Within Thin Air

The parking lot was just below the ground floor of the apartment complex, the space was enclosed on all sides by concrete walls, cutting off most of the daylight. Only a few dim overhead lights flickered intermittently, casting long, shifting shadows over the residence's parked cars. Despite the time of day, the air felt heavy, the darkness pressing in like a tangible weight. Beside from few parked cars belonging the residents, the lot was filled with eerie emptiness.

As Saya along with Vani and Manash, passed the vehicles Saya glanced back at Manash and Vani following her quietly, her tone soft but a little hesitant "Please forgive me for asking, but… may I know your names?"

"My name's Vani, and this is Manash," Vani replied politely, her demeanor was calm.

"Do you both still go to school?" Saya asked again, her curiosity evident.

"Yes, we're students of Aditya High School," Vani answered, as they walked toward a black car.

But then, suddenly Manash froze mid-step. His body stiffened, senses were alert, his gaze darting around dimly lit the parking lot, scanning the dark corners. He felt a pressure over him, as a chill ran down his spine. All his senses screamed at him to stay alert.

Vani, noticing his sudden halt, instinctively reached for Saya's hand, stopping her in place. "Manash?" she called but he didn't respond.

Instead, he raised a hand, motioning for silence as he scanned the dim space.

Saya looked at them both, bewildered, "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice barely above any whisper.

Manash didn't answer. A crushing pressure weighed on him, like unseen eyes piercing through the darkness. Was that paranoia? Or was something lurking just beyond their sight?

Vani's senses sharpened as a wave of unease swept over her. She didn't know what Manash had noticed, but she could feel it too—an oppressive, almost tangible presence closing in. The air felt heavier with each passing second.

Then, the silence shattered.

A voice, deep and resonant, echoed through the parking lot, its tone calm yet commanding. It reverberated off the walls, filling the air with an energy that demanded attention.

"Don't worry. I mean no harm."

Vani and Manash turned in unison, their senses sharpened and instincts on edge. Vani's palm opened, and in an instant, green energy spiralled forth. Branches coming out of that energy twisting and weaving until it formed the shape of a bow. The strings shimmered with a soft, ethereal blue glow as she pulled them taut, a glowing green arrow of pure energy taking shape, aimed directly at the source of the voice. Her stance was steady, her intent clear—one wrong move, and she would strike.

Beside her, Manash also stood ready. Lightning danced across his clenched fist, crackling with raw energy. The charged air around him seemed to vibrate with his power. His posture was firm, grounded—every fiber of his being prepared to act.

"Show yourself," Manash commanded, his voice firm and unyielding, the air itself seeming to hum with his power.

The shadows ahead shifted, as out of thin air, a figure began to materialized, like shadowy mist condensing into human form. A man emerged, his appearance both unnervingly calm and strikingly otherworldly.

He looked to be about twenty-eight years old, tall and lean, with piercing light-blue eyes caught the dim light, their gaze sharp and otherworldly. His gaze was sharp, unnerving, and undeniably powerful. The weight of his presence was immediate and undeniable, causing Saya to draw in a sharp breath. She had heard of entities like this in whispered tales, but seeing one manifest before her eyes was entirely different.

The man was dressed entirely in sleek black—a long, form-fitting coat that absorbed light, its high collar framing his face with sharp precision. Beneath it, his collared shirt revealed a hint of pale, almost luminous skin. His perfectly tailored pants enhanced his clean, striking form. He stood with an air of casual authority, his hands resting in his pockets, but the intensity radiating from him made it clear that this was no ordinary man. His fair skin, almost luminous in the dim light, contrasting sharply with his dark attire and those striking light-blue eyes that seemed to pierce through the shadows, made him both intimidating and strangely captivating.

"Who are you?" Manash demanded, his voice unyielding, every word laced with power. "And why were you spying on us?"

The man tilted his head slightly, his expression calm but unreadable. "Spying?" he repeated, almost amused. His voice, smooth and steady, carried an undercurrent of danger. "My apologies. I had no intention of spying. I merely wanted to observe."

"Then why are you here?" Vani pressed; her arrow still glowing and aimed at him, unwavering.

