Morning at Home
The faint sunlight slipped through the curtains as Ariv sat up in bed. For a moment, he stared at the wall, mind clouded with fragments of unease from the past few nights. Something about the silence felt… heavy.
He walked into the small kitchen where his mother was preparing breakfast. The aroma of warm parathas and tea tried to ground him in normalcy, but the weight around his neck reminded him of the question burning in his mind.
"Mom," Ariv said, pulling out a chair, "why did you give me this locket?"
She paused mid-motion, her eyes glancing toward him before softening into a gentle smile. "You've been stressed with studies lately," she replied in her calm voice. "This will help keep you peaceful… focused."
Ariv tilted his head slightly. "That's it?"
Her smile didn't falter, but her tone grew subtly firm. "Yes. Just keep it on, okay?"
"…Alright." Ariv looked down at the small, gleaming locket hanging against his chest. It felt heavier than it should. But he didn't press her further.
---
At School
By afternoon, the classroom buzzed with the usual chaos. Pens scratched across paper, and the faint chatter of students filled the room. When the lunch bell rang, Ariv joined his friends at their usual spot under the old neem tree.
Rohit was the first to break the silence. "So," he said with a mischievous grin, "real question: which is scarier? Exams or… you know… that thing we saw?"
Vaishnavi let out a nervous laugh. "If exams had glowing eyes, I'd quit school today."
Neel chuckled lightly, his tone calm. "Maybe… we were just tired. Minds play tricks when you're stressed."
Rohit raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? Stress doesn't make you see shadows with glowing eyes, dude."
Vaishnavi's smile faded as her gaze dropped to the ground. "I don't know… it feels like… it's not over. Like something's still out there."
Ariv hesitated, then spoke softly, almost like he didn't want to say it aloud. "Did you feel like… it was watching? Even after it was gone?"
The group fell silent for a moment. Rohit finally nodded. "…Yeah. Like it's waiting for something."
The unease hung between them like a fog. Vaishnavi exhaled slowly. "Okay. Let's promise this—if anything weird happens again, we tell each other. No secrets. Deal?"
They all nodded without a word. The bell rang, calling them back, but none of them felt ready to return to normal.
---
Neel's Secret
Neel walked slightly behind the group as they headed toward class, his hands in his pockets. His calm face betrayed nothing, but inside, his thoughts churned like a storm.
Kalaraks… so they've returned.
He remembered the late-night conversations with his parents—the warnings he had brushed off as old family legends. "Seven Veils exist for balance. Break them, and the worlds will bleed together."
Neel clenched his fist tightly. And now… they're hunting again. But why here? Why him?
His eyes flicked briefly to Ariv before turning away.
Until I'm sure… I can't tell them. Not yet.