Keller’s Domain

Far away, deep within an underground facility, Keller reclined in a high-tech chair, his breathing labored but steady. The room around him hummed with activity, a fusion of sterile white walls and glowing machinery. Tubes of oxygen fed into his personal support system, a reminder of the years he'd spent isolated, perfecting his craft.

A knock at the door broke his moment of stillness.

"Enter," he said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable authority.

The door slid open, and his assistant, a sharp-dressed young man carrying a tablet, stepped inside. "We have good news, sir!"

Keller's eyes narrowed slightly, and he gestured for him to continue.

"Our group has discovered a new cell in the Western European countries. The data matches the parameters we've been searching for."

Keller's lips curled into a faint smile. "Everything is paying off," he murmured. "Tell them to submit their findings to me immediately. And inform Doctor Metiha to prepare the arrangements for extraction."

"Yes, sir," the assistant said, bowing slightly before leaving.

Keller leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. A new cell. A new key to power. His eyes gleamed with a mix of ambition and something darker.

Somewhere in the Forest

Sweat dripped from Aryan's brow as he punched a tree trunk, his muscles burning from the effort. Since the nightmares began, he'd pushed himself daily, determined to protect his family from the looming danger he couldn't yet understand.

Dropping to the ground, he powered through push-ups, his mind replaying visions of mist and shadowy figures from his dreams. His silence didn't matter—his actions would speak louder.

Four Days Later

Aryan and Khusi stepped out for a walk, enjoying the brief respite from the strange tension that had gripped their lives. While Khusi went into a nearby store to pick up some household items, Aryan sat on a park bench just outside, his eyes scanning the scene in front of him.

Nearby, a group of children played with a scruffy dog. At first, Aryan smiled, enjoying their laughter, but as he watched more closely, he noticed the truth. The kids weren't playing—they were teasing the dog, waving biscuits but snatching them away whenever it got close.

The dog's desperation was clear as it jumped from one child to another, its tail wagging despite their taunts. Finally, one of the kids relented and tossed the biscuit toward the dog. It grabbed the treat in its mouth and bolted, disappearing into the distance.

Aryan sighed, a mix of relief and sadness in his expression.

Moments later, Khusi emerged from the store, her arms full of bags. "Ready to go?" he asked. Aryan nodded, standing up to join him.

As they walked home, Aryan's thoughts lingered on the dog and the simple lesson it represented—kindness should never be a game.

After dinner, Aryan went for a quiet walk, seeking solace in the stillness of the night. As he neared the end of the street, he spotted the same dog from earlier, its scruffy frame illuminated by a faint streetlight. The dog froze, its wary eyes fixed on Aryan, clearly intimidated by his strong and imposing presence.

Understanding the dog's fear, Aryan returned home and brought some food, placing it gently on a piece of paper at the edge of the street. He stepped back, giving the dog space. The dog stood at a distance, watching him cautiously, deciding whether Aryan was friend or foe.

Not wanting to add to its distress, Aryan quietly left the spot. Peeking from his window moments later, he saw the dog approach the food slowly. It grabbed the paper with its mouth and carried it away. A faint smile crossed Aryan's lips as relief washed over him—the dog had accepted his offering.

Unexpected News

Later that night, Aryan was in his room, browsing the internet. His thoughts drifted between the dog and the strange events that had been unsettling their lives.

"Brother! Can you come down for a minute?" Khusi's voice called from the hall downstairs.

Aryan immediately went down, raising his hand in a silent gesture to ask what was wrong. Khusi's face was pale, his expression tinged with sadness and worry.

He pointed to the television. "You need to see this."

Aryan's gaze shifted to the news broadcast. His heart sank as he read the headline: "Violet, a young woman, missing for two days—police still searching for leads."

Violet. Her name struck like a thunderclap in Aryan's mind. The girl he liked—the one he had admired afar—was gone without a trace. His chest tightened as shock and dread gripped him.

Beneath the news ticker, a contact number and address were displayed for anyone with information. Without hesitation, Aryan memorized the details. He quickly grabbed his jacket, signaling to Khusi with a reassuring glance before stepping outside.