Bishnupriya_Parida

Aarav awakens in a world that defies logic—a place where time distorts, shadows move on their own, and the walls seem to whisper secrets. He doesn’t remember how he got here, but he knows one thing: he is not alone.

Then he sees her. A girl with piercing golden eyes who speaks in riddles and seems to understand the chaos surrounding them. She warns him—this place is not just a prison, it’s a test. And those who fail? They vanish.

As unseen forces close in, Aarav must navigate a labyrinth of shifting corridors and cryptic messages. Every step brings him closer to the truth, but also to something darker—a secret buried within himself, waiting to be unlocked.

The rules of reality no longer apply. If Aarav doesn’t escape soon, he won’t just lose his life—he’ll lose himself.

The Reflection Paradox

Aarav took a step forward, his pulse hammering in his ears. Saira stood there, unblinking, her face devoid of the warmth he remembered. Something was deeply wrong.

She tilted her head slightly, as if the name was unfamiliar. Then, in a voice too empty to belong to her, she repeated, "You shouldn't have come here."

Aarav felt a chill crawl up his spine.

The whispers around them grew louder. The shadows between the ruins thickened, moving—not with the wind, but with intention.

"I— I came to find you," Aarav said, forcing himself to stay calm. "Saira, it's me."

She blinked, slowly, like someone waking from a deep sleep. For a moment, he saw a flicker of something—recognition?—in her eyes. But then it was gone, replaced by an unsettling stillness.

"You don't belong here," she said.

Aarav clenched his fists. "Neither do you."

The wind picked up, howling through the broken city. The ruins around them trembled. And then, Saira moved.

Without hesitation, Aarav ran after her.

She moved swiftly, as if guided by an unseen force. She weaved through the ruins, her white dress catching the flickering light of the sky. The world around them blurred, as if resisting his pursuit.

Then—a wall of shadows erupted between them.

Aarav barely stopped in time, his hands skidding against the cracked pavement. The darkness twisted, shifting into figures.

Only this time, they weren't still. They moved.

Each one took a step forward, their eyes glowing like embers.

And in perfect unison, they whispered, "She is not yours to save."

Beyond them, Saira stood, staring at him with unreadable eyes.

And then, she turned a corner—and disappeared.

He clenched his jaw, his pulse raging. If these things wanted to stop him, they would have to do a lot more than just whisper.

With a steadying breath, he stepped into the shadows.

A Familiar Stranger