3:27 PM. Rooftop Staircase.
Mira walked ahead.
Armaan followed behind.
Only a few steps separated them…
but to Armaan, that tiny distance felt like the safest place in the world.
Without turning back, Mira said,
"Why are you so quiet?"
"Thinking."
"Bad habit."
"I'm thinking about you."
Mira stopped.
Slowly turned around.
"You shouldn't take risks this fast."
Armaan gave a faint smile.
"I almost died twice today. My confidence is rising."
She stared at him for a second.
Then started walking again.
"Dangerous man."
3:31 PM. 18th Floor Corridor.
The whole floor was empty.
Broken glass everywhere.
Emergency alarms flashed red.
Distant sounds of rescue crews echoed below.
Mira stood near the window.
"You know something?" she said.
"When people are afraid… they trust the wrong people most."
Armaan stood beside her.
"And when they like someone?"
"They make worse mistakes."
"Do you answer every question like this?"
"No."
She turned toward him.
"Some answers I give with my eyes."
One second.
Two seconds.
For the first time—
Armaan forgot how to speak.
3:36 PM. Elevator Lobby.
The elevator was dead.
Its screen displayed only one message:
OUT OF SERVICE
Mira sighed.
"All villains share one problem."
"What?"
"Terrible timing."
Then—
Ding.
The broken elevator opened by itself.
No one inside.
Only mirror-polished walls.
Armaan stopped.
Mira lowered her voice.
"It's a trap."
"I know."
"You're still going in?"
He looked at her.
"If you are."
Mira didn't smile.
She only said—
"You ask dangerous questions."
They stepped inside together.
3:38 PM. Elevator Descent.
No button was pressed.
Still, the elevator moved down.
17… 16… 15…
Then—
0
-1
-2
-9
-17
Armaan stepped forward.
"This building doesn't have that many basements."
Mira answered quietly,
"This building has many things it shouldn't."
The elevator stopped.
Doors opened.
A corridor waited outside.
It looked like an office hallway.
But unnaturally silent.
Frames lined the walls.
Armaan walked closer—
and froze.
Every frame showed him and Mira.
At a beach.
At a wedding.
Holding a child.
Growing old together.
Versions of a life…
that never happened.
Mira spoke softly.
"Psychological attack."
Armaan kept staring at one picture.
"Why doesn't this disturb me enough?"
Mira glanced at it.
"Because secretly… you want the beach trip."
He laughed.
Fear weakened for a moment.
3:44 PM. Hall of Futures.
Words appeared across the wall:
SELECT DESIRED LIFE
Then another line:
SURRENDER STABILIZER
Armaan clenched his jaw.
"They're offering a deal."
"Cheap one," Mira said.
A door opened.
Inside was a perfect apartment.
Warm lights.
Peaceful silence.
Dinner waiting on the table.
Then laughter.
His own voice called out:
"Mira, come here."
Armaan stiffened.
Inside stood another version of him.
Calm. Happy. Safe.
Mirror-Armaan.
Beside him—
Mirror-Mira.
Perfect copies.
Mirror-Armaan smiled.
"You're tired, aren't you?"
Mirror-Mira added,
"There is no war here."
Mira folded her arms.
"Cheap copies."
Mirror-Mira tilted her head.
"Originals are always insecure."
3:49 PM. Choice Test.
Mirror-Armaan stepped forward.
"You can't protect her."
"You attract chaos."
Armaan said nothing.
Mirror-Armaan continued.
"With me, she is safe."
Mira's expression hardened.
"Say one more thing about him—"
Mirror-Mira interrupted.
"Interesting."
"You already care too much."
Mira fell silent.
Armaan understood then—
They didn't just copy bodies.
They could read hearts too.
Dangerous.
3:53 PM. The Real Wound.
The walls lit up again.
TO SAVE ONE, LOSE ONE
The floor split violently.
Mira was thrown one way.
Armaan the other.
The gap widened between them.
"Mira!" he shouted.
He reached out.
She reached too.
Closer…
Closer…
Their fingers almost touched—
Then black shadows rose behind her and dragged her backward.
She screamed once—
"ARMAAN!"
Then vanished.
All lights died.
3:54 PM. Silence Again.
Armaan stood alone.
Breathing hard.
"Mira!"
No answer.
Mirror-Armaan appeared before him.
"See?"
"The real world always takes."
"Stay here."
"Forget her."
"Choose peace."
Armaan slowly raised his head.
No fear in his eyes now.
Not even anger.
Something worse.
Determination.
"You misunderstand one thing," he said quietly.
Mirror-Armaan paused.
"I don't want peace."
He stepped forward.
"I want her."
One punch.
Mirror-Armaan shattered like glass.
3:57 PM. Hunt Begins.
The corridors trembled.
The system voice roared around him:
EMOTIONAL BREACH DETECTED
SUBJECT UNSTABLE
ERASE CONNECTION
Armaan kept walking.
Slowly.
Surely.
"Mira!"
Far away—
a weak voice answered:
"Idiot…"
He stopped.
Smiled.
"Alive."
Then ran.
4:01 PM. Hidden Chamber.
A massive chamber opened ahead.
At the center stood a glass capsule.
Inside—Mira.
Not tied.
But trapped in mirror energy.
She saw him and rolled her eyes.
"Took you long enough."
Armaan, breathless, answered,
"Pathfinding issues."
"Weak excuse."
Then more softly—
"You came."
Those two words hit harder than any weapon.
4:03 PM. Final Threat.
A giant figure descended from darkness.
Not human.
Not machine.
Reflective armor covered its body.
Faces appeared across it—
Bosses. Coworkers. Strangers.
Even Armaan's own face.
Its voice shook the room:
I AM WHAT PEOPLE FEAR MOST.
REJECTION. FAILURE. LOSS.
LEAVE HER. LIVE SMALL.
Armaan stared at it.
Then said calmly,
"Long speech."
Inside the capsule, Mira laughed.
"Marry him."
Silence.
Armaan froze.
The monster froze.
Mira blinked.
"Sorry. Stress response."
4:06 PM. To Be Continued…
The monster roared.
The floor cracked.
The capsule began to break.
"Armaan!" Mira shouted.
He stepped forward.
Empty hands.
No system.
No guidance.
Only a heartbeat.
And one name.
"Mira."
His fists tightened.
Light burst across his hands—
something never seen before.
The system voice trembled:
NEW POWER SOURCE DETECTED
NOT FEAR
NOT ANGER
…DEVOTION
Armaan raised his head.
"This time—my turn."
Next Chapter: "When Love Hit Back"