In the hills of Uttarakhand, cold and fierce winds swept across the deserted mountain path, as if trying to swallow it whole. The gusts were so strong that the leaves on the trees trembled restlessly, and dust whipped through the air, striking their faces. The warm jackets they wore offered little protection against the biting cold.

  Dark clouds had gathered thick above the sky, as if a downpour could begin at any moment. The air was heavy with moisture, and the earthy scent of wet stones and damp trees filled their lungs with every breath.

  Vikram pulled an old handkerchief from his pocket, quickly unfolded it, and tied it around his face.His voice was quiet, but even through the wind, it came through clearly— “We’re lost… aren’t we?”

  Priya simply gave a slight nod. The worry and fear hidden in her eyes were clearly visible.She pulled out her phone, swiped her finger across the screen, and paused for a moment.“There’s no signal…” she said softly.

  Her hands had gone cold, but still, she reached out and held Vikram’s hand—without saying a word. Vikram looked at her face and understood instantly—she was scared.Her lips trembled for just a moment.

  Vikram gave a faint smile, as if trying to break through the cold fear hanging in the air.“This isn’t your fault, Priya. We’ll reach the nearest vilge soon. Don’t worry—I'm right here with you.”

  Priya nodded again, but this time, there was no emotion on her face— as if some thought had been buried deep within her. She simply kept walking forward.

  They hadn’t seen another soul for hours. The emptiness around them had grown so deep that even the wind felt strange. Slowly, a strange fear began to settle in their hearts— a quiet, creeping thought that maybe… there was no turning back now.

  And then… a sudden sound.

  Something rustled in the bushes.

  Both their heads turned in the same direction at once.

  “What was that?” Vikram said, taking a shallow breath.

  The rustling in the bushes suddenly stopped.

  “Maybe it was just the wind,” Priya said, trying to steady her voice.But even in her words, there was hesitation—like she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else.

  The fog slowly began to spread all around.First the trees, then the rocks, and now even between Vikram and Priya—a wall of white mist had formed. And then, through that pale curtain, a small shadow appeared.

  Slowly, it began to come into focus…

  A child. Looked no older than ten. Wrapped in old, filthy clothes. His eyes were deep—and his voice… even deeper.

  "Are you lost?" he asked, in perfectly clear and proper Hindi.

  “I know the way,” he said with a smile.

  (A GLIMPSE OF THE UPCOMING THREAT)

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  In Delhi, Gokalpuri (AYAAN & ANYA’S HOMECITY)

  A quiet Sunday morning in a corner of Delhi. Outside the window, the soft rays of the sun were slowly spilling into the room. The air carried a gentle chill—calm and comforting. Steam rose from a cup of tea on the table, its sweet aroma filling the entire room.

  Anya stirred sugar into her tea, slowly swirling the spoon. The soft clink of metal against the cup echoed in the morning silence, making it feel even more still and quiet.

  “So, Bhaiya… tell me about your new job,” Anya said with a slight smile.“You’ve been really busy these past few days… and you haven’t told me anything.”

  Ayaan rested his hand on the back of the chair and leaned back. A strange smile appeared on his face—like he was lost in thought, or carefully weighing his words.

  “It’s a bit complicated, Anya…” he said softly, as if feeling a little uneasy.“I’ve never seen a job like this before.”

  Anya looked at him with a steady gaze. “Remember, they said they had already checked my background in advance?”

  “Yeah,” Anya said after thinking for a moment. “It feels like they were spying on you or something.”

  Ayaan took a deep breath and sipped his tea. “Their main branch is in Sanjay Van,” he said, setting the cup down on the table and interlocking his fingers. “And you already know… that pce is known for all sorts of strange stories.”

  Anya nodded quietly.

  Ayaan continued his story. “There’s a small, ordinary-looking hut deep in the forest.”His expression shifted slightly, as if lost in the memory. “There’s a man who lives there… he’s the security guard for the organization.”

  A slight smile crossed his lips, as if a strange memory was repying in his mind.“I met him on the day of my interview… he was just sitting in the waiting room… eating samosas.”

