The room had dim light. The curtains were closed, the sounds from outside felt distant. Aditya was lying on the bed — marks of exhaustion on his face, breaths deep and heavy.
Meena was sitting on a chair beside him. Hands in her lap, gaze on Aditya's face.
Suddenly Aditya's eyes opened.
He sat up with a jolt — as if waking from a bad dream. Breaths were fast, sweat on his forehead.
Aditya: Forgive me... I couldn't save my brother.
Meena looked at him.
Meena: Bhaiya, what are you saying? Aryan is absolutely fine. He was the one who brought you home — when you were unconscious.
Aditya's face froze.
I had seen him die with my own eyes.
He got up from the bed. Slowly opened the room's door.
Outside —
Aryan was sitting on the sofa. Holding a cup of tea in both hands, looking out through the window. Completely calm. Completely alive.
Aditya's eyes filled up.
My brother is alive. But... how?
Aryan turned and looked. Got up and came close — voice was low.
Aryan: I didn't tell Meena anything. I didn't want her to worry. And yes — I have awakened. That's why my life was saved.
Aditya: What happened to Raju?
Aryan: I killed him.
A moment of silence.
Aditya: But why? Why did you kill him?
Aryan gave no answer. He took a sip of tea — and walked away from there.
Aditya stood near the door.
Then spoke softly — to himself, as if telling someone.
Aditya: Rank starts from the bottom — C, then B, then A, then S. And at the very top Z rank — till now only 4 hunters have reached Z rank.
He took a breath.
Aditya: Aryan defeated a B rank hunter right after awakening. That means... at least B rank he is.
Just then his phone vibrated in his pocket.
The name on the screen was — Kavita.
Aditya picked up.
Kavita: Aditya... are you alright?
Aditya: Yes, absolutely fine. Just some minor injuries — better now.
Kavita: I was going to come see you that very night. But an assassin attacked. Lucky that Meena and Rohan were with me, that's how I survived.
Aditya's fingers tightened a little on the phone.
Aditya: You should stay home more. Rudra Pratap has many enemies — and if something happens to you... what will I do.
No answer came from the other side.
Aditya: Hello? Kavita, are you listening?
Kavita: Yes... I'm listening.
Aditya: By the way, I was about to call you. There's something important to tell you. I am leaving Apex Predators Company.
Kavita: Why? Did my father do something?
Aditya: No. Nothing like that.
Kavita: Then why?
Aditya paused for a moment and looked outside the window. There was sunlight outside — but there was something else in his eyes.
Aditya: My younger brother belongs to the Kalraksh family. That's why Rudra Pratap had given me the order to kill Aryan. Which I cannot fulfil — because I don't have that much courage inside me to kill my own brother.
Kavita was silent for a while.
Kavita: Did my father really give you that order?
Aditya: Yes.
A long silence.
Kavita: Don't make any hasty decision. I have a way — through which you won't need to kill your brother.
Aditya: What way?
Kavita told him something.
Aditya's eyes widened a little.
Aditya: Thank you — this is a good idea.
Kavita: There's no need for that. Just tomorrow we both will go watch a movie.
For the first time that morning a faint smile came on Aditya's lips.
Aditya: Alright.
It was afternoon and the market was crowded.
A woman had stopped with her little girl in front of a shop. Colorful flowerpots were arranged — roses, red and pink. The girl held one pot with both hands, her eyes sparkling.
The very next moment —
The rose moved.
The leaves shriveled. The stem bent. And the flower... the flower became a mouth.
Before the girl's scream could come out, the monster swallowed her.
The mother tried to lunge — but her hands kept cutting through air.
One after another — all the pots in the shop shook. All the flowers changed. And they all came crashing down on the crowd.
People ran screaming. Shops overturned. Chaos broke out on the road.
In a dark corner there was a shadow.
A hand — that was slowly opening its fist.
???: Aryan... I will find you soon.