The room felt smaller.
Not physically.
But the air—
It was heavier.
Denser.
Like something unseen was pressing down on everything.
Meera stood in front of me.
Calm.
Composed.
Like she hadn't just said something insane.
"You're finally ready… to open it."
My chest still burned.
That mark—
Reacting.
To her.
"…You need to explain," I said.
My voice came out lower than expected.
Controlled.
Barely.
Meera tilted her head slightly.
Studying me again.
Like I was something new.
Something interesting.
"I already did," she said.
"No," I snapped. "You didn't."
A pause.
Then—
"You saw the door," she said.
"That doesn't mean anything."
"It means everything."
"That's not an explanation."
"It's enough."
My jaw tightened.
God, this was frustrating.
"Stop talking like Luna," I muttered.
At that—
Something changed.
Just for a second.
Her expression shifted.
Subtle.
But I saw it.
"…So you've met them properly now," she said.
"They're helping me."
A faint smile.
Cold.
Almost amused.
"Helping?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure about that?"
That made me pause.
"…What is that supposed to mean?"
She stepped closer.
Slow.
Deliberate.
"Luna and Kiara…" she said softly,
"You really trust them?"
My chest tightened.
"I don't see a reason not to."
"That's because you don't see enough."
"I see more than I want to already."
"Not the important parts."
Silence.
I hated how calm she was.
Like she already knew how this would go.
"Then tell me," I said. "What am I missing?"
A pause.
Then—
"They're not on your side."
That hit.
Hard.
"…What?"
"They never were."
"That's not true."
"Isn't it?"
"They've been helping me from the start."
"Or guiding you where they want."
My fists clenched.
"That's a stretch."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"Then answer this."
She leaned slightly closer.
Eyes locked on mine.
"Who told you about the door first?"
"…No one."
"Exactly."
Silence.
"You saw it because of yourself," she continued.
"Not because of them."
"That doesn't prove anything."
"It proves they're not telling you everything."
"That doesn't mean they're against me."
"No," she said softly.
"It just means you're useful to them."
That word again.
Useful.
Kiara had said something similar.
So had Luna.
My grip tightened.
"…And you're not?" I asked.
A faint smile.
Honest this time.
"No."
That answer—
Felt more dangerous.
At least the others tried to hide things.
She didn't.
"Then what do you want?" I asked.
Her gaze dropped again.
To my chest.
To the mark.
"I want to see what you become."
Yeah.
That didn't help.
At all.
"Not very comforting."
"It's not supposed to be."
Of course.
Why was I expecting anything else?
"You said you were waiting," I said.
"For what exactly?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
She walked past me.
Towards the window.
Pulled the curtain slightly.
Looked outside.
Like she was checking something.
"…For this stage," she said finally.
"What stage?"
"When you stop being blind."
I frowned.
"I wasn't blind."
"You were."
"That's debatable."
"It's not."
Silence.
Again.
God, I was getting tired of this.
"You still haven't told me how you know all this," I said.
"I don't need to."
"I think you do."
She turned.
Looked at me.
And for the first time—
There was something else in her eyes.
Not cold.
Not curious.
Something deeper.
"…Because I've seen it before," she said.
My breath caught.
"…Seen what?"
"You."
That made no sense.
"…That's impossible."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"Then why does this feel familiar?"
My chest tightened.
Because—
For a second—
It did.
That moment.
That tension.
This conversation.
Like it had happened before.
"…No," I shook my head. "That's just—"
"Ayaan."
Her voice cut through.
Soft.
But sharp.
"Things don't start when you notice them."
A pause.
"They were already happening."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable silence.
Before I could respond—
A knock.
On the door.
Both of us froze.
"Ayaan?" Mom's voice.
"Are you okay?"
Meera's expression—
Changed instantly.
Gone.
That cold, knowing look—
Vanished.
Replaced by something normal.
Casual.
Like nothing had happened.
"I'll handle it," she whispered.
Before I could react—
She moved.
Opened the door.
"Hi aunty," she said with a small smile.
Perfectly normal.
Perfectly casual.
"I came to return your book."
I blinked.
What?
Mom looked between us.
"Oh, Meera," she said. "You came?"
"Yes aunty."
"When did you come?"
"Just now."
That—
Was a lie.
And she said it so easily.
So naturally.
Like she believed it.
"…You didn't tell me," Mom said, looking at me.
"I—uh—she just came," I replied.
Smooth.
Real smooth.
Mom nodded slowly.
"Alright. Don't stay up too late."
Her eyes lingered on me.
Just for a second.
Then—
She left.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Meera turned back to me.
And just like that—
The normal mask dropped.
"You see?" she said quietly.
"What?"
"How easy it is to hide things."
My jaw tightened.
"…You lied."
"So do they."
That hit again.
"You don't even know them," I said.
"I know enough."
"And you expect me to trust you?"
"No."
That answer—
Caught me off guard.
"…Then what?"
"I expect you to question everything."
Silence.
That… made sense.
And I hated that it did.
She walked past me again.
Towards the door.
Stopping just before opening it.
"…Meera," I called out.
She paused.
"What?"
"…What happens if I open that door?"
A long pause.
Then—
Without turning—
She said:
"You don't come back the same."
My chest tightened.
"…That's not very reassuring."
"It's not meant to be."
Of course.
Her hand moved to the handle.
Then—
She stopped.
"…Next time," she said softly,
"it won't just be a vision."
My breath caught.
"What does that mean?"
She opened the door.
Stepped out.
Then—
Without looking back—
She whispered:
"Next time…"
A pause.
"…the door will open."
And she left.
Leaving me alone.
With that sentence.
With that feeling.
And with one terrifying realization—
Meera was never normal.