  Anya’s eyes widened. She set her cup down on the table and looked at Ayaan with a suspicious gnce. “The main branch is in the jungle?” she said, folding her hands as she sat up straight. “Are you kidding me?”

  Ayaan gave a faint smile, as if he had expected her reaction. “But that office isn’t actually in the forest… it’s underneath it.”

  Anya’s hand froze. The shock on her face deepened. “Under the forest?”

  Ayaan took another sip of his tea, as if this was all completely normal to him. “Yeah, that hut is actually just a fa?ade. When you go inside, you’ll realize it’s actually a lift…”He pointed downward with his finger. “…and through it, you can go underground.”

  Leaning forward in her chair, Anya said, “Underground? Seriously?”There was excitement in her voice. “That actually sounds pretty cool!”

  Ayaan twirled his cup with one hand and pushed his hair back with the other. “Yeah, seriously.”There was a faint smile on his face, like this had become routine for him now.“The organization is called Trinity Foundation. They operate in secret, away from the public eye—that’s why they’ve built an underground base.”

  Anya tapped her finger lightly on the table and looked off to the side, as if lost in thought.“To me, this sounds like something out of a fantasy sci-fi movie,” she said, narrowing her eyes slightly at Ayaan. “It almost feels like they’re involved in something illegal…” she lowered her voice, as if someone might be listening. “So, what exactly do these people do?”

  Ayaan took the st sip of his tea, set the cup on the table, and pulled his chair back slightly.“I was told they’re conducting secret research to learn more about Earth,” he said in a calm, steady voice. “And they’re getting government funding for it too.”

  “Government?” she repeated, picking up her cup of tea—though she paused for a moment, gently swirling it as she thought. “So what exactly is it that they do?”

  Ayaan raised his hand, counting off on his fingers. “They have me collect soil, grass, water, and…” he paused briefly before continuing, “…animal and human body samples.”

  Anya's hand froze on the cup. She made a strange face. “That… sounds kinda gross.”

  Ayaan waved his hand, trying to ease her concern. “I know it might sound like they’re doing something shady, but it’s really not like that,” he said casually. “Besides, the pce looks… pretty different from the inside.”

  Anya pulled her chair closer. “Different how?”

  Ayaan paused for a moment, as if repying those corridors in his mind. “Actually, the company has four floors—more like yers. But the structure isn’t anything like a normal office.”

  Anya squinted slightly. “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve only been given access to the first yer so far,” Ayaan said with a deep breath.“The other yers involve toxic and dangerous experiments. You need special clearance to go down there.”

  Anya was fully invested now. “And the first yer?”

  Ayaan drew a square in the air with his hand. “The entire pce is made of steel—the floors, the walls, even the gates.”He paused for a moment, then added, “Everything is automated… just like an advanced facility should be.”

  “Wow,” Anya said, clearly amazed. “And the rooms?”

  Ayaan smiled slightly. “I haven’t explored many rooms… just saw the manager’s office.”

  Ayaan fell silent after saying that, but Anya's face was full of curiosity. “Don’t stop, Bhaiya—keep telling me more!” she urged.

  Ayaan leaned back in his chair, trying to rex a bit.“My first encounter there was with the security guard,” he said, recalling the moment. “He was the one who introduced me to the manager.”

  “Manager?” Anya asked, her curiosity growing.

  “Yeah,” Ayaan nodded. “He’s in charge of the entire organization. He sits at the top of the hierarchy. I go to his cabin every week to submit my report.”

  Anya took a small sip of her tea, then looked at Ayaan with growing intrigue.“And then?”

  There was a mischievous glint in Ayaan’s smile.“You can’t even imagine—when I saw his office, it felt like the hideout of some underworld don.”

  Anya straightened up in her chair. “Why? What was in that room?”

  Ayaan traced a small circle in the air with his hand. “Bck walls, bck ceiling, bck door… it was downright creepy. For a moment, it felt like I had walked into a maze made entirely of darkness.”

  Anya’s eyes lit up with excitement. “So, were you scared when you met him?”

  Ayaan held back a ugh. “Scared? I don’t know… but when he looked at me with those pitch-bck eyes—straight and unblinking—it felt like he could see every single thought in my head.”