He turned to Vani, who was still pointing an arrow at him. The divine energy of her weapon seemed to ripple through the air, but Kurai remained utterly unbothered, his expression calm and composed.

"I am known as Kurai. A Kalikara," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I was ordered to check on one of our patrons here—but it seems I was too late. He is dead already."

"Ordered? By whom?" Manash pressed, his tone sharp, demanding answers.

Kurai's smile didn't falter. "I'm afraid I can't answer that." His gaze shifted to Saya, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "It would be best for you... and your investigation... if you simply pretended you never saw me."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, his meaning unmistakable. Vani felt a pang of unease as Kurai's piercing gaze lingered on Saya. For a brief moment, she caught it—a flicker of killing intent, sharp and cold, hidden behind his composed demeanor.

Her grip tightened on her bow. Without a word, she released the arrow.

It shot through the air, a glowing streak of green aimed directly at Kurai's face.

In a flash, the arrow streaked through the air, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. Just before it could strike, Kurai's right hand moved with blinding speed, snatching it mid-flight. He stopped it cold, its glowing tip hovering just an inch from his face.

Vani's eyes widened in disbelief. That shouldn't be possible. She hadn't even seen him move. One moment his hands were in his pockets, and the next, he'd effortlessly stopped her arrow as though it were a mere annoyance.

Kurai's fingers tightened around the arrow, his grip unyielding. With an audible crack, the arrow shattered into glowing fragments, dissipating into the air like scattered fireflies.

Vani was shocked, but her resolve held firm. She quickly drew the bowstring once again. Another arrow materialised in her grasp, its vibrant energy filling the air with a charge hum. She aimed it unwaveringly at him, determination etched on her face.

Manash and Saya was equally shocked, their disbelief etched on their faces. Kurai had shattered the divine arrow as if it were nothing.

Manash shook off his shock, his lightning flaring brighter around him. With a flash of energy, his divine spear materialized in his hand, its tip crackling with raw power.

Saya, still grappling with the gravity of what she had just witnessed, instinctively drew her pistol—a standard-issue 9mm—and pointed it at Kurai. Her heart pounded as doubts filled her mind. Would bullets even work against someone like him?

"Don't you think that's a bit rude?" Kurai remarked, his voice calm and detached as he casually slipped his hand back into his pocket, his demeanor as if they were just discussing the weather.

"Do you intend to kill her?" Vani asked, her voice was steady despite the tension cracking around them.

Kurai's lips curled into a faith smile. He said nothing, but his smile carrying an unsettling weight. His glance in the dim light sent a shiver down their spines.

Vani released her arrow. This time the green arrow streaking through the air like a shooting star. But Kurai moved effortlessly, sidestepping the attack with uncanny speed.

Taking advantage of the moment, Manash surged toward him, gripping his spare tightly. Lightning cracked its length as he thrust it straight at Kurai's chest. His aim was precise, his movements swift, but instead of striking solid flesh, the spear passed straight through him, as if Kurai were nothing but a shadow. Kurai's figure just faded in thin air.

Manash froze in disbelief. What just had happened?

Before Manash could make any sense, a powerful kick struck his side. It was Kurai, reappearing again out of thin air with inhuman speed, the force of the blow sent Manash hurling into a nearby parked vehicle. The impact was so strong that the car's door crumpled, windows shattered, and left the metal frame groaning under the strain.

"Manash!" Vani shouted, her heart was pounding, but she didn't hesitate. She pulled the bowstring taut once more, summoning another arrow that shimmered with green with green energy. With a determined breath, she released it, sending it streaking toward Kurai.

Kurai dodged again, his body moving like liquid shadow, leaping to the side with grace.

Before he could land, the sharp crack of gunshot echoed through the parking lot. Saya, her pistol aimed steady, had fired with precision.

Kurai twisted mid-air to avoid the bullet, but it grazed his cheek. For the first, he staggered slightly, a single drop of blood trailed down his face.

The world seemed to paused.

Kurai reached up, touching his cheek. He started at the crimson smear on his finger, his expression darkening. The air grew heavier, a suffocating presence filling the space as his aura flared fury.

