Aarav couldn't tell what felt real anymore.
The world looked normal.
Sounded normal.
Moved like normal.
But after 12:03—
Normal felt fake.
He walked beside Meera in silence.
The streets were crowded again.
People laughing.
Talking.
Living.
Unaware.
"…How do they not see it?" Aarav asked quietly.
Meera didn't look at him.
"They're not meant to."
Aarav clenched his fists.
"That's not an answer."
She stopped walking.
Then turned to him.
"It's protection," she said.
"…Protection?" Aarav frowned.
"For them," she replied.
A pause.
"If everyone saw the truth… no one would survive it."
Silence.
Aarav didn't argue.
Because deep down—
He understood.
They reached a quiet street.
Empty.
Still.
Meera leaned against a wall.
"…We don't have much time," she said.
Aarav's chest tightened.
"What do you mean?"
She looked directly into his eyes.
And for the first time—
There was urgency.
"They've started syncing with you."
Aarav froze.
"…What?"
"Your double," she continued.
"It's not just replacing you."
A pause.
"It's becoming you."
A cold weight settled in his chest.
"…That's the same thing."
Meera shook her head.
"No."
A step closer.
"Replacing is external."
"Becoming is internal."
Aarav's breathing slowed.
"…Explain."
She hesitated.
Then—
"Have you felt anything… strange?"
A pause.
"…Like what?"
"Gaps," she said.
"Moments you can't remember."
"Thoughts that don't feel like yours."
Aarav went silent.
Because—
He had.
"…Yeah," he said quietly.
Meera closed her eyes for a second.
"…It's started."
Aarav's heart began to race again.
"What has?"
She opened her eyes.
"…The merge."
Aarav stepped back.
"No."
"You blinked," she said.
The words hit instantly.
Hard.
Rule 3.
His chest tightened.
"…That was one second."
"That's all it takes," Meera replied.
Silence.
Aarav's thoughts spiraled.
No… no, I'm still me…
"…Prove it," Meera said suddenly.
Aarav looked up.
"…What?"
"Tell me something only you would know."
"…What?"
"Something personal," she said.
"Something no one else could fake."
Aarav frowned.
"That's stupid."
"Do it," she said firmly.
Aarav hesitated.
Then spoke.
"…When I was 8… I broke my dad's watch and hid it under the bed."
Silence.
"…And?" Meera asked.
Aarav blinked.
"…And what?"
She stared at him.
"…What happened after that?"
Aarav opened his mouth—
Then stopped.
Nothing.
His mind—
Went blank.
"I…" he whispered.
He couldn't remember.
"…No," he said quickly.
"I know this— I just—"
But the memory wasn't there.
Gone.
Like it never existed.
Aarav's breathing became uneven.
"…Why can't I remember that?"
Meera didn't answer.
Because she didn't need to.
"They take memories first," she said quietly.
Aarav's stomach dropped.
"…Why?"
"So they can replace them."
A sudden ringing filled Aarav's ears.
His vision blurred.
For a moment—
The world shifted.
And he saw—
Himself.
Not outside.
Inside.
A reflection—
In his own mind.
Smiling.
"…You're slipping," it whispered.
Aarav grabbed his head.
"Stop—"
The voice laughed.
"You felt that, didn't you?"
"…I'm you now."
Aarav staggered back.
"Get out of my head!"
Meera grabbed his shoulders.
"Aarav! Look at me!"
Her voice cut through.
Sharp.
Real.
"Stay here," she said.
"Don't let it pull you in."
Aarav struggled to focus.
The world flickered again.
And suddenly—
He wasn't on the street anymore.
He was—
Back in his room.
Standing.
Watching himself.
Sleeping.
"…No…"
The other Aarav stood beside him.
"…See?" it whispered.
"You're already leaving."
Aarav shook his head violently.
"No— this isn't real—"
"It is," it said calmly.
A pause.
"And soon…"
It leaned closer.
"You won't know the difference."
The world snapped back.
Aarav collapsed to the ground.
Gasping.
Sweating.
Shaking.
Meera knelt beside him.
"…You saw it, didn't you?"
Aarav didn't answer.
Because now—
He wasn't sure anymore.
What was memory.
What was real.
And what was—
Him.
His phone buzzed.
Slowly—
He picked it up.
Another message.
"Rule 6: If you forget something important…"
The screen glitched.
Then completed—
"…it's already taken."
Aarav's hands trembled.
"…How much have I lost?" he whispered.
Meera didn't reply.
She just looked at him.
With something new in her eyes.
Not fear.
Not calm.
Something worse.
Doubt.
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 7