Chapter 35: Shadows of the Past

A cold gust of wind swept through the chamber, carrying with it the scent of aged wood and something more—something unsettling. Satya and Saanvi stood frozen, their eyes locked onto the faded bloodstain on the floor.

"This was where Veer spent his last days," Saanvi whispered.

Satya felt a strange pull, as if the air itself carried fragments of forgotten whispers. He stepped toward the broken easel, his fingers brushing against the dust-covered sketch. It was brittle with age, but the outlines of a face were still visible—a woman's face.

Saanvi gasped. "That's… Meera."

Her own past self stared back at her, captured forever in Veer's unfinished work.

Satya's throat tightened. "He was sketching her… even till the end."

Saanvi's hands trembled as she reached out to touch the sketch, but the moment her fingers met the paper, a rush of memories surged through her mind.

A dimly lit chamber.

The scent of ink and candle wax.

The echo of hurried footsteps.

A voice—Veer's voice—calling her name.

Saanvi staggered back, clutching her head.

"Saanvi!" Satya grabbed her arms, steadying her.

She gasped for breath, eyes wide in shock. "I… I saw something."

Satya's heart pounded. "What did you see?"

She swallowed hard. "Veer wasn't alone when he died. Someone was here with him."

The realization sent a chill down Satya's spine.

Before he could ask more, a loud thud echoed behind them.

They spun around. The door, which had closed on its own, now stood slightly ajar. A shadow flickered just beyond it.

"Did you see that?" Saanvi whispered.

Satya's fists clenched. "We're not alone."

They exchanged a silent nod before stepping toward the door. Every instinct told them to turn back, to leave the past buried where it lay.

But they had come too far to stop now.

Satya pushed the door open.

The corridor outside was empty.

But the air had changed.

Something—or someone—had just been here.

And whoever it was… didn't want them uncovering the truth.