The world felt… empty.
Not quiet—
Empty.
Aarya stood frozen.
Her hand still extended forward.
Her fingers trembling in the air where that invisible thread once existed.
"Kabir…?"
No answer.
Not even a breath.
He stood there—
Eyes closed.
Completely still.
Like time had stopped only for him.
Aarya took a slow step forward.
Her heart pounding painfully.
"No… no, this isn't…"
Her voice broke.
She reached out—
And touched his face.
Cold.
Not lifeless.
But… distant.
Like he wasn't there anymore.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"You said… you trusted me…"
Aarya whispered.
"So come back…"
Silence.
Her grip tightened on his shirt.
Her body shaking now.
"I did what you said…"
Her voice cracked harder.
"So why aren't you coming back?!"
Nothing.
No response.
No movement.
No Kabir.
Aarya slowly dropped to her knees in front of him.
Her strength giving up.
Her hope cracking.
"I… I didn't want this…"
She covered her face.
Crying silently now.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just… breaking.
Because deep down—
She felt it.
That connection—
The one she had broken—
Was the only thing keeping him tied to her.
And now—
It was gone.
Suddenly—
A faint sound.
Aarya froze.
Her head lifted instantly.
"Kabir…?"
A small movement.
Barely visible.
His fingers.
They twitched.
Just a little.
Aarya's eyes widened.
Hope rushed back violently.
"Kabir!"
She stood up quickly.
Holding his shoulders.
"Can you hear me?!"
Silence again.
But this time—
It didn't feel empty.
It felt like something was trying.
Trying to come back.
Then—
A whisper.
So faint—
She almost missed it.
"…Aarya…"
Her breath hitched.
"I'm here!"
Tears of relief filled her eyes again.
"I'm right here!"
Kabir's lips moved slightly.
His voice broken.
Distant.
"…don't… let it…"
Aarya froze.
Her heart dropped again.
"Don't let what…?"
But before he could finish—
His body suddenly jerked.
Violently.
Aarya stepped back in shock.
"Kabir?!"
His eyes opened.
Slowly.
And Aarya's hope…
Shattered instantly.
Because they weren't his eyes.
Again.
Completely black.
But this time—
There was no struggle.
No flicker.
No resistance.
Just control.
Pure control.
And a calm…
Terrifying calm.
Chapter 23 Suspense:
Kabir slowly tilted his head.
Looking at her.
And smiled.
Softly.
"You really thought it was that easy?"
Aarya's heart stopped.
Because she realized—
Breaking the connection…
Didn't destroy it.
It only freed it.
And now—
There was nothing holding it back anymore.