  Anya set her cup down on the table. “Bhaiya, this is a research center, right? Or… is it something else?”

  Ayaan took a deep breath, as if hiding a secret. “I’ve only been allowed access to the first yer so far. If I want to go deeper…”He looked at Anya, as though making a decision. “I have to complete twenty tasks. Only then will I know what’s really going on inside.”

  Anya looked at Ayaan silently, as if trying to grasp the deeper meaning behind his words.

  Anya set her cup down on the table, her eyes fixed on Ayaan. “And how many tasks have you completed so far?”

  Ayaan stayed silent for a moment, as if trying to recall. “Hmm… I think 19.”

  A faint smile appeared on Anya’s face. “So just one more? That’s great! You’ll be able to explore the rest of the pce too!”

  Ayaan took a deep breath. “Yeah… but after that, I’ll have to make a decision. Whether everything I’ve heard is true or just a story… Only then will I decide if I want to stay… or walk away.”

  Anya’s smile faded slightly. “It’s good that you’re prepared… just make sure you take care of yourself.”

  Ayaan was just about to say something when he suddenly stopped. His hand slowly reached into his pocket, as if he was feeling for something.

  “By the way…” he said, pulling out a small metallic object from his pocket. It was wrapped in a piece of cloth. He gently pced it on the table.

  Anya gnced at it, a look of confusion on her face. “What is this?”

  Without saying a word, Ayaan removed the cloth.

  A shiny, bck gun y on the table.

  Anya’s face went pale.“A… a gun?” Her voice trembled slightly. “Is it real?”

  Ayaan silently wrapped the cloth back over it and slipped it into his pocket again.“They gave it to me for safety,” he said in a calm but heavy voice. “Where I go… things aren’t always safe.”

  “No, Bhaiya!” Anya’s voice rose sharply.“Why would they give you a gun? That means they’re going to make you do something wrong!”

  Ayaan raised his hand, trying to calm her down. “Anya, rex. So far, I’ve only collected samples. Nothing dangerous has happened.”

  Anya shouted angrily, “No, Bhaiya! Promise me you’ll quit this job!”

  Ayaan looked at Anya for a moment, then turned his gaze away. “Finding a new job right now won’t be easy.”

  “I don’t want to hear any excuses! If you don’t quit this job… then I’ll stop eating!”

  Ayaan took a deep breath. “Alright,” he said softly, as if each word was hard to get out. “After I finish this st task… I’ll resign.”

  Anya began to cry, then stepped forward and hugged him tightly.“Bhaiya, you’re all I have… I don’t want anything to happen to you,” she whispered softly.

  Ayaan gently patted her back and gave a faint smile. “Don’t worry, Anya. Whatever’s right for you… that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

  Anya nodded and began to walk away.

  Ayaan silently watched her walk away.“Anya, your concern is valid. But until I truly understand what this pce is… I’m not going anywhere.”

  Suddenly, his phone began to vibrate. He picked it up and looked at the screen.

  WhatsApp Notification:Location: Dayalpur, Street No. 3, House No. 5, A-Block.Sample Type: Hair from an old man.

  Info:They say there’s an old man living in this area—someone who’s been here for 150 years. The locals keep their distance because no one truly understands his nature. Your task is to collect a single strand of his hair so the research team can study it.

  Ayaan read the notification again. A faint smile curved on his lips.

  “The final task…” he thought to himself.

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  A New Morning, A New Task

  The next day, Ayaan and Varun stood at the bus stand, restlessly gncing around. Ayaan kept checking the time on his phone, then, frustrated, quickly dialed Roshit’s number.

  As the phone rang, a tired, sleepy voice came from the other end— “Hello…?”

  Ayaan put the call on speaker and spoke loudly, “Oye Roshit, where are you? How long are you going to take?”

  A shy voice came from the other end, “Bro, I’m stuck in traffic… it’ll take a little while.”

  Varun rolled his eyes, trying to hold back a ugh. “Liar! I don’t hear a single vehicle in the background!”

  For a moment, there was complete silence—then suddenly, from the phone, came the sound of a toy car going "vroom-vroom."

