The room felt colder.
Aarav stared at the screen, his reflection faintly visible against the black interface.
"You have 24 hours."
"24 hours for what?" he typed, his fingers slightly trembling.
No response.
Just the blinking cursor.
Suddenly—
BEEP.
A new window opened on its own.
A map.
Zoomed in.
His location.
A red dot blinked exactly where he stood.
Aarav's throat went dry.
"They're tracking me…"
His phone buzzed again.
Another message.
"Step outside."
Aarav hesitated.
Everything in his mind screamed don't go.
But curiosity… or maybe something darker… pulled him forward.
Slowly, he walked toward the door.
Each step heavier than the last.
The moment he stepped outside—
Cold air hit his face.
The street was silent.
Too silent.
And then he saw it again.
That black SUV.
Same spot.
Engine running.
Lights off.
Waiting.
Aarav swallowed hard and took a step closer.
The back door of the SUV… slowly opened.
No one stepped out.
It was an invitation.
Or a trap.
Behind him—
CLICK.
Aarav froze.
A voice, low and sharp:
"Don't move."
His heartbeat exploded.
"Turn around… slowly."
Aarav turned.
A girl stood there.
Dressed in black. Hood up. Eyes intense.
She looked about his age… maybe a little older.
But the way she held herself—
She wasn't normal.
She was trained.
"Who are you?" Aarav asked.
She didn't answer directly.
Instead, she glanced at the SUV… then back at him.
"You opened the file, didn't you?"
Aarav's silence was enough.
Her expression tightened.
"Great. Just great."
"What does that mean?"
"It means," she stepped closer, voice lowering,
"you just put a target on your head."
Aarav felt a chill run down his spine.
"Who are they?"
Before she could answer—
The SUV headlights suddenly turned ON.
Blinding.
The engine roared.
"Run!" she shouted.
Too late.
The SUV sped toward them.
Fast.
Too fast.
The girl grabbed Aarav's wrist and pulled him hard.
They dove aside just as the vehicle screeched past them.
Aarav hit the ground, breath knocked out.
"What the hell is going on?!"
She looked at him, dead serious.
"Shadow Protocol."
Aarav's eyes widened.
"That message… it's real?"
She nodded.
"And now—"
She looked at the SUV turning back toward them.
"—you're part of it."
The SUV stopped.
Doors opened.
Three masked men stepped out.
Weapons in hand.
The girl stood up.
Cracked her knuckles.
A faint smirk appeared.
"Hope you can run, Aarav…"
She glanced back at him.
"Because this is just the beginning."
TO BE CONTINUED… 😈🔥