The city looked the same.
Lights glowing.
Cars moving.
People living their normal lives.
But for Aarav and Zoya—
Everything had changed.
"You are targets."
Those words still echoed in Aarav's mind.
Zoya grabbed his wrist.
"Move."
"No arguments this time?" Aarav smirked slightly.
She shot him a sharp look.
"Do you want to die?"
"…fair point."
They ran.
Across the rooftop.
Fast.
Focused.
"Where are we going?" Aarav asked.
"Down," Zoya replied.
"Great plan."
"No," she said, her voice sharper now,"the only plan."
They reached the stairwell door.
Zoya pushed it open.
And froze.
Aarav almost collided into her.
"What—?"
Footsteps.
Coming up the stairs.
Multiple.
Heavy.
Not security.
Not guests.
Something else.
Zoya's expression darkened.
"They're already here…"
Aarav's heartbeat spiked.
"That fast?!"
She turned to him.
"This is what 'target' means."
No warning.
No delay.
Immediate execution.
Zoya pulled him back.
"Other side."
They sprinted across the rooftop again.
Behind them—
The stairwell door burst open.
Three men stepped out.
Black tactical gear.
Weapons ready.
No hesitation.
"Contact!"
BANG! BANG!
Gunfire exploded across the rooftop.
Aarav ducked instinctively.
"RUN!"
"I AM RUNNING!"
Bullets hit the ground near them.
Concrete cracked.
Sparks flew.
Zoya grabbed his arm and pulled him behind a large ventilation unit.
"Stay low!"
Aarav's chest heaved.
"This just escalated FAST!"
"No," Zoya said coldly.
"This is normal."
Aarav stared at her.
"Normal?!"
Another burst of gunfire.
"Less talking," she snapped.
"More surviving."
Aarav clenched his jaw.
"Alright…"
His eyes moved quickly.
Analyzing.
Searching.
Three shooters.
Advanced weapons.
Coordinated movement.
Not random.
Professionals.
"Can we fight them?" Aarav asked.
Zoya shook her head immediately.
"No."
A pause.
"Not yet."
That word stuck.
Yet.
Aarav smirked slightly despite the chaos.
"Good… I like the confidence."
She ignored him.
Instead, she pointed.
"Fire exit ladder. Far side."
Aarav looked.
A narrow metal ladder attached to the edge of the building.
"Seriously?"
"Do you see another option?" she snapped.
Another bullet hit the metal near them.
"Okay, ladder it is!"
They moved.
Fast.
Low.
Zoya went first.
Sliding toward the ladder.
Aarav followed.
Gunfire intensified.
"They're pushing!" Aarav shouted.
"I noticed!"
Zoya grabbed the ladder.
Started climbing down.
Aarav followed immediately.
Bullets hit the wall above them.
Too close.
Way too close.
Aarav climbed faster.
"Don't look down," he muttered.
Of course—
He looked down.
Big mistake.
The ground felt miles away.
"Focus!" Zoya shouted from below.
"I AM!"
Halfway down—
The ladder shook violently.
Aarav froze.
"What was that?!"
Zoya looked up.
Her expression turned deadly serious.
"They're cutting it."
Aarav's heart stopped.
"You're joking."
A metallic SNAP echoed.
The ladder jerked again.
"MOVE!" Zoya shouted.
Aarav climbed faster than he ever had in his life.
Another SNAP.
The ladder tilted slightly.
"WE'RE GOING TO FALL!"
"Keep moving!"
Five more steps—
Four—
Three—
SNAP!
The ladder broke.
For a split second—
They were weightless.
Falling.
Aarav's mind went blank.
Then—
Zoya grabbed a lower railing.
Hard.
Her body jerked to a stop.
One hand holding the metal.
The other—
Grabbing Aarav's wrist.
"GOT YOU!" she shouted.
Aarav dangled in the air.
Heart racing.
Breathing gone.
"…okay…"
A nervous laugh escaped him.
"…this is bad."
Zoya's grip tightened.
"Less talking," she said through clenched teeth.
"More climbing."
Aarav nodded quickly.
He reached for the wall.
Found a foothold.
Slowly—
Carefully—
They climbed down the rest of the way.
And dropped to the ground.
Safe.
For now.
Aarav bent over, hands on his knees, breathing heavily.
"Okay…"
A pause.
"…that was insane."
Zoya straightened.
"This is just the beginning."
Aarav looked at her.
"You say that way too calmly."
She glanced up at the rooftop.
"They'll be down in seconds."
Aarav's eyes widened.
"Then why are we still standing here?!"
Zoya smirked slightly.
"Because now…"
She pointed toward the dark alley ahead.
"…we disappear."
Aarav followed her gaze.
The alley was narrow.
Dark.
Endless.
Unknown.
Perfect.
He smiled slightly.
"Lead the way."
They ran.
Into the darkness.
Into the unknown.
Behind them—
The hunters were coming.
And ahead—
There was no safety.
Only survival.
As Aarav ran—
One thought burned in his mind—
"If I want to live…"
A pause.
"I need to become stronger."
And somewhere far above—
Watching everything—
The Architect smiled.
Because the game had finally begun.