Chapter 1 – When the Storm Rises
The classroom was alive with noise during break time—students chatting, laughing, and running around in every direction. But Gayu sat quietly at her desk, her gaze fixed on one person.
Akash.
The school topper. Brilliant, confident, admired by everyone—especially the girls. But for Gayu, her feelings were different. She didn't just like him. She loved him. Truly, deeply, quietly.
Her lips curved into a small smile as she watched him talking with his friends, completely oblivious to her stare.
Janani, Gayu's best friend, noticed immediately. She nudged her with a playful grin. "Caught again, Gayu! Honestly, the way you look at him… you're so obvious."
Gayu's cheeks burned. "Ahhh, stop it, Janani! Someone will hear you."
Janani giggled but before Gayu could reply, a strange chill ran through her. A sense that something wasn't right. She shook her head, brushing it off as her imagination.
When the break ended, Gayu slipped away toward the balcony. From there, she could see her home, a few miles in the distance. She loved to stand there for a moment, imagining her family waiting for her.
But today… something was different.
Her eyes widened. Above her house, a swirling storm cloud twisted violently, unnatural and terrifying. She blinked hard, thinking her eyes were deceiving her. But no—this storm was real, and it was focused only on her home.
Why only my house…? What is this?
She leaned forward, her heart racing, and then she saw it. The storm shifted, taking form—half wind, half monstrous body. A creature born from darkness and fury.
Her breath caught. She couldn't move. Couldn't even blink.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed—the wind ripped the blue sheet from her terrace, sending it tumbling to the ground. The noise enraged the monster. Its body trembled, and with a roar that shook the air, it turned its fury toward her house.
Inside, her family—her mother, father, and little sister—were sitting in the hall, laughing at the TV. They had no idea.
"No… no, please!" Gayu whispered, her hands trembling.
The monster smashed through the walls. Her father was struck down in an instant. Her sister's scream ended too quickly. Her mother, blinded by grief and rage, tried to fight back—but the beast's strength was merciless.
Tears blurred Gayu's vision as she clutched the railing. Her voice broke as she screamed, "Nooooo! Please, leave them! Don't take my mom! NOOOOOO!"
But her cries could not reach them. The monster finished its slaughter and stepped away, its body trembling with rage. Then… it turned.
Its glowing, storm-filled eyes locked onto Gayu.
Her heart froze.
The beast roared and began moving toward the school.
Fear gripped her chest, but she forced herself to act. She stumbled back into the classroom, screaming, "RUN! A monster is coming—RUN!"
The laughter and chaos stopped instantly. Faces turned toward her, confused, frightened. Even Akash looked at her for the first time, his brows furrowed. Who is she? Why does she look so terrified? he thought.
Students panicked, rushing in every direction. Desks crashed, shouts filled the air. Janani grabbed Gayu by the shoulders, shaking her. "Gayu! What happened? What are you saying?!"
But Gayu couldn't answer. The memory of her family's deaths replayed in her mind, each second cutting deeper.
The monster's roar shook the building. Its shadow darkened the windows as it drew closer.
"Come with me!" Gayu cried, her voice breaking. She grabbed Janani's hand, and with her other trembling hand—Akash's.
He flinched at the sudden touch, fear written on his face as the monster tore through the walls and attacked the fleeing students. But Gayu didn't let go.
"There's no time! Trust me!" she shouted.
And with her best friend in one hand and her secret crush in the other, Gayu ran—her tears blurring the sight of blood and screams—as they slipped into the storage room, slamming the door shut behind them.
Inside, the noise outside was deafening. Screams. Crashes. Roars. A living hell.
Hours passed. And then… silence.
Gayu sat trembling, tears staining her cheeks. Slowly, she told them everything—about the storm, the monster, and the horror she had seen with her own eyes.
Her body shook with sobs. But then, Akash's voice broke the silence. Calm, steady, gentle.
"Don't cry, Gayu. I understand your pain. But please… if you make any sound, that monster will find us. And none of us will survive."
His words steadied her. She pressed her lips together, forcing herself to be quiet, though her heart was breaking.
The night grew darker. In the storage room, fear hung heavy. Yet in Gayu's chest, alongside the grief, something new began to burn.
A spark.
She didn't know it yet, but this was the moment her destiny began.
💗 Mini Cliffhanger Ending for Chapter 1:
Outside, under the faint glow of the streetlight, the monster still lingered. Its stormy eyes scanned the night, searching… waiting...