A single leaf broke free from a branch and drifted slowly through the air.
It spun once… twice… before landing softly outside a quiet house.
Inside, warm light filled the room. A group of children sat in a circle around an old woman, their eyes shining with excitement.
"Granny, tell us a story!" one of them said.
"What kind of story?" she asked gently.
"Magic!"
"Monsters!"
"Heroes!"
The children began arguing, their voices overlapping.
Then suddenly—
A small girl spoke.
"What happened… eighty years ago?"
Silence.
The room froze. Even the air felt heavy.
The old woman closed her eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them.
"Something happened," she said quietly,
"Something that shattered humanity, my child."
The children leaned closer.
"Eighty years ago… creatures appeared. Mutant beasts. No one knew where they came from."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Mega cities fell in minutes. Entire villages disappeared in the blink of an eye. These creatures… they didn't just kill."
She paused.
"They killed for fun."
The children went pale.
"Later, scientists discovered the truth. These monsters… were once normal animals and plants. Something changed them."
"Then what happened?" a boy whispered.
The old woman continued,
"The world governments declared a global emergency. Humanity was on the edge of extinction…"
She looked toward the window.
"And then… they appeared."
"Who?" the children asked together.
"The Wardens."
"They were humans… but different. Enlightened. They possessed strange powers. They fought the beasts and created protection zones along with government to save what remained of humanity."
The children's eyes filled with awe.
"But nothing good lasts forever," she added softly.
"A few years later… another group emerged."
Her tone darkened.
"The Ravagers."
"They opposed everything. They wanted to destroy what the Wardens protected."
"So… what happened then?" the girl asked.
The old woman smiled sadly.
"An endless conflict began."
Just then, a woman entered the room.
"Enough stories. Go to sleep," she said firmly.The children groaned but obeyed.
The old woman laughed softly.
"Don't worry," she said,
"We are safe in this protection zone."
[ 80 years ago ]
Morning light slipped through a cracked window.
A boy opened his eyes.
"Arav"
He sat up slowly, rubbing his face. The small room was quiet. He glanced at the calendar on the wall.
A small candle symbol was marked on today's date.
He didn't notice.
"Late again…" he muttered.
By 7:30, he had already bathed and cooked a simple meal. He moved quickly, putting on his uniform in a hurry.
"Anaya! Wake up!" he called.
A small voice came from the other room.
"Nooo… five minutes more…" she replied sleepily.
Arav sighed. "You always say that."
He grabbed his bag and rushed toward the door.
"Don't forget to come home early!" Anaya shouted.
He paused for a second… then smiled slightly.
" Maybe ." ( playfully )
"8:15! You're late again!"
The school guard blocked his way.
Arav scratched his head nervously. "Sir, just today—"
"You said that yesterday."
"I swear! I'll never be late again!"
The guard stared at him… then sighed. "Go."
"Thank you!" Arav ran inside.
He reached his classroom, slightly out of breath. Talk to himself, " now ready for facing the teacher boy " he opened the classroom door.
"Saved…" he whispered.
The teacher hadn't arrived yet.
He walked to his seat near the window, greeting his friends.
Soon, the teacher entered.
"Open your books. Today we study the Indus Valley Civilization."
Her voice filled the room as she spoke about ancient cities, planning, and early human intelligence.
Arav stared outside the window.
A bird flew freely in the sky.
A cool breeze touched his face.
Why do we even come to school…
Exams are near… I need 80+ marks…
Only then Mom will let me visit her lab…
He lowered his gaze.
Maybe… I'll see father there too.
His fingers tightened slightly.
"Arav!"
The teacher's voice snapped him back.
"Why are you always dreaming?"
The class laughed.
He forced a smile.
The teacher tapped the board lightly.
"Alright, let's see who is paying attention."
She looked around the class.
"Arav, answer this."
He straightened slightly.
"What was the most unique feature of the Indus Valley Civilization?"
Arav hesitated for a second… then replied,
"Uh… planned cities?"
"Good," the teacher nodded. "But explain."
Arav scratched his head. "They had… proper roads? Like straight ones… and… drainage systems?"
"Correct."
She turned to the class.
"The Indus Valley Civilization had one of the most advanced urban planning systems of its time."
She picked up a piece of chalk.
"Wide roads, grid patterns, and most importantly—drainage systems connected to almost every house."
A student from the back raised his hand.
"Ma'am, did they have kings like other civilizations?"
The teacher smiled slightly.
"That's the interesting part. We don't have clear evidence of kings or rulers like in Egypt or Mesopotamia."
The class murmured.
