Ashura's heartbeat pounded heavily in his chest.
The room felt suffocating, filled with tension and silent worry.
Anjali stared at him, her gaze trembling with concern.
"Ashura…" she placed her hand on his forehead.
"…It's hot… too hot."
Ashura gasped for air. His face burned red, his body trembling weakly.
Zara muttered coldly.
But there was a crack in her voice.
"Why is this happening to him…?" her voice broke.
"He didn't do anything wrong…"
"He just wanted a good life…"
Aaron stared at her for a moment.
Then slowly stood up, holding his chest as if it felt heavy.
Each step he took felt slow… forced.
He walked toward Zara.
He gently pressed his hand against her forehead.
"Everything…" his voice was quiet.
"…happens to good people."
Emilia quietly opened the fridge.
She slowly pulled out a bottle of cold water.
"Mom… take this," she said softly.
She placed the bottle gently into Anjali's hands, careful not to rush.
Anjali grabbed it calmly.
"Riven… make him sit."
Riven stepped forward without hesitation.
He held Ashura by the shoulders and carefully made him sit upright.
Ashura's body felt weak.
He was unconscious… his breathing uneven and slow.
His face burned with fever.
Anjali opened the bottle cap slowly.
She brought it close to his lips.
"Easy…" she muttered under her breath.
She tilted the bottle gently.
Water slowly flowed into his mouth.
A few drops slipped past his lips.
The rest went down his throat… slowly.
Ronan stood near the window.
His gaze remained fixed outside, filled with worry.
"…Should we contact his family?" he asked quietly.
Anjali's expression turned cold instantly.
"Don't you dare," she muttered.
"His own family wants him dead… why would they care?"
Asha slowly held Ronan's hand.
"It's true…" she said softly.
"We can't let anyone know where he is."
Aaron nodded seriously.
"People are already after his life…"
"And he's wanted everywhere."
"Nobody cares about him," Emilia muttered angrily.
Her fists clenched slightly.
"Humans are selfish… and cruel…"
"And still… he chose them."
Ashura lay there silently.
Unconscious… yet the weight of those words filled the room.
"Ashura isn't bad…" Zara spoke softly.
Her voice was low… almost protective.
"…But nature made him this way."
Her words lingered in the air.
Anjali pulled Ashura slightly closer.
Her eyes stayed on him, filled with quiet worry.
"He's nothing to us…" she muttered coldly.
"…yet he promised to bring your friends back."
Her gaze slowly lifted.
She looked at all of them, one by one.
"That's why you're helping him… isn't it?"
Her voice turned sharper.
"Aren't you all… selfish too?"
Zara's eyes widened in shock.
"What do you mean…?" she asked, her voice tense.
Aaron lowered his head.
His fists clenched tightly.
"We're not that weak… to depend on a human," he said firmly.
"We can find our own way."
"Yeah…" Asha clenched her teeth.
The air in the room grew heavier.
"A human can't change our fate…"
Riven's eyes darkened for a moment.
"We're just being kind to him," he said coldly.
"We're not dependent on him."
Emilia pouted angrily.
"Exactly… don't misunderstand us…"
Anjali suddenly chuckled.
The sound broke the tension—but didn't ease it.
"…Really?"
She looked at them with a faint smile.
"Then… thank you for caring."
Ashura's eyes opened slightly.
His consciousness felt dull and heavy.
"Where… am I…?" he muttered weakly. Desperation lingered in his voice.
His gaze slowly scanned the room. White walls… strange equipment… people in coats.
"…A laboratory…?" he coughed lightly.
His hands trembled from fever. His body felt unstable.
Zara avoided his gaze.
"Yeah… idiot," she muttered coldly. "We saved your life… be grateful."
"Zara," Anjali glared sharply.
Aaron stepped forward with a small nod. "Yeah… Ashura…"
Ashura coughed again. His body shook slightly.
"…Thanks," he said quietly.
His gaze shifted toward Aaron. A faint smile appeared.
"Glad you're alive…"
"…I'm sorry… for leaving you alone back there…"
Emilia chuckled softly. Her gaze carried a teasing edge.
"Is this the same Ashura… who was ready to kill all of us… now thanking us?"
Ashura gasped suddenly. His hand moved to his chest.
"…Because I have no one left…"
His voice cracked as the words escaped. The room fell silent.
He lowered his head slowly. His fists clenched tightly.
Blood slipped down from his knuckles.
"My sisters… my friends… my love… my father…" his voice trembled.
"No one asked me if I'm okay…"
"You all are just standing here… watching me break…"
Tears fell down his face uncontrollably.
