The door slammed shut behind Arjun.
The sound echoed through the empty building.
His heart started racing.
"Hello…?" he called out.
No answer
Only silences
The air felt cold.
He took a few steps forward, his shoes scraping against the dusty floor.
"Scared?"
A voice came from the darkness.
Arjun froze.
"Who's there?"
A figure stepped out slowly.
A boy.
Calm. Sharp eyes.
"I'm Kabir," he said.
"You sent those messages?"
"Yes."
Kabir handed him a black card.
"Take it. Your life will change."
Arjun stared at it.
"And if I don't?"
Kabir smiled slightly.
"Then you go back… and continue being invisible."
That word hit him again.
Invisible.
"I don't want to be invisible anymore," Arjun said quietly.
Suddenly
Soft footsteps echoed from behind.
Both of them turned.
A girl stood near the entrance.
She hadn't made a sound.
But she was there.
Watching.
Arjun's eyes widened slightly.
He hadn't noticed her before.
She stepped forward slowly.
Her expression calm… but her eyes focused only on him.
Kabir frowned.
"You're early."
The girl ignored him.
Instead, she looked at Arjun.
Carefully.
Like she was trying to understand him.
"Is he the one?" she asked softly.
Kabir didn't answer immediately.
"Yes."
The girl walked closer.
Arjun felt something strange.
The same feeling as before—
But softer.
Warmer.
"Who… are you?" Arjun asked.
She stopped in front of him.
"My name is Aanya."
For a moment
Everything felt quiet.
Arjun didn't know why…
But he couldn't look away.
Aanya tilted her head slightly.
"You came here even after everything that happened today."
Arjun blinked.
"How do you know about that?"
Aanya's voice was gentle.
"Because I saw you."
He was confused.
"You… saw me?"
She nodded.
"I saw how they laughed at you," she said softly.
"I saw how you stayed silent."
Arjun looked down.
His fists tightened again.
"I'm used to it," he said "
Aanya's expression changed slightly.
Something like… sadness.
"You shouldn't be," she replied.
Arjun looked up.
"No one should feel like that," she added.
Those words felt different.
Not like pity.
Not like sympathy.
Like she actually meant it.
Kabir crossed his arms.
"This is not the point."
But Aanya didn't stop.
She took one small step closer.
"You felt it, didn't you?" she asked.
"That moment… when something inside you changed."
Arjun hesitated.
Then nodded slowly.
"…Yes."
Aanya raised her hand slightly.
A faint glow appeared around her fingers.
Arjun's eyes widened.
"You…?"
"Yes," she said softly.
The glow moved toward him.
When it reached his hand
A sudden calm spread through his body.
The fear.
The confusion.
The pain from earlier that day
All of it…
Felt lighter.
Arjun looked at her in shock.
"What did you do?"
Aanya smiled faintly.
"Nothing."
She paused.
"…just helped you feel less alone."
Arjun's chest tightened.
For the first time that day—
He didn't feel invisible.
Kabir sighed.
"This is getting unnecessary."
But Arjun didn't move.
He was still looking at Aanya.
"Why are you helping me?" he asked quietly.
Aanya met his eyes.
"Because I know how it feels…"
She paused.
"…to be invisible."
Silence.
Arjun's eyes widened slightly.
That word again.
But this time
It didn't hurt.
It felt understood.
Suddenly
THUD!
A loud sound came from upstairs.
Kabir's expression changed instantly.
"They're here."
"Who?" Arjun asked.
Kabir's voice turned serious.
"People who don't want him to exist."
Aanya stepped slightly in front of Arjun.
"Stay close to me," she said.
Arjun blinked.
"Why?"
She looked back at him.
Her eyes calm.
"Because I won't let anything happen to you."
His heartbeat skipped.
Before he could respond—
Footsteps rushed down the stairs.
Fast.
Heavy.
Kabir shouted
"Run!"
All three of them moved at once.
But this time
Arjun wasn't just running in fear.
He was running beside someone.
And for the first time
He didn't feel alone.
As they reached the corridor
Aanya grabbed Arjun's hand suddenly.
"Don't let go," she said.
Arjun froze for a second.
Then held on.
Behind them
Shadows closed in
And ahead
Darkness waited.