  “There you go, bro! Hear that?” Roshit said, trying his best to make his acting sound convincing.

  Just then, another voice came from the background—sweet, but slightly scolding. “Arey, Roshit beta, go take a bath! I’ve heated the water!”

  Ayaan immediately called him out, “You idiot! You’re still at home, aren’t you?”

  There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a sheepish chuckle. “Bro… I accidentally fell asleep. But I’m coming now, give me 30 minutes!”

  Varun folded his hands in mock prayer and joked, “Forget him! Let’s go check out girls at the mall till then!”

  Roshit snapped to attention. “Girls? Bro, I’m coming too! Don’t you dare go without me, please!”

  Ayaan smirked slyly and said, “But won’t it take you a while to get here?”

  “No, no! I’ll be there in 10 minutes! Don’t go without me, or I’ll be seriously mad!”

  Ayaan folded his hands pyfully and said, “Alright, just hurry up.” Then, ughing, he ended the call.

  15 Minutes Later

  Roshit arrived at the bus stand, panting heavily, his clothes damp with the scent of light sweat.There was exhaustion on his face—but in his eyes, a mischievous glint still sparkled.

  As soon as Varun saw him, he folded his hands and said, “Wow, bro! You’re faster than the wind!”

  Roshit wiped the sweat from his face and took a deep breath. “Yeah, man—I ran here without even taking a shower!”

  Ayaan, trying to hold back his ughter, said, “Dude, your mom even heated water for you—so why didn’t you just shower first?”

  Roshit blushed, gnced around awkwardly for a moment, then quickly changed the subject.“Arey yaar, forget all that—come on, let’s head to the mall. Time to charm some cuties!”

  Varun made a hand gesture like he was announcing some grand decision. “We’re not going to the mall. Just shut up and come finish the task—otherwise, they’ll kick you out of the company!”

  Roshit’s face fell. “Come on, don’t do this! I ran all the way here, and now you’re backing out? This is just cruel!”

  Varun scrunched up his nose and said, “Cruelty? Bro, breathe properly first—you stink! No girl’s gonna fall for you looking like that. Now shut up and move!”

  Roshit rolled his eyes. “You traitors! Lying to your own friend like this!”

  Ayaan cut through the drama and said pinly, “You coming with us, or should we go without you?”

  After a second of silence, Roshit gave in and said,“Alright, let’s go!”

  The three boys set off toward their destination by bus. The roads were unusually crowded today—long lines of vehicles everywhere, horns honking in bursts, and people caught in all kinds of small and loud arguments.

  The bus was completely packed from the inside. Each seat had two people squeezed together, and those standing had barely enough space to jostle one another.Roshit had squeezed himself into a corner, Varun was struggling to stay banced while gripping a pole, and Ayaan kept staring at his phone—as if willing time to move faster.

  After a while, the three of them got off at their stop. Ayaan immediately pulled out his phone, checked the location on the screen, and said, “It’s just 400 meters from here—we’ll have to walk the rest of the way.”

  The road was in terrible condition—potholes everywhere, broken pavements, and puddles scattered in between. The heat and pollution had only made things worse.There was no escape from the constant noise—just beep-beep, honk-honk, and people yelling all around.

  Varun tried to cover his ears. “This pce is gonna fry my brain!”

  Roshit grinned. “So what? If we’re lucky, maybe we’ll spot a cutie right here!”

  Ayaan let out a quiet sigh. “Just keep walking.”

  Roshit gnced around in annoyance and said irritably, “Man, we should’ve just gone to the mall. I don’t know what junkyard you guys have dragged me into—this pce feels weird.”

  Varun rolled his eyes in frustration. “If you’ve got a problem, go back. No one’s forcing you to be here.”

  “Uff! You’re acting like you’re actually enjoying this,” Roshit said, pouting.

  As they moved ahead, turning off the main road into a narrow ne, the atmosphere grew even more deserted. Torn, weathered posters hung limply from the walls, piles of garbage lined the edges of the path, and a strange, foul smell lingered in the air.

  “Will you two just be quiet? We’re here,” Ayaan said, checking his phone.

