Siya and Ali had entered deep meditative trance.
Though Siya was immersed in yogic practice, a part of her awareness remained outside—watching over Andy and Ali, who sat absorbed in meditation nearby.
She was searching for a path… a cure… a solution.
That is the answer. He knows everything. Go to him. Ask him. In every moment of crisis, he is the one who reveals the truth.
A strange voice echoed within her consciousness.
Siya focused on the sound, and through the mist of meditation she saw a faint, blurred silhouette—gesturing for her to move forward.
Who is this I keep seeing? she wondered.
Every time I seek answers through sadhana, I see fragments connected to the problem… but this time, who is guiding me toward the solution?
Her meditation broke.
She opened her eyes. Evening had already fallen.
Ali was still deep in yogic practice. Leaving him undisturbed, Siya stepped outside to find Andy—but he was nowhere to be seen.
A sudden unease gripped her.
She searched around and realized Andy was heading toward the section where Maan had been confined for the past week. She called out sharply.
"Andy! Stop. What's wrong? Why are you so disturbed?"
Andy turned, panic etched across his face.
"Clara is missing. I got so caught up in work that I couldn't talk to her… couldn't even check on her. I searched the bunker, even the nearby village—she's nowhere. Then it hit me… she might've gone looking for Maan. That room… where the monster is locked."
Siya's heart skipped.
Without another word, they ran toward the room.
A sudden laugh echoed through the corridor.
Siya noticed it came from George's room—but she ignored it for now. Clara mattered more.
When they reached the chamber, the sight before them froze their blood.
Clara was sitting in the corner, completely detached from reality. She was harming herself, lost in a trance, unaware of pain or fear—as if her mind no longer belonged to her.
Andy stood in shock.
Without thinking, he rushed toward her.
"Clara…" he whispered, touching her shoulder.
She slowly turned.
Her eyes were unnaturally dark, her expression hollow—yet when she saw Andy, a faint smile appeared on her face.
Siya, stunned by Clara's condition, shifted her gaze to Maan.
And in that moment, she understood.
Whatever Clara was doing… Maan was doing the same.
It was as if the demon lived within both of them—pulling invisible strings, turning them into puppets.
Siya was still processing this when Andy screamed.
"Let me go, Clara! It's me—Andy!"
Clara had grabbed his neck.
Her grip tightened slowly, deliberately.
Siya looked again at Maan—he was moving his hands in the air, mimicking the same motion, as though he too was choking someone unseen.
There was no time.
With a powerful strike, Siya knocked Clara unconscious.
She turned on Andy furiously.
"Have you lost your mind? Why didn't you pull away?"
Andy's voice trembled.
"I didn't want to hurt her…"
Siya shot him an angry look.
"Help me. Lift her. We're leaving. Now."
They rushed out.
Before closing the door, Siya glanced back at Maan.
He looked straight at her… and smiled—a twisted, knowing smile.
Siya snapped her fingers.
The room flooded with intense light.
Maan's screams echoed—but Siya shut the door before they could escape.
She knew this much: for now, light was her only weapon. She could control him by exploiting his weakness—but she had no way to end this without harming Maan and Clara.
And that was unacceptable.
Turning to Andy, she said firmly,
"Lock Clara in an empty room. Turn all the lights on before she regains consciousness. Make sure the room is filled with light—every corner."
Andy nodded silently and carried Clara away.
Siya paused… then turned toward George's room.
The moment she saw him, her restrained anger exploded.
Before George could speak, Siya activated the metal device bound to his hands.
Electric shocks surged through him—one after another—until he collapsed unconscious.
When George finally opened his eyes, Siya was sitting calmly in front of him.
"Awake?" she asked coldly.
George smirked despite the pain.
"You're cruel, Siya. Punishing me before I even speak."
"Yes," she replied flatly.
"I wasn't in the mood for your jokes. Now talk. You know something. And you will tell me—unless you want things to get worse."
George sighed and stood slowly.
"Alright, alright. Truth is—I don't know the cure."
Siya's temper flared—
"But," he added quickly,
"I do know a place where you might find it."
Siya's eyes narrowed.
"Where?"
"A remote island," George said quietly.
"A land crawling with millions of snakes. The moment you step there, it's nothing but venom and shadows."
He continued, his tone turning grave.
"There exists a dark soul there—summoned specifically to destroy you. But even that soul was altered… twisted… just like what was done to Raktbeej."
"A soul stripped of its true identity. Forced to live false memories. Manipulated into believing you are the enemy. Destroying you became its only purpose."
He looked straight at Siya.
"To save your people… you must erase that soul.
And to do that—you must go to the island. Someone there will guide you. That person holds the cure… or at least the path to it."
Siya stepped forward to ask more—
But George raised his hands.
"That's all I know. The rest is up to you."
Siya stared at him.
"I'll come back for the truth about you, George. For now, there are bigger fires to put out."
George laughed softly.
"Go on then. Good luck."
Siya walked out, heading toward Clara's room—
And suddenly, the words from her meditation returned to her mind:
He will reveal all secrets. He will show the path.
She stopped.
"So it was George…" she whispered.
"But then… is he my enemy… or something else entirely?"
Will the cure save Clara and Maan… or demand an even greater sacrifice?