"…Please… don't look at me…"
Riven muttered under his breath. His voice was filled with disbelief.
"We're… seeing Ashura cry…? That's impossible…"
"Yeah…" Zara whispered, her eyes wide in shock.
Asha's eyes filled with tears. She couldn't look away.
"The boy who was ready to destroy everything… is crying…"
Her voice broke softly. "What has life done to him…?"
Riven tried to act normal. "Hey… stop it, you're crying like a baby…"
Ronan snapped angrily. "Have you lost it?!"
"You were ready to kill us… and now you're crying like this?!"
Aaron clutched his chest tightly. His voice softened.
"Don't cry… Ashura…"
Anjali stepped forward quietly.
She wiped his tears gently.
"Ashura… please stop…"
"I'm… alone right now…" Ashura's voice shattered. His eyes overflowed with tears.
"I'm not asking… I'm begging… please don't leave me…"
His fingers trembled as he held Anjali's hand tightly.
"I don't have anyone… anymore…"
He rested his head on her lap like a broken child.
Zara stared toward the window silently.
"…Why isn't this night ending…" she muttered softly.
Rain fell outside endlessly.
Like Ashura's tears… unstoppable.
The atmosphere inside the lab felt suffocating.
No one spoke. No one moved.
Only silence… and pain.
Scene Shift — Ashura's Home
Ruhi sat quietly, her voice low and heavy.
"…He didn't contact us yet…"
Avni suddenly slammed the cooker onto the table.
"Don't take his name in this house!" her voice was sharp… but broken.
Nyra stood up angrily.
"Avni, stop it! He's our brother!"
"We can stay angry for one or two days… but this is too much!"
From behind, Shina stood silently.
Her eyes were empty… distant.
She held Ashura's phone tightly.
"…I miss you…" she whispered, staring at his picture.
Rivaan's voice broke for the first time.
"…It's true… I can beat him… but I can't let him die…"
Avni glared at him, tears falling freely.
"Dad… you're supporting a criminal?"
Ruhi slammed her hand on the table.
"We didn't listen to him!" her voice cracked loudly.
"He's our brother… we should've listened…"
Her eyes met theirs. Tears kept falling.
"Please… understand…"
"What's your opinion…?"
Rishabh walked inside holding an umbrella. As he opened the door, cold rain breeze rushed in.
"Rishabh bhaiyaa…"
Ruhi looked at him for a moment… then lowered her head.
"We… are regretting our decision…"
"True…" Nyra nodded slowly. Her voice broke.
"Ashura is our little brother… we can't leave him alone… not now…"
Rishabh shook his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips.
"So… ready to find him?" he asked, raising his hand toward Avni.
"Never…" Avni muttered coldly.
She avoided his gaze completely. Her voice trembled despite her tone.
"I will never support a criminal…"
From the side, Shizu leaned toward Shina.
"Can you make her agree…?" she whispered softly.
"Never…" Shina replied quietly.
"Avni didi is different… she's stubborn…"
"Only Ashura can make her smile…"
Avni suddenly turned and walked toward her room.
"If Ashura steps into this house…" she yelled angrily.
"…I will kill myself."
The door slammed shut loudly.
Everyone froze… staring at the closed door.
Ruhi broke down completely.
"Didi… Ashura…" she cried loudly.
Her body shook as she fell into tears.
Rishabh lowered his head.
"…We should've convinced her…"
"It's impossible…" Nyra muttered coldly.
Rivaan pressed his hand against his lips.
"…It looks like… we really have to leave Ashura…"
"Never!" Ruhi slammed her hand on the table.
"I'll find him… and slap him for his mistakes…"
"But I'll never leave him!"
She screamed through her tears.
At last…
On the rooftop, Ishaan sat alone. His eyes were fixed on the cold moon.
"…What have I become…?"
"A murderer… a life ruiner… an emotion breaker… a family destroyer…"
His voice trembled despite the cold tone.
"I deserve the gravest punishment…"
He lowered his head onto his knees.
"…Sorry, Ashura… sorry, Ruhi… sorry, Avni… sorry, Nyra…"
In the laboratory
Ashura stood in front of a mirror.
His reflection looked broken… yet dangerous.
"I will protect them…" he muttered.
His voice cracked, but his eyes didn't.
"From those devils…"
Even if it costs my life."
His teeth clenched tightly.
In Avni's room
She lay on the bed silently.
Tears flowed without stopping.
"Ashura…" her voice was barely a whisper.
"…I'm sorry…"
Chapter 23 Ended...
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