The night was darker than usual.
Clouds covered the sky, hiding even the moon—as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Maya sat quietly on the cold floor, her heart pounding so loudly she thought it might give her away.
Tonight… everything would change.
Or everything would be destroyed.
She listened carefully.
Footsteps.
Her stepfather moved around the house, muttering to himself. Then, finally—the sound she had been waiting for.
The door slammed shut.
Silence.
Maya waited.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Five minutes.
Then slowly, with trembling hands, she stood up.
"This is it…" she whispered.
She moved toward the door, her breath uneven. The lock was old. She had studied it for years.
Click.
The door opened.
Freedom.
Maya stepped outside, her bare feet touching the cold ground. For a moment, she couldn't believe it.
She was out.
She started running.
Through the narrow path.
Past the broken fences.
Toward the old bridge.
"Arjun…" she whispered.
But suddenly—
A loud voice cut through the darkness.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Maya froze.
Her blood ran cold.
Slowly… she turned around.
Her stepfather stood there, eyes burning with anger.
"You thought you could escape?" he growled.
Maya stepped back, shaking.
"I… I just—"
Before she could finish, he grabbed her arm violently.
"Let me go!" she cried, struggling.
At that moment—
"Leave her!"
Arjun's voice echoed across the night.
He ran toward them, his eyes fierce.
"Stay out of this!" the man shouted.
But Arjun didn't stop.
He pushed the man away, pulling Maya behind him.
For a second, everything stood still.
Then chaos exploded.
The stepfather lunged forward.
Arjun blocked him.
They struggled, fighting in the dark.
"Maya, run!" Arjun shouted.
But Maya couldn't move.
Fear held her in place.
Then—
A sharp sound.
Arjun fell to the ground.
Maya's heart stopped.
"NO!" she screamed.
The man stood over him, breathing heavily.
"You're not going anywhere," he said coldly.
Tears streamed down Maya's face.
Everything… was falling apart.