  In front of them stood an old, crumbling house. The concrete walls were full of cracks, as if they could colpse at any moment. Faded patches of yellow and blue paint clung weakly to the surface, and the door—half-worn red wood—gave off an unsettling, unfamiliar vibe.Part of the upper floor looked like it was about to fall apart, and there was no roof in sight. A dried-up lemon and chili charm hung from the doorframe, long since withered and lifeless.

  Roshit pinched his nose and said,“Man, it stinks here. Just grab that old man’s hair and let’s get out of this pce.”

  Ayaan pced his hand on the door and knocked with a firm thud-thud. “Is anyone in there? Hello?”

  Once… twice… even after the third call, there was no response.There was a strange stillness in the air, as if life itself had paused in this pce.

  Roshit stepped closer to the door, leaned down, and looked carefully. “Hey, the gate’s unlocked. Let’s go inside and check.”

  Varun immediately grabbed his arm. “Are you crazy? Don’t enter someone’s house without asking. This doesn’t feel safe.”

  “Hey Ayaan, send a message in the group. Ask them what we’re supposed to do,” Varun said.

  Ayaan pulled out his phone and started typing:

  ‘Sir, we’re at the location but no one’s opening the door. What should we do?’

  The message was delivered instantly, and the team had already read it.There was no response for a while— but then, the typing indicator appeared.

  ‘It’s okay. The man inside just lies in one pce all day. Just quietly go to him and cut a strand of his hair. He won’t even notice.’

  The three of them looked at one another. Something about that message felt… off. Ayaan cracked his fingers and then began typing again:

  ‘But sir, is it really okay to sneak in like this? What if there’s some danger?’

  The reply came instantly:

  ‘We’ve already explored the house—there hasn’t been any danger so far. But if you don’t want to go in, that’s fine. We’ll send someone else instead.’

  Ayaan showed them both the message. “They’re saying if I can’t do it, they’ll send someone else.”

  Roshit immediately shouted, “No way! We’ve come all this way—there’s no way I’m going back without getting paid. If they said it’s safe, then it must be safe.”

  Saying that, he pushed the door open without waiting for another word.The door creaked open with a long, drawn-out krrr-kiiiiii sound, like it hadn’t been touched in ages.

  Peeking inside, Varun said, “Hmm… there’s no choice now. Let’s go in.”

  Ayaan took a step back. His hands were turning cold. A strange sense of unease was creeping into his chest.

  “Hey Ayaan, why’d you stop? Come inside, quick!” Roshit called out from within.

  Ayaan took a deep breath and slowly stepped inside…

  The three of them had now entered the old house. The entire pce was shrouded in darkness, with barely any light coming in from outside. Dust and grime covered everything. Cobwebs clung to the walls and floor, and lizards lurked in the corners.The ground floor was completely empty—just a single room and a creaky old wooden staircase leading upward.The walls were painted a faded white, and a photograph hung crookedly on one of them. It showed a man and his two children. The photo was worn with age, its corners torn, and a thin crack ran across the gss frame.

  As soon as Roshit looked at the photo, a strange sense of unease washed over him. “How can someone stay alive for so many years? Is something like that even possible?” he asked quietly.

  “It might be possible,” Varun said. “After all, people used to live pretty long back in the day. Maybe this man was one of them.”

  Ayaan said quietly, “Actually, this man has been here for almost 150 years. His stories are well known around this pce. They say, whoever sees him… their day always turns bad.That’s why the organization wants to understand how he’s still alive, without any medical treatment. Through his hair, they can analyze his health and DNA.”

  Roshit grew a little more serious. “Oh! So… does that mean we’ll have to collect his blood too?”

  “For now, they only need a hair sample. But if more testing is required… they might send us again.”

  “Hmm, got it,” Roshit said, though a strange fear had begun to settle inside him.

  Just then, a strange faint sound echoed—like someone whispering softly. It was coming from the top of the stairs.All three of them fell silent at once. Varun looked at Ayaan and whispered, “Did you hear that?”

  Ayaan nodded silently.Varun turned his gaze toward the staircase. A strange, damp, musty smell was drifting down—like a mix of old clothes and wet, rotting wood, forming an oddly unpleasant scent.