His gaze locked onto Saya, cold and unrelenting. The shadows around him seemed to ripple as his killing intent poured out like flood, freezing the air in their lungs.

"You dare…" he said softly, his voice like the rumble of distant thunder. The ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble as his anger began to manifest, the promised of violence palpable.

Saya started into Kurai's piercing gaze, her terror surging as his expression darkened. Her heart was pounded wildly in her chest, but she forced herself to act. Steading her hands, she squeezed the trigger once more.

This time, the bullet didn't even come close. Kurai moved with monstrous speed, his body a blur as he dodged effortlessly, faster than Saya's eyes could follow.

Nearby Vani had already drawn her bowstring, another glowing green arrow aimed directly ay Kurai. She released it with precision, the arrow steaking through the air like a bolt of light. Yet, Kurai's movements were sharper now, his reflexes beyond human comprehension. He evaded her shot with fluid sidestep, his form barely visible in the dim light.

Vani's finger tensed to draw another arrow, but before she could do it, Kurai closed the distance between them in an instant. His right-hand fist, swift and brutal, was aimed at her. acting on instinct, she interposed her bow, the energy shielded her form the full force of the blow. But the impact was still immense.

The force of the strike launched her backward with a terrifying speed, her body slamming into a parked car. The vehicle crumpled under the impact, skidding into two more cars with a screech of metal and shattering glass.

As Vani lay dazed, struggled to recover. Saya raised her pistol again, determined to stop Kurai. She was about to fire another shot, her aim true.

But this time, Kurai didn't even try to dodge. With a flick of his hand, he grabbed her hand, swatted the hand upward. His gaze locked onto Saya, his expression cold and unrelenting.

In the next moment, he shot out his other hand, gripping her throat with terrifying strength.

Saya gasped, her feet lifting off the ground as Kurai held her effortlessly. His grip tightened, and her face reddened as air escaped her lungs. She struggled to lift her gun, but her finger grew weak, the gun slipping from her grasp and clattering to the floor.

Kurai's lips curled into a twisted smile, his glinting with cruel amusement. He watched Saya's futile struggle with a detached satisfaction, his finger tightening even further.

Her vision blurred, and her body betrayed her, her limbs growing limp. As her eyes rolled upward, a tear slid down her cheek, mingling with the cold sweat on her face as her strength fade away. Her lips parted, a desperate gasp escaping her as she clawed weakly at his hand.

Just as Saya's will to fight began to fade, a hoarse voice cut through the suffocating silence.

"Let… Let her go"

Kurai turned his head, his smile slowly fading. His sharp blue eyes fell on Manash, who staggered to his feet. His body wracked with pain from the earlier blow, blood trickled from a gash on his temple. One hand clutched his abdomen, the other gripped his spear with trembling resolve. Every step he took was a struggle, but his gaze burned with unyielding resolve.

A flicker of awareness crossed Kurai's face, and his grip on Saya's throat loosened. She crumpled to the ground in a heap, collapsing as if the life had been drained from her. Her chest heaved as she gasped for air, coughing violently. One trembling hand clutched her bruised throat, the crushing weight of Kurai's grasp still vivid in her mind. The world swayed around her, her vision swimming as she struggled to regain her senses.

Kurai's gaze lingered on Manash. Despite his battered state, Manash stood tall, his spear steady in his hand. Though his body trembled from pain and exhaustion, his resolve remained firm. He met Kurai's piercing eyes head-on, unflinching. The air between them grew taut, a silent exchange of authority and defiance crackling like lightning in a storm.

For a moment, it seemed as if Kurai might strike again. But then, without a word, he took a single step back. His expression remained unreadable as the shadows around him began to ripple and twist, consuming his form. In mere moments, the darkness swallowed him entirely, and his presence vanished, leaving behind an eerie silence that seemed almost louder than the chaos moments before.

As Kurai's present vanished, the adrenaline sustaining Manash drained away. The divine weapon began to flicker, its brilliant energy dimming before shattering into fragments that dissolved into thin air. His strength faltered, his knees buckling beneath him.

He collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, his battered body sprawled across the concrete.

The silence remained, heavy and oppressive, broken only by Saya's ragged breathing.