"Which suggests," she continued,
"that their society may have been more organized and balanced, rather than ruled by a single powerful king."
Dhruv leaned toward Arav and whispered,
"So basically… no strict principal type ruler?"
Arav smirked. "Lucky them."
The teacher glanced at them.
"Would you like to share your thoughts with the whole class?"
Both immediately sat straight.
"No, ma'am."
The class laughed softly.
The teacher sighed. "Focus."
Arav looked back toward the window…Suddenly—
He felt something.
A strange pressure.
Like the air itself shifted.
The bell rang.
The canteen buzzed with noise. Students laughed, shouted, and rushed around with food trays.
Arav sat on a bench, opening his lunch.
Before he could take a bite—
A hand appeared.
"Don't even think about it," Arav said without looking up.
Dhruv froze mid-air.
"…You didn't even look."
"I don't need to."
Dhruv grinned. "Come on, just one bite."
"No."
"Half bite?"
"No."
"Quarter?"
Arav finally looked at him. "Bring your own food."
Dhruv sighed dramatically and sat beside him. "You've changed, bro. You weren't like this before."
"I was exactly like this."
"No, before you used to share."
"That was before you started stealing."
Dhruv laughed and leaned back.
For a moment, things felt normal.
Then Dhruv nudged him.
"So… how much did you get in the last test?"
Arav sighed. "Seventy-six."
"Oof. Not enough, huh?"
Arav shook his head. "I need eighty plus."
"Why? Planning to impress someone?" Dhruv smirked.
Arav looked down at his food.
"…My mother."
Dhruv's smile faded a little.
"Oh."
"She said if I score above eighty… she'll let me visit her lab."
Dhruv blinked. "Wait… seriously? That's cool."
Arav nodded slowly.
"…And maybe…"
He paused.
"Maybe I'll get to see something about my father.... I don't see them for 4 years "
Silence.
Dhruv didn't joke this time.
Instead, he nudged him again, lighter.
"You'll get it..... But isn't it so long time "
Arav gave a small smile. "Hmm "
Dhruv suddenly straightened.
"Anyway, forget that. I've got something important."
Arav raised an eyebrow. "More important than my paratha?"
"Yes."
Dhruv carefully lifted a small glass box from his bag.
Arav noticed it instantly.
"What's in that?"
Dhruv smiled, a bit different this time.
"Secret."
"Again with that?"
"You'll see."
"When?"
Dhruv stood up, backing away with a grin.
"Not now."
Arav frowned slightly. "Why are you acting so mysterious?"
Dhruv just waved his hand.
"You'll understand later."
For a second… Arav felt something strange.
Like something was about to happen.
But he ignored it.
"Idiot," he muttered, taking a bite of his food.
Dhruv laughed.
And for that moment—
Everything felt normal.
Then—
ALARMMMMMMMM!!!
A loud siren echoed through the entire school.
Students froze.
Then chaos exploded.
"What's happening?!"
"Run!"
Arav frowned. "Why are they running—"
He turned.
Students were rushing toward him.
Some… had blood on their uniforms.
Dhruv's face turned pale.
The sky outside darkened.
Screams filled the air.
Arav ran toward the playground.
And then—
He stopped.
His body froze.
A monstrous creature stood in the field… tearing through students.
A boy screamed—
The creature ripped him apart.
Arav's hands began to shake.
Another beast leapt onto the school building, smashing through walls.
"Run!" someone shouted.
Arav turned.
"Dhruv—!"
He ran.
Fast.
Faster than ever.
He reached the corridor—And saw him.
For a moment…Everything slowed down.
Then—
A creature attack on dhurv from window,.
Its jaws—
Closed.
Arav's eyes widened.
The glass box that dhruv hold, fell into ground .
Shattered.
Inside it…
A letter.
"Happy Birthday, Arav."
His breath stopped.
Today…
Was his birthday.
He forgot.
Tears blurred his vision.
"RUN!" the teacher screamed, grabbing him.
Arav stumbled back.arav finally escape the school institute
He ran toward his house
Buildings collapsed.
Screams echoed everywhere.
He ran.
Through fear.
Through tears.
Through chaos.
Then suddenly—
He saw a small boy crying beside his unconscious father.
Arav stopped.
His body trembled.
"I… can't…" he whispered.
Another scream echoed nearby.
His fists clenched.
He stepped back.
Then turned—
And ran.
Faster.
Tears streaming down his face.
Only one thought remained.
"No… no… not Anaya…"
The camera of the world pulled back.
Above the burning city.
Above the chaos.
Above the screams.
And somewhere…
Something had begun.