  “Man, this pce feels really weird,” Ayaan said quietly. “Let’s just finish the job and get out of here.”

  “You guys decide first,” Roshit said hesitantly, “But I’m not leaving without getting paid!”

  And then, without any further dey, Roshit stepped forward. A faint creak came from beneath the old wooden floor, like an ancient door slowly opening. All three of them looked at each other, and then slowly began to move toward the stairs.

  The three of them began climbing the stairs. With every step, the old wooden staircase creaked— as if echoing secrets long forgotten.Their footsteps echoed through the entire house, as though someone… or something else was listening.

  As soon as they reached the second floor, an odd chill filled the air. A stretch of pin floor y ahead of the stairs, covered in nothing but dust— and beyond that, a single room. The room had no door, and the darkness inside it stirred a strange restlessness in them.

  “Man, this pce feels really off,” Roshit said in a low voice. “What do we do now?”

  “This is the only room left,” Varun said quietly. “Let’s check it—he’s probably inside.”

  The three of them stepped in cautiously, their footsteps light. With every step, the wooden floor creaked—chrikk… chrikk…Ayaan was in the lead. Varun switched on his fshlight and slowly swept it across the room.

  As soon as the light fell inside the room, all three of them felt their breaths quicken. An old mat was id out on the floor, and someone was lying on it, asleep.His face was turned toward the wall and long white hair was spread out before them.His entire body was enveloped in an unnatural stillness—the kind of stillness that doesn’t exist in the living.

  “This is him,” Varun whispered.

  “Yeah,” Ayaan said, his voice still trembling slightly.

  “Should we wake him?” Roshit asked. Varun suddenly cmped a hand over his mouth. “Shhh… speak softly!”

  After a moment of silence, Varun whispered, “Let’s just quietly cut a strand of his hair and get out of here.”

  “Ayaan, do you have scissors?”

  Ayaan pulled out a small knife from his pocket. “I don’t have scissors, but I can cut it with this.”

  “Come on, hurry up.”

  Ayaan slowly began to move forward. His heartbeat had picked up. Every step felt like the floor was screaming beneath his feet. He reached near the old man, held his breath, and bent down.

  Just as he moved the bde forward to cut the hair, suddenly…The old man stirred slightly.

  Ayaan froze for a second. His throat went dry. Sweat trickled down his back. Roshit and Varun also went completely still.

  The old man shifts slightly… and with that one movement, a strange, bone-deep fear settles into the room and then he goes quiet again.

  Ayaan took a deep breath, his hands were trembling. “Tichch!” He quickly cut off a strand of hair.

  A thin white hair was in Ayaan's hand. He immediately started stepping back.

  From behind, Varun and Roshit gnce at each other, both clenching their fists and quietly raising them in the air, whispering a soft, excited “Yay!” Ayaan, too, looks at them with a victorious smile — but the moment he sees the color drain from his friends faces, that smile freezes right there.

  A strange sense of anxiety rises within Ayaan. What he saw in their eyes made his heartbeat faster.

  "What happened to them?" Ayaan wondered.

  A strange sensation washed over his mind— as if the air around him had suddenly turned cold.A chill crawled up his spine, slow and deliberate. His hands dried up instinctively, and his throat began to parch, ever so gently. He stood frozen, completely still— as though time itself had paused around him.

  Slowly, the muscles in his shoulders began to tense—and just as he decided to turn around, he heard a strange hum.A sharp inhale—not filled with rage, but carrying an eerie, unexpinable weight.Ayaan turned his neck, inch by inch. And then…

  That old man... had awakened.

  His long, white hair fell over his shoulders. Half of his face was hidden in the shadow of the walls, but his eyes—those deep eyes—they looked like an ocean without a bottom. There was something in them… something that couldn’t be understood.

  "Wh… who are you?" The voice was so calm, so soft, it didn’t even feel like it came from someone who had lived for 150 years.

  Ayaan’s throat went dry. His mind went bnk for a moment.“Umm… u-uncle, so… sorry! We… uh… we just came to meet you,” Ayaan stammered.

  "To meet me?" The old man didn’t even move from his spot—just leaned forward slightly. His eyes, however, remained locked—unblinking and unwavering.

  "Uh… we’re from the Trinity Foundation," Ayaan managed to steady his voice with effort. "We were… we were sent to collect a strand of your hair… so that… so that they can check your health…"

  He stayed silent for a moment. Then, in a slow, calm voice, he said, "I don’t understand… first tell me this… how did the three of you even find me?"

  Ayaan paused for a moment, thinking that telling the truth might be the best choice. "The company… they gave us the location," he replied.

  “Company?” the old man slowly tilted his head from side to side, his voice low and puzzled, as if trying to recall a name long forgotten.

  “Oh… so they have that much power… enough to find me?”

  His words… the way he said them… there was something strange about it. As if all of this was an old story to him—one that had happened many times before.

  Varun and Roshit were silent. Completely silent. The old man's lips curled into a strange, unsettling smile.

  "Alright, tell me..." he said, "Which one of you three cut my hair?"

  Ayaan’s heart started pounding in his chest. Varun and Roshit turned to look at him. For a moment, there was complete silence—no one said a word.

  Ayaan slowly took a step back. Then he lowered his gaze. His hands were still drenched in sweat.“I… I was the one who cut it,” he said softly.

  The old man stayed silent for a moment. “What’s your name?” he asked.

  "Ayaan," he replied, his voice ced with a hint of nervousness.

  "Ah…" the old man slowly straightened his back. One of his hands remained behind him, as if he had not a single worry in the world.

  "Nice name," he said. Then... he took a step forward from where he was.

  Ayaan's mind screamed: GET BACK! STAY AWAY! But his feet were frozen in pce.

  The old man came right up close to Ayaan—so close that Ayaan could feel the warmth of his breath on his skin.

  And then, very softly, with a faint smile, he whispered near Ayaan’s ear— "The way you took my hair without asking…"

  For a moment, silence took over everything.

  "Ayaan... Just like that, I will take three precious things from you."

  In that very moment, the air turned cold.

  Ayaan's mind screamed. Every nerve, every muscle in his body shouted just one thing—"RUN!"

  "Roshit! Varun! RUN FROM HERE! NOW!!" Ayaan shouted. His voice echoed sharply through the room like a loud bst.

  Without a moment's thought, Ayaan turns around and starts running. A terrifying sensation crawls up his back—like someone is still watching him.

  Roshit and Varun froze for a moment, but as soon as their minds processed Ayaan's scream, both of them bolted instantly.

  That old man's eyes were still fixed on them.

  And his smile had grown even deeper.

  The three of them ran towards the gate. Roshit anxiously pulled at it with all his strength, his hands slipping with sweat. The gate didn’t budge an inch.

  "Why isn’t this opening?" There was panic in Roshit’s voice.

  "Move aside!" Varun shouted, not wasting a second as he pulled out his gun. His finger trembled on the trigger. With a loud bang, the bullet struck the gate. But the gate seemed to mock the shot—not even a scratch appeared.

  Varun stared at the gate, then at his own hands. His fingers still rested on the trigger, but it felt like all strength had drained from his body. "I-impossible..." he whispered. There was no strength left in his legs.

  “W-What do we do now?” Roshit’s throat was dry as dust. “H-he’s going to kill us!”

  Just then, a terrifying, deep voice echoed from above— "Not all three… only you two shall be sacrificed. My Ayaan will remain safe."

  All three of their bodies froze at once. Slowly, they lifted their eyes upward. The old man was descending the stairs—surrounded by a thick, dark smoke.

  His skin began to tear open, as if a new form was cwing its way out from within. Thick, wet bck hair sprouted along his arms and legs.His fingers thinned and sharpened—nails now gleaming like celestial bdes. His mouth split slowly, grotesquely, revealing long, razor-sharp fangs. The glow of his red eyes pierced through the darkness, making even the shadows tremble in fear.

  All three of them stood frozen, their feet rooted to the ground like ancient trees.The air had turned dense—oppressive—as if death itself was walking in with him.

  Then… the wolf-like creature leapt in a single bound—and came crashing down on Varun.

  Varun couldn't even scream. With a sharp, cracking sound, the beast's fangs tore through the soft skin of his throat. Warm, fresh blood sprayed into the air—and within a second, the ground was soaked in red.

  "NOOO!" Roshit's scream was so piercing, it cut through the silence like a bde. Without thinking, he tried to shove the beast away—but with a single jerk, it leapt into the air like a shadow unchained.

  Ayaan’s mind went bnk for a moment—then instinct took over. He whipped out his gun and fired a shot without hesitation.

  “Bang!!” A straight shot. The bullet struck the wolf in the chest. But… as soon as the blood started to spill, its wounds began to heal instantly.

  The wolf turned its red eyes towards Ayaan. Its mouth was now filled with blood, and with a strange, cruel smile, it said—"What are you doing? I'm doing all this for you."

  Tears started to fall from Ayaan's eyes. If he could, he would stop time right there. But time doesn't stop for anyone.

  The wolf leaned forward, tearing into Varun's body with its sharp teeth. The sound of flesh tearing, the crack of bones breaking... everything was so real that Ayaan's breath stopped.

  In a corner, Roshit sat, hunched with his head buried in his knees, utterly defeated. His breaths were so rapid, it felt as though someone was choking him.

  Ayaan approached him and grabbed his hand. "Roshit! Don't sit here, quickly, get out of here!"

  Roshit pushed Ayaan's hand away. There was more anger in his eyes than tears. "THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!"

  Ayaan took a step back. "H-huh?"

  "You were the one who got us into this company! And now, because of you, we're trapped in this deadly situation!"

  "No, Roshit! Please, don't say that!"

  "SHOULD I NOT SAY IT? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO BROUGHT US HERE!"

  Ayaan was about to say something, but Roshit's words silenced him."I don't know what that man whispered in your ear. But now I'm sure you're with him. Ayaan, you're a demon. God will never forgive you. Never!" Roshit’s words struck deep, and Ayaan’s heart felt like it had colpsed. Tears streamed down his face, but even they couldn't hide the weight of his guilt.

  "Roshit... why are you saying this?" His voice cracked, as if with every word, his breath was shattering too. "Please, just run away from here."

  "Don’t cry, Ayaan!" A terrifying, deep growl tore through the air. “HIS LIFE ENDS HERE. AND YOURS BEGINS NOW!” The wolf took a step forward. Its cws left a small crack on the ground. The light from its red eyes fell upon Roshit’s lifeless face.

  Ayaan’s legs were trembling, but his heart swallowed the fear. Just a moment. It was a decision that would be made in a single instant.

  He took a deep breath, gathering all his strength, and stood face to face with the wolf.

  "Don't you dare y a finger on him!" He shouts.

  The wolf let out a sharp, mocking ugh. "YOU'RE REALLY A FOOL, AYAAN!"

  And in the next instant...

  “Boom!” The werewolf's hand struck like lightning, and Ayaan was sent flying through the air.

  Before hitting the ground, the wall was already waiting for him.

  “CRACK!!” Ayaan’s head smmed against the wall. A deep gash appeared on his forehead, and a stream of hot, fresh blood trickled down. The red line flowed above his eyes, and the world slowly began to fade behind a crimson veil.

  Pain was a spark that had spread through every vein, igniting an unbearable fire within.

  But... it didn't matter to him.

  A soft sound escaped Ayaan's lips, but his eyes kept searching for the wolf.

  Then he saw—the wolf slowly advancing towards Roshit.

  "Stop! Please... leave him!" Ayaan's throat was dry, but he swallowed the pain and screamed.

  But... the wolf didn't respond.

  He simply raised his long, sharp cws...

  And for a moment, the world fell silent.

  Ayaan tried to lift his hands, but there was no strength left in them. His body was slowly turning cold, as if life was slipping away from him. Blood dripped from his fingers, hitting the ground with a soft tap, tap, tap.

  He saw the wolf pounce on Roshit, and one final scream echoed through the air.

  Ayaan's eyelids grew heavy. His world slowly sank into darkness and then...

  he lost consciousness.

  -End of chapter 2