Ch 10: The Protector's Oath

Kali and Ajay walked through the carnival, the air thick with excitement and vibrant energy. The streets were lined with stalls of all sorts—bright lights, colorful decorations, and the hum of laughter filled the air. Kali, still feeling the weight of his past, tried to enjoy the atmosphere, but a quiet unease lingered at the back of his mind. His memories were fragmented, and even his friends seemed distant, though their laughter and jokes tried to pull him in.

As they walked, the two friends played pranks on each other, like they always did, making silly faces at the candy vendors and attempting to dodge stray balloons. They were carefree, a perfect contrast to the turmoil Kali felt inside. After a few minutes, they were joined by a few of Kali's childhood friends. They all chuckled and reminisced, but Kali struggled to recognize them fully. His memory was a jigsaw puzzle, and even though he could remember faces, the pieces didn't fit together in a way that made sense. Kamala, however, caught his attention immediately. She was different—her presence was magnetic, and there was a distinct edge to her that made Kali feel both intrigued and unsettled. Kamala was older than Kali, at 15, but her mature demeanor and confident gaze made her seem like a mystery he couldn't solve. Her sharp, almost sarcastic wit kept the group on their toes. But there was a visible tension when she locked eyes with Ritu, one of Kali's classmates. It was subtle, but Kamala clearly felt out of place amidst the playful chaos of the carnival. She didn't share the same carefree spirit as the others. "Is something wrong?" Kali asked, his voice laced with concern. Kamala shrugged, rolling her eyes. "This is boring. I thought it'd be more interesting, but these kids just keep joking around without thinking." Before Kali could respond, a group of unfamiliar men caught his attention. They were out of place, their eyes too focused on Kamala, their expressions unreadable. Kali's gut tightened. There was something wrong about them, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He leaned over to Ajay. "Do you know who they are?" Ajay glanced over, shrugging. "No idea. They don't look like they're from here. Probably tourists from another city." Kali's instincts screamed at him that something was off, and as they moved deeper into the carnival, he stayed on edge, eyes flicking between the men and his friends. He felt the atmosphere shifting, a sudden weight in the air, like something bad was about to happen. As the group continued walking, Kali's eyes constantly darted back to the men. He could feel the weight of their gaze, fixed on Kamala, and his protective instincts flared up. He tried to keep the group together, moving quickly through the carnival's bustling crowds, but his heart raced. There was no way to shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong. "Where's Kamala?" Kali asked, his voice rising with a trace of panic. Ritu looked around, her expression casual, but with a hint of indifference. "She roams off by herself sometimes. Don't worry about it. She'll be fine." But Kali couldn't shake it. His mind raced. She wasn't fine. Something was wrong. "I need to find her," Kali muttered, trying to keep his calm. He quickly excused himself from the group and started weaving through the crowds, his heart pounding in his chest. The carnival lights blurred around him as he searched, his mind spinning with fear. He spotted Kamala walking alone down a quieter part of the street, her expression distant and unimpressed. A man suddenly bumped into her, and she snapped. "Are you blind or what? Watch where you're going, idiot!" she yelled, voice cutting through the noise of the carnival. Before she could take another step, another figure emerged from behind her. He held a small vial to her nose, the scent intoxicating and heavy. Kamala's eyes widened for a moment as the perfume's effect took hold. Her body stiffened, and before she could react, she collapsed, her vision blurring as the world spun around her. The group of men quickly surrounded her, pulling her into the shadows of an alleyway, away from the lights and the crowds. Kali watched from a distance, his blood running cold. He had failed to reach her in time. His heart hammered in his chest as the men dragged her away, their intentions clear. No, no, no! He felt a surge of panic. "Kamala!" he whispered under his breath, taking a step forward but freezing. What could he do? He wasn't strong enough. His mind raced, searching for answers. But it was like the world had gone silent, and he couldn't think clearly. He thought about his alter ego—the dark side of himself that was filled with anger, with raw, untapped power. He could feel the voice of his alter ego rising in his mind. "Fight them. You're strong enough. You're me. You can beat them. Don't wait. Act now." The voice pushed him forward, but his fear gripped him like chains. The fear of failure. The fear of not being enough. He could feel his legs trembling, his chest tightening. Then, he heard another voice—calm, maternal, the voice of the headless woman in his dreams. "Protect the innocent one, even if it costs you your life." The words broke through his fear like a blade cutting through the fog. He knew what he had to do. His fear was just an illusion. He had to act. Kali looked around desperately, his eyes landing on a tree nearby. Hanging from its branches was a Jagannath mask, beautifully crafted, its intricate details shining even in the low light. Kali's heart pounded as he reached for it, his fingers brushing against its cool surface. He knew this mask was a symbol of divine protection, of strength. A smirk formed on his lips, an egoistic glint in his eyes as he held the mask up. The power surged through him. But then, everything went black.