The Shadows We Leave Behind

Aryan lies motionless on the ground, his body battered, bleeding profusely, and bones visibly broken. Selena stands nearby, frozen in shock. Her mind races, trying to comprehend the monstrous power Aryan unleashed moments ago and the price he's now paying for it.

Her thoughts are interrupted by the sound of footsteps crunching on the debris-strewn forest floor. She turns sharply, her guard up. Emerging from the shadows is a boy who looks barely fifteen, with a slender frame, messy black hair, and sharp, curious eyes.

"What happened here?" the boy asks, his tone more curious than alarmed. "This place looks like a demon had a party."

Selena, still overwhelmed, doesn't respond immediately. The boy steps closer, his eyes scanning Aryan's broken form.

"Oh, it's him. What in the world did he get into? He's half-dead."

Selena finally snaps out of her daze. "Please! Can you help him? He's dying!"

The boy raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Why would I? He doesn't look like he's worth the effort."

Selena drops to her knees, her voice trembling. "Please... I'll do anything. Just help him. He saved me."

The boy tilts his head, studying her for a moment. Then, with a sigh, he says, "Fine, fine. Don't go begging like that. You remind me of my big sister. I'll help him... but just this once."

The boy kneels beside Aryan, inspecting his wounds. His eyes widen slightly as he mutters to himself, "How is he still breathing? Anyone else would've died already..."

Selena, her voice shaky, asks, "How are you going to help him?"

The boy grins, a hint of pride in his expression. "I was born in the Himalayas. My family has used ancient mountain herbs for generations to heal wounds like these. Luckily, I carry some with me."

He pulls a small pouch from his belt, filled with crushed leaves and powders. He begins applying the mixture to Aryan's wounds, his hands steady and precise.

"This will stop the bleeding, but we need water to complete the treatment," the boy explains. "Can you find a river or stream nearby?"

Selena nods quickly. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Selena rushes into the forest, her heart pounding. She searches frantically for water, the dense trees and eerie silence making her feel uneasy. Suddenly, a low growl breaks the stillness.

She turns to see a small goblin, its beady eyes gleaming with malice. It lunges at her, and she barely dodges in time. Grabbing a nearby branch, she fends it off, but more goblins emerge from the shadows, surrounding her.

Back at Aryan's side, the boy continues working on him, humming softly. "Man, this guy's tough. Even with all this damage, his pulse is still strong. What kind of freak is he?"

He glances up, frowning when he notices Selena hasn't returned. "She's taking too long. I hope she's not in trouble..."

Meanwhile, Selena fights desperately against the goblins. Despite her bravery, their numbers overwhelm her. Just as she begins to lose hope, a shadow looms behind the goblins.

"I told you I'd make you pay," a voice growls.

Selena's eyes widen as she recognizes the voice—it's Rono. He stands atop a rock, his wounds barely healed but his expression burning with vengeance.

Rono snarls, his hands clenched into fists. "I'll create a gang so massive, so powerful, no one will dare challenge me again. Mark my words—this is only the beginning."

The goblins retreat slightly, recognizing Rono's dark aura. He steps forward, smirking at Selena. "Don't worry, I'm not here for you... yet. But soon, you'll see what true power looks like."

Selena's breathing is ragged as she glares at him, clutching her makeshift weapon tightly.

The chapter ends with Rono disappearing into the shadows, the goblins scattering, and Selena finally finding the river. She fills a container with water, her mind racing with the weight of everything she's just seen.

As she hurries back to Aryan and the boy, the camera pans out to show Rono standing atop a cliff, overlooking the forest. His sinister smile hints at the chaos he's planning to unleash.

"This world will remember my name," he says, his voice dripping with malice.

To Be Continued...