
Trying to regain control.
Aarya stayed close.
Watching him carefully.
Not letting go this time.
"Are you okay…?" she asked softly.
Kabir nodded faintly.
"I… think so…"
But his voice wasn't fully steady.
Something still felt off.
Aarya noticed it.
The way his hand trembled slightly.
The way his breathing wasn't completely normal.
And then—
She saw it.
The mark on his wrist.
A thin crack had formed through it.
Like glass breaking.
Her heart sank.
"No…" she whispered.
Kabir looked at his wrist.
Confused.
"What… is this?"
The crack slowly spread.
Bit by bit.
The black lines started shifting.
Changing shape.
Becoming more complex.
More dangerous.
Kabir felt it instantly.
A sudden surge of energy rushed through his body.
He gasped.
"What is happening…?!"
Aarya stepped back slightly.
Fear rising again.
"The curse is evolving…"
Kabir looked at her.
Shocked.
"Evolving…?"
Aarya nodded slowly.
Her eyes filled with dread.
"It's adapting to you."
Silence.
Kabir's mind struggled to process that.
"Adapting… how?"
Aarya didn't answer immediately.
Because even she wasn't sure.
And that uncertainty…
Was terrifying.
Suddenly—
Kabir's body stiffened.
His eyes widened.
"Aah—!"
He grabbed his arm again.
The pain returned.
Stronger than before.
The crack on the mark glowed faintly.
Dark energy leaking from it.
Aarya stepped forward instinctively.
But stopped again.
Because she remembered—
Her presence made it worse.
"Kabir… listen to me…" she said urgently.
"You need to stay away from me now!"
Kabir shook his head.
"I can't…"
His voice weak.
Struggling.
"I lose control when I'm alone…"
That hit her.
Hard.
Because she understood.
If she stayed—
The curse would grow.
If she left—
He might lose himself completely.
There was no safe option anymore.
Only risk.
Only choices.
Only consequences.
Aarya clenched her fists.
Her heart breaking again.
"Why… is this happening…" she whispered.
Kabir looked at her.
Through the pain.
Through the chaos.
And still—
He managed a faint smile.
"Because I didn't listen to you…"
Aarya's eyes filled with tears again.
"This isn't your fault…"
Kabir shook his head slightly.
"It is…"
He paused.
His voice soft.
"But I don't regret it."
Silence.
Aarya couldn't speak.
Because deep inside…
She felt the same.
Chapter 20 Suspense:
Suddenly—
The crack on Kabir's mark spread completely.
Splitting the symbol in two.
A shockwave of dark energy burst out.
Aarya stumbled back.
"Kabir!"
His body froze.
His eyes turned completely black for a second.
Then—
A new voice echoed.
Not from outside.
Not from inside.
But everywhere at once—
"Now… the real game begins."
The ground beneath them trembled slightly.
And far away—
That abandoned building…
Started shaking on its own.
Something inside it…
Had just awakened.
And this time—
It wasn't